The Expert Group Meeting (EGM) in Norway will discuss the outcome of the Lima Expert Group Meeting and will seek to analyse in more detail the various drivers and enablers of corruption involving vast quantities of assets, in order to adopt forward looking policy proposals, principles or recommendations to better prevent and combat corruption involving vast quantities of assets. In this regard, participants will be expected to:
(1) Share lessons learned from their experiences in preventing and combatting corruption involving vast quantities of assets;
(2) Identify good practices to tackle corruption involving vast quantities of assets effectively;
(3) Contribute concrete proposals to overcome the various drivers and enablers of corruption involving vast quantities of assets.
Opening Ceremony
Moderator: Ms. Brigitte Strobel-Shaw, Officer-in-Charge, Corruption and Economic Crime Branch (CEB), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Welcome remarks:H.E. Ms. Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway
Keynote speeches:
- H.E. Mr. Carlos Holmes Trujillo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Colombia
- H.E. Dr. Harib Al Amimi, President, State Audit Institution, United Arab Emirates Presentation
- Mr. Rolando Ruiz Rosas, Minister, Director of International Organizations and Multilateral Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peru
Rapporteur: Mr. Tian Lixiao, Counsellor, Department of Treaty and Law, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China
Tour de table
Session 1: The impact of corruption involving vast quantities of assets on peace and security, human rights and the environment
In this session, the outcome statement of the first Global Expert Group Meeting on Corruption involving Vast Quantities of Assets adopted in Lima, Peru, on 5 December 2018, will be considered. Panellists will discuss the various types of impact of corruption involving vast quantities of assets. The floor will then be open for a general discussion on the topic.
Moderator: Mr. Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman Independent Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (ICPC), Nigeria
Speakers:
- Presentation on the impact on peace and security, by Mr. Andrew Feinstein, Former Member of Parliament, South Africa, and CEO, Corruption Watch
- Presentation on the impact on the environment, by Mr. Mike Davies, Director of Campaigns & Planning, Global Witness PowerPoint
- Presentation on the impact on human rights, by Ms. Aruna Roy, Founder, Organization for the Empowerment of Workers and Peasants (MKSS) in India
Rapporteur: Mr. Martin Matter, Head, Economic Affairs Section, Political Directorate, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland
Session 2: Lessons learned from investigating cases of corruption involving vast quantities of assets and bringing them to justice
In this session, panellists will continue to consider the outcome statement of the first Global Expert Group Meeting on Corruption involving Vast Quantities of Assets adopted in Lima, Peru, on 5 December 2018 and will, in particular, share their experiences and knowledge stemming from the investigation and prosecution of cases of corruption involving vast quantities of assets. The floor will then be open for a general discussion on the topic.
Moderator: Mr. Bilal Mehmood Chaudhary, Director, United Nations – Peace and Security (UN-I), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan
Speakers:
- Ms. Mary Butler, Chief, International Unit, Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Department of Justice, United States of America
- Ms. Noémie Davody, Deputy Chief Prosecutor, National Prosecutor’s Office for Financial Crime, France
- Mr. Fernando Filgueiras de Araújo, Federal State Attorney, Attorney General's Office of the Federal Republic, Brazil
- Mr. Joachim Dyfvermark, Journalist, Swedish Television Presentation
Rapporteur: Mr. Amr Abdelrahman Mostafa Allam, Administrative Control Authority, Egypt
Session 3: Enhancing transparency in political party financing and electoral processes
In this session, the panellists will address one of the key drivers of corruption involving vast quantities of assets, namely the pursuit by politically exposed persons (PEPs) of financial resources in order to stay in power. Speakers will discuss lessons learned and good practices to promote integrity in political party financing and electoral processes. The participants will also discuss ways to reduce the cost of elections, as well as good practices in regulating elections and enhancing transparency and accountability of political party financing to prevent corruption.
Moderator: H.E. Mr. Miguel Camilo Ruiz Blanco,Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations (Vienna)
Speakers:
- Mr. Yves-Marie Doublet, Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) Expert and Deputy Director, National Assembly, France
- Mr. Yukihiko Hamada, Senior Programme Officer, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA)
- Mr. Marcin Walecki, Head of Democratization Department, Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR)
- Ms. Tina Søreide, Professor of Law and Economics, Norwegian School of Economic
Rapporteur: Ms. Lise Stensrud, Policy Director, Anti-Corruption, NORAD, Norway
Welcome Reception
Speaker:
- Ms. Marianne Hagen, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway
Session 4: Ways to hold financial, legal and accounting intermediaries responsible for their role in facilitating corruption involving vast quantities of assets.
The involvement of banks, even in the most developed countries, has come under scrutiny in recent months and years. In a number of developing countries too, banks have played roles in embezzlement, bribery or money laundering schemes involving vast quantities of assets. This session will discuss how stricter controls can be put into place to curtail this involvement of financial intermediaries in cases of corruption. The session will also consider the issue of legal privilege and the role of lawyers, as well as the role of accounting firms, acting as formation agents for shell companies and other legal constructs to facilitate such corruption.
Moderator: Mr. Olafur Pòr Hauksson, District Prosecutor, Iceland
Speakers:
- Ms. Carine Chartouni, Compliance Unit, Central Bank, Lebanon
- Mr. Drew Sullivan, Founder, Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project
- Ms. Zarina Karodia, Head of European Regional AB&C Advisory, HSBC
- Ms. Maria Pia Sacco, Senior Legal Advisor, International Bar Association Presentation
Rapporteur: Mr. Navin Beekarry, Director General, Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), Mauritius
Session 5: Improving international cooperation among law enforcement and judicial authorities to facilitate the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of cases of corruption involving vast quantities of assets.
Cases of corruption involving vast quantities of assets invariably involve multiple jurisdictions. The illicit money in these cases often crosses borders, travels through tax havens, and ends up in real estate and other assets in countries abroad. How can national law enforcement and judicial authorities effectively investigate and prosecute these cases? How can international cooperation be further improved? How can the problem of impunity at national levels be overcome when PEPs involved in such cases exert influence over various branches of power in their respective countries? Is there a case to be made for increased extra-territorial investigations and prosecutions, or even, for supra-national prosecutions, in some specific circumstances?
Moderator: Mr. Drago Kos, Chair, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Working Group on Bribery
Speakers:
- Mr. Mark Temple, Solicitor-General, Jersey
- Ms. Eduarda Rodrigues, Prosecutor, Chief of Asset Recovery, Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic, Angola
- Mr. Mark L. Wolf, Senior United States District Judge, United States District Court, District of Massachusetts and Founder, Integrity Initiatives International
- Mr. José Ugaz, Former Chair, Transparency International
Rapporteur: Mr. Eduardo Vetere, Vice-President, International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities
Session 6: Better ways to protect journalists and whistle-blowers, as well as investigators, prosecutors and judges and their independence, by the international community.
Committed investigators, prosecutors and judges are essential for bringing cases of corruption involving vast quantities of assets to justice. At the same time, information received from whistle-blowers, investigative journalists and cooperating witnesses, are often critical for initiating investigations. Experience around the world has shown frequent harassment, intimidation, physical attacks and sudden deaths of key witnesses, whistle-blowers and those investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating corruption cases involving vast quantities of assets. What can the international community do to better protect those who are willing to dedicate their lives to fighting corruption involving vast quantities of assets?
Moderator: Ms. Eva Joly, Former Member of the European Parliament, Former Investigative Judge, France
Speakers:
- Tan Sri Abu Kassim bin Mohamed, Director General, the National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption, Malaysia Presentation
- Mr. Laodé Syarif, Commissioner, Corruption Eradication Commission, Indonesia
- Mr. Gianluca Esposito, Executive Secretary, Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), Council of Europe
- Mr. Anas Aremeyaro Anas, Founder, Tiger eye
Rapporteur: Mr. Alonso Eduardo Esquivel Duran, Officer, Permanent Mission of Peru to the United Nations in Vienna
Session 7: Innovative international standards required to prevent corruption involving vast quantities of assets more effectively.
In most cases of corruption involving vast quantities of assets, corporate vehicles registered in overseas jurisdictions are used to operate with impunity. Beneficial owners of companies obtaining contracts with governments are frequently unknown to the public officials issuing contracts and the public at large. In many cases of corruption involving vast quantities of assets, state-owned companies have been used for the purpose of embezzlement of public funds or property. In some cases, charities managed by PEPs or their relatives have also been involved in illicit practices. What measures can be put in place to stop the use of private or state-owned companies and charities for illicit enrichment? The experts will discuss issues such as asset disclosure, open ownership, and the G20 principles on state owned companies.
Moderator: Ms. Adriana Galafassi, National Director of Investigations, Anti-Corruption Office, Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, Argentina
Speakers:
- Mr. Davor Dubravica, Judge, Former Chairperson, Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI), Croatia
- Ms. Khadija Sharife, Africa Editor, Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project
- Mr. Gary Kalman, Executive Director, Financial Accountability and Corporate Transparency (FACT) Coalition
- Ms. Ingrid Hjertaker, Political Advisor, Tax Justice Network Norway
Rapporteur: Ms. Solvej Krause, World Bank/UNODC Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR)
Session 8: Sanctioning and compensating for corruption involving vast quantities of assets, including for social damage caused by it.
Some jurisdictions are increasingly exploring new avenues to address the consequences of corruption including imposing economic sanctions on those involved in corruption involving vast quantities of assets. One measure that is being implemented in some countries with regards to compensating the damage caused by corruption involving vast quantities of assets are the efforts to calculate the social damage caused by such corruption. The experts will discuss the viability of these efforts.
Moderator: Mr. Shervin Majlessi, Deputy Coordinator, World Bank/UNODC Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR)
Speakers:
- Mr. Robert Leventhal, Division Chief for Transnational Programs, Office of Global Programs and Policy, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, U.S. State Department
- Ms. Denisse Rudich, Senior Advisor, The Sentry
- Mr. Kjell Kristian Dørum Presentation
- Mr. Fabiano Angélico
Rapporteur: Ms. Laure du Castillion, Prosecutor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belgium
Session 9: Discussion of the main outcomes, including a set of principles and recommendations to combat corruption involving vast quantities of assets more effectively
Courtesy Visit: Ms. Marianne Hagen, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway
Moderator: Mr. Mats Benestad, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Norway to the International Organisations in Vienna
Rapporteurs: Mr. Samuel De Jaegere, Anti-Corruption Advisor, UNODC, and Ms. Livia Krings, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer, UNODC
Closing remarks
- Ms. Brigitte Strobel-Shaw, Officer-in-Charge, Corruption and Economic Crime Branch, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
