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SCARS™ Special Report: United Nations Begins Discussion Of Returning Stolen Assets & Money
Good Practices And Challenges For Returning Stolen Assets Discussed At Expert Meeting Co-Organized By UNODC
[lwptoc]From the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime:
28 May 2019 – As the first global anti-corruption instrument with a dedicated chapter on asset recovery, the «United Nations Convention against Corruption» sets the bar high when it comes to ensuring that stolen assets are being returned.
Invited by the Governments of Ethiopia and Switzerland and supported by the «United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime» (UNODC), experts from all over the world gathered in Addis Ababa from 7 to 9 May to learn from cases in which assets were returned to the States that they had been stolen from.
In his opening remarks, «Wedo Atto, Deputy Commissioner of the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission of Ethiopia», highlighted the importance of cooperation:
“Asset recovery is difficult and demanding, and international cooperation is essential for succeeding in recovering assets stolen through corruption. Meetings such as the present one take us one step forward to ensuring that there are no safe havens for unlawful wealth.”
Panellists shared their experience in recovering and returning hundreds of millions of US dollars of stolen assets and discussed the challenges and good practices discovered through these returns. The cases from which lessons were drawn included the «Lava Jato case in Brazil», the return of assets stolen by former President Sani Abacha to Nigeria, the return of stolen assets to Kazakhstan, and the return of assets to Kenya through a multi-party framework for the return of assets from Crime and Corruption in Kenya (FRACCK).
Drawing on lessons learned from these and other cases, the experts highlighted good practices in asset return such as having early and open communication between the requesting and requested States, building trust among the partners and understanding the differences in legal systems and domestic requirements when it comes to asset recovery and asset return. The experts also underscored the need to provide technical assistance and training to enable countries to fully use all available options for asset recovery and asset return.
Shervin Majlessi, Deputy Coordinator of the joint World Bank/UNODC Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative, highlighted how these good practices complemented the Lausanne guidelines for the efficient recovery of stolen assets, which provide a step-by-step guide for a collaborative process of asset recovery.
As part of their conclusions, the experts also found that more discussion on the matter during the sessions of the «Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on Asset Recovery» would be helpful. In closing, Walter Reithebuch, Senior Policy Advisor – Anti-Corruption and Asset Recovery at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, noted:
“As co-organizer of the International Expert Meeting on the Return of Stolen Assets in Addis Ababa, Switzerland was pleased to welcome experts from over 30 different countries for constructive discussions and exchanges on best practices on asset return. Switzerland is committed to enhancing international cooperation in asset return and to sharing and further developing these best practices.”
While this is more oriented towards large scam assets now, it does open the door for future discussions of returning assets to individual victims.
As a part of the SCARS Advocacy efforts, we are in contact with the UNODC to explore future opportunities to recovery for individual victims.
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Table of Contents
- Good Practices And Challenges For Returning Stolen Assets Discussed At Expert Meeting Co-Organized By UNODC
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A Note About Labeling!
We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
Psychology Disclaimer:
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The information provided in this article is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here to go to our ScamsNOW.com website.
Seria estupendo que pudiésemos recuperar algo del dinero que nos fue robado por los estafadores románticos, en mi caso fue mucho