Panel on Asset Recovery for SDG Financing Holds December 19 at CoSP in Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. December 17, 2019…. The use of recovered assets for the realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) comes under sharp focus at a panel billed to hold on Thursday 19 December, 2019 at the ongoing Eighth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption holding at Abu Dhabi, United Arabs Emirates.
The panel which is being organized by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) entitled “Utilization of Recovered Asset for the realisation of SDG 16.4” as part of activities of the Monitoring the Repatriation and Utilization of Recovered Assets (MANTRA) project being supported by DFID, according to the group’s Executive Director, Rev David Ugolor seeks to promote discussion on dedicating the use of recovered assets for finance for development initiatives in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).
The event which will be moderated by the International Coordinator, UNCAC Coalition, Gillian Dell, has the Senior Adviser to the President on Social Investment Programme to President Muhammadu Buhari, Hajia Mariam Uwais who will discuss the Nigeria government experience and the need to broaden its traditional conceptions of asset recovery to include sustainable development and poverty reduction initiatives.
“The panel will bring together a range of stakeholders involved in the asset recovery and return process to discuss how assets can be used to remediate victims of corruption – individuals in the victim state – to finance targeted development and poverty reduction projects in line with the needs and interests of the victims of corruption.” Ugolor said in a statement.
Other panelists include: Managing Director, Basel Institute for Governance, Gretta Fenner who will provide a summary of report findings ‘New Working Paper: Recovering assets in support of the SDGs’ and key recommendations.
At the panel, ANEEJ helmsman, David Ugolor will be presenting Nigeria CSO experience on the Cash Transfer Programme, its successes and poverty reduction programmes from returned assets, in line with the needs of victims of corruption while the Research and Policy Manager, International State Crime Initiative (ISCI), Queen Mary University of London, Ms. Fatima Kanji will dive deep into the challenges of operating within authoritarian settings in countries such as Uzbekistan, and the benefits of adopting a development/poverty-reduction driven approach to asset recovery and return, remediating the harm caused to Victims of Corruption but the broaden societal impacts of such programmes.
Furthermore, “the event seeks to develop the discussions around asset recovery beyond a technical and legal process towards one which seeks to remediate the harm caused to victims of corruption and promote the need to dedicate funds towards the development of the victim state.
“The event is expected to continue advocating for building an international coalition and coordinated voice on asset recovery and return issues, in order to build concerted international momentum on the issue, with a focus on operationalising the Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) principles.” Rev David Ugolor emphasised in the statement.
The panel will take place on Thursday 19.12 in the afternoon 17:00 – 18:00 PM in conference room CR1.
The Eight Conference of State Parties which began 16 December 2019 at the United Arab Emirates, ends on 20th.
Below are links to ANEEJ MANTRA Fact sheet and information about the session in Abu Dhabi.
Session on Utilization of Recovered Asset for the realisation of SDGs – ANEEJ (CoSP Panel)-3
For further information, contact info@aneej.org
