2024-05-04 07:59:54
”The non-repatriation of these funds has a negative impact on the obligation of the State to use the maximum available resources for the realization of economic, social and cultural rights,” observed Mr. Zniber, during of a meeting of experts on “the obstacles to the repatriation of illicit funds to countries of origin and their impact on the enjoyment of human rights“.
In this sense, he recalled target 16.4 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aims to “significantly reduce illicit financial flows (…), strengthen the recovery and restitution of stolen assets and fight against all forms of organized crime, by 2030″.
”Flows of funds of illicit origin deprive countries of the resources necessary for the progressive realization of human rights, in particular economic, social and cultural rights, as well as the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment and right to development, in a way that threatens the stability and sustainable development of States and undermines the values of democracy and the rule of law,” he warned.
To this end, he reviewed a series of HRC resolutions calling on all States requesting the repatriation of funds of illicit origin to fully respect their commitment to making the fight against corruption a priority at all levels and to put an end to illicit transfers of funds, as well as to apply the principles of accountability, transparency and participation in the decision-making process regarding the allocation of repatriated funds for the realization of economic, social and cultural rights.
The meeting of experts therefore aims to identify the main obstacles to the repatriation of illicit funds to the countries of origin, in particular legal, factual and institutional obstacles, noted Mr. Zniber.
“In this regard, I strongly encourage robust multi-stakeholder dialogue, particularly with our civil society partners and human rights defenders, who can play an important role in exposing corruption and drawing attention to on the negative impact of the non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin on the rule of law and the realization of economic, social and cultural rights”, he underlined.
On January 10, Morocco was elected to the presidency of the United Nations HRC for the year 2024, during a vote held in Geneva.
2024-05-04 07:59:54