UNODC and World Bank Group launch new Anti-Corruption Legal Library with legislation from 178 States

01 September 2011 - As governments worldwide, through their prosecuting and law enforcement agencies,  strengthen their efforts to combat corruption, a new tool is launched today, the UNCAC Legal Library. Co-founded by the Stolen Asset Recovery (StAR) Initiative, a joint programme of the World Bank Group and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) Legal Library supports asset recovery and anti-corruption efforts and assists in implementing legislation which supports anti-corruption and asset recovery.

The UNCAC Legal Library is a comprehensive database of anti-corruption and asset recovery legislation and jurisprudence from over 175 States, systematized in accordance with the requirements of the Convention. The Legal Library, which will be regularly updated, identifies laws that have been successfully used to recover assets as well as barriers to asset recovery caused by inadequate or incompatible legal frameworks. This practical and user-friendly resource will aid countries as they design and improve their legal frameworks so that these are more conducive to the recovery of stolen assets.

Strengthening ongoing efforts of countries across the Southern African region to ensure that crime does not pay, the Legal Library will reinforce the impact of regional members of the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network of Southern Africa (ARINSA), which brings together prosecutors and investigators of the region to improve the tracing and confiscation of the proceeds of crime, particularly those associated with corruption.

" The UNCAC Legal Library will further strengthen ongoing efforts of countries across the Southern African region to ensure that crime does not pay," said Mandiaye Niang, the Regional Representative of the UNODC in Southern Africa. "The regional members of the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network of Southern Africa (ARINSA), which brings together prosecutors and investigators to improve the tracing and confiscation of the proceeds of crime, particularly those associated with corruption, will reinforce their impact through the use of the library."

The UNCAC Legal Library is part of the StAR Initiative's support for efforts of policymakers and practitioners to eliminate safe havens for the proceeds of corruption and to generate knowledge and legal information concerning the UN Convention against Corruption. The Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR) is a partnership between the World Bank and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).  StAR supports international efforts to end safe havens for corrupt funds. StAR works with developing countries and financial centres to reduce the laundering of the proceeds of corruption and to facilitate more systematic and timely return of stolen assets.

The UNCAC Legal Library is accessible from UNODC's anti-corruption portal known as TRACK (Tools and Resources for Anti-Corruption Knowledge). In addition to the legal library, the TRACK portal contains an anti-corruption learning platform where analytical materials and tools generated by partner organisations can be accessed in one central location. TRACK is also a community of practice for partner institutions and practitioners where registered users can collaborate and exchange information.

Related information:

Français / French version of UNODC global article

TRACK - Tools and Resources for Anti-Corruption Knowledge

Information Flyer - TRACK (pdf.)