Arab Forum 2012

The primary objective of the Forum was to start a process that would develop in part into a regional network on the issue of asset recovery, through periodic meetings and other activities.

Past Event
Date
Nov 10, 2020

The primary objective of the Forum was to start a process that would develop in part into a regional network on the issue of asset recovery, through periodic meetings and other activities. This network would also provide a repository of information, contacts and good practices on asset recovery specific to the countries of the Deauville Partnership with Arab Countries in Transition. The objectives of this first meeting of the Forum were to:

  • identify and communicate the needs for country-specific capacity building, with clear and easy to monitor commitments
  • provide regional training to practitioners engaged in tracing, freezing, and recovering the proceeds of corruption
  • encourage G8, Partner and Regional countries to introduce policy changes and legislative/institutional changes needed to facilitate effective asset recovery
  • provide a platform for potential bilateral and multilateral side-meetings between the countries seeking asset recovery and the various G8, Partner and Regional countries

Underpinning and informing these objectives were both (a) the progress and challenges encountered by both requesting and requested countries in pursuing the recovery of assets and (b) the progress made in the implementation of the Deauville Partnership Action Plan on Asset Recovery.

Countries further decided to utilize the platform provided by the Forum to engage in side meetings to discuss individual cases on the margins of the Forum.

The Work Stream Approach

To facilitate frank discussion among counterparts, following the plenary session (Sessions I and II), the Forum was separated into three Work Streams that focused on the specific roles of investigators, prosecutors and policy makers in asset recovery. The work streams included short presentations designed to highlight topics and foster open dialogue among practitioners. Practitioners were invited to attend the work stream best suited to their area of expertise.

Click on Work stream 1, 2, or 3 below for more details

  • Work Stream 1: for Investigators, forensic auditors and FIU staff
  • Work Stream 2: for Prosecutors, Investigating Judges and Lawyers in Central Authorities
  • Work Stream 3: for Policy makers, legal draftspersons, staff of foreign affairs and technical assistance providers

Find the Arabic translation for this page here. 

Schedule for Working Sessions

Expand All
General

for all attendees

Day 1    September 11
8.00    Registration
9.45    Opening Session   

The opening session will feature welcoming remarks by the host, the G8 Presidency and other top level representatives of invited countries and organizations.

11.45    Break
12.15    Session I

Expectations towards the Arab Forum on Asset Recovery

Moderator: Canada

The session will set the stage for the Forum by providing select delegations of the region (Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen) an opportunity to shortly outline their main expectations towards the forum.

13.15     Lunch
15.00     Session II

Successes and Challenges: Lessons learned by the Deauville partnership countries in seeking the recovery of assets

Moderator: Morocco

  • The session will be outlining the successes and challenges encountered thus far by both requesting and requested countries in pursuing the recovery of assets diverted from the Arab countries in transition.
  • Presentation by Tunisia on the primary legal, institutional and operational challenges in tracing assets and cooperating effectively in their seizing, confiscation and return (15 min.).
  • Presentation by the UK on the primary legal, institutional and operational challenges in tracing assets and cooperating effectively in their seizing, confiscation and return (15 min.).
  • Discussion
16.00    Break
16.30    Work Streams Begin    

Click on Work stream 1, 2, or 3

  • Work Stream 1: for Investigators, forensic auditors and FIU staff
  • Work Stream 2: for Prosecutors, Investigating Judges and Lawyers in Central Authorities
  • Work Stream 3: for Policy makers, legal draftspersons, staff of foreign affairs and technical assistance providers
18.00    Close of First Day
19.00    Dinner

Hosted by the H.E Dr. Ali Bin Fetais Al Marri, Attorney General of the State of Qatar

Day 2    September 12
9.00       Work Streams Continue    

Click on Work stream 1, 2, or 3

  • Work Stream 1: for Investigators, forensic auditors and FIU staff
  • Work Stream 2: for Prosecutors, Investigating Judges and Lawyers in Central Authorities
  • Work Stream 3: for Policy makers, legal draftspersons, staff of foreign affairs and technical assistance providers
11.00    Break
11.30    Work Streams Continue    

Click on Work stream 1, 2, or 3

  • Work Stream 1: for Investigators, forensic auditors and FIU staff
  • Work Stream 2: for Prosecutors, Investigating Judges and Lawyers in Central Authorities
  • Work Stream 3: for Policy makers, legal draftspersons, staff of foreign affairs and technical assistance providers
13.00    Lunch
16.00    Break
16.30    G8 and other regional coordination meetings / meeting of the Rapporteurs
17.30    Closing of Day 2
Day 3    September 13     
9.00    Session VI

From Words To Action

Moderator: StAR

  • Presentations of Working Stream Reports by Rapporteurs
  • Presentation of the Chairs’ Statement
  • Comments and discussion
  • Launch of the Arab Asset Recovery Forum Website
11.00    Break
11.30    Work Streams Continue    

Click on Work stream 1, 2, or 3

  • Work Stream 1: for Investigators, forensic auditors and FIU staff
  • Work Stream 2: for Prosecutors, Investigating Judges and Lawyers in Central Authorities
  • Work Stream 3: for Policy makers, legal draftspersons, staff of foreign affairs and technical assistance providers
13.15    Lunch
14.30    Closing Session

Closing remarks

15.00    Close of Forum
15.30    Visit to the Museum of Islamic Art

 

Work Stream 1

for Investigators, forensic auditors and FIU staff

Getting started: mounting national and international financial investigations

Rapporteur: Canada/StAR

This Work Stream will focus on the experiences made in asset tracing by selected countries involved in the recovery efforts of Arab countries in transitions. It will outline different approaches adopted by countries in opening their own domestic cases, establishing asset recovery teams, identifying and tracing asset domestically and at the international level, and using multiple channels of informal communication to identify the location, nature and volume of assets.

Day 1    September 11  
16.30    Getting started

Moderator: Jordan

  • Presentation 1 by Tunisia: Developing a case strategy, assembling a team, gathering intelligence and evidence (including the volume/source of losses), considering different legal avenues for asset recovery (10 min.).
  • Presentation 2 by the UK: Adopting a proactive approach to asset recovery – identifying the assets, the role of FIUs, opening a domestic investigation, reaching out and supporting affected countries (10 min.).
  • Open Discussion (60 min.)
  • Conclusions
18.00    Close of First Day
19.00    Dinner hosted by the H.E Dr. Ali Bin Fetais Al Marri, Attorney General of the State of Qatar
Day 2    September 12     
9.00    Sources of corporate, financial and property information and their use in financial investigations:

Moderator: Belgium

  • Presentation 1 by Liechtenstein (10 min.).
  • Presentation 2 by Qatar (10 min.).
  • Presentation 3 by the Guernsey: (10 min.).
  • Open Discussion (80 min.)
  • Conclusions
11.00    Break
11.30    Making effective use of practitioners’ networks:

Moderator: Spain

  • Presentation 1 by StAR/INTERPOL Focal Point: Experiences, good practices and lessons learned from the establishment of the StAR/INTERPOL Global Asset Recovery Network (10 min.).
  • Presentation 2 by CARIN: Experiences, good practices and lessons learned from the establishment of CARIN as an example of a regional network (10 min.).
  • Presentation 3 by EUROJUST: The mandate, functions and services provided by EUROJUST in facilitating the identification of contacts, the tracing and freezing of assets (10 min.).
  • Presentation 4 by EGMONT: The role of FIUs and the Egmont Group in asset recovery. (10 min.).
  • Open Discussion (40 min.)
  • Conclusions
13.00    Lunch
14.30    Space for Bilateral Meetings for Participants of Work Streams 1 and 2    

(Closed Sessions)

  • This space is intended for practitioners in Work Streams 1 and 2 to organize bilateral meetings to discuss individual cases as well as identify and resolve specific technical questions and challenges.
16.00    Break
16.30    Agenda continues with general sessions
Day 3    September 13
11.30    Space for Bilateral Meetings for Participants of Work Streams 1 and 2 

(Closed Sessions)

  • This space is intended for practitioners in Work Streams 1 and 2 to organize bilateral meetings to discuss individual cases as well as identify and resolve specific technical questions and challenges.
13.15    Lunch
14.30    Closing Session

Closing remarks

15.00    Close of Forum
15.30    Visit to the Museum of Islamic Art
Work Stream 2

for Prosecutors, Investigating Judges and Lawyers in Central Authorities

International cooperation for the purpose of asset recovery

Rapporteur: UK/StAR

This Work Stream will highlight lessons learned by G8 countries, Deauville partners and other countries in requesting international cooperation – in particular mutual legal assistance - for the purpose of seizure and confiscation of the proceeds of corruption and related offences as well as responding to such requests received.

Day 1    September 11     
16.30    International cooperation in criminal matters for the purpose of confiscation

Moderator: Japan

  • Presentation 1 by Egypt: State of play of Mutual legal assistance requests – what progress has been made and what is holding them back (10 min.).
  • Presentation 2 by Switzerland: State of play of Mutual legal assistance requests – what progress has been made and what is holding them back (10 min.).
  • Open Discussion (60 min.)
  • Conclusions
18.00    Close of First Day
19.00    Dinner hosted by the H.E Dr. Ali Bin Fetais Al Marri, Attorney General of the State of Qatar
Day 2    September 12  
9.00    Securing assets
  • Moderator: Saudi Arabia
  • Presentation 1 by the UAE: Asset freezing – tools and methods to ensure the rapid and coordinated freezing of assets (10 min.).
  • Presentation 1 by the US: Asset freezing – tools and methods to ensure the rapid and coordinated freezing of assets. Methods to connect the assets and the underlying offence. (10 min.).
  • Open Discussion (80 min.)
  • Conclusions
11.00    Break
11.30    Direct recovery and civil litigation

Moderator: Turkey

  • Presentation 1 by France: Opportunities and limitations of pursuing asset recovery as partie civile to a criminal enforcement action (10 min.).
  • Presentation 2 by Kuwait: Opportunities and limitations of pursuing asset recovery by means of private civil litigation (10 min.).
  • Open Discussion (60 min.)
  • Conclusions
13.00    Lunch
14.30    Space for Bilateral Meetings for Participants of Work

Streams 1 and 2:    
(Closed Sessions)

This space is intended for practitioners in Work Streams 1 and 2 to organize bilateral meetings to discuss individual cases as well as identify and resolve specific technical questions and challenges.

16.00    Break
16.30    Agenda continues with general sessions
Day 3    September 13  
11.30    Space for Bilateral Meetings for Participants of Work

Streams 1 and 2    
(Closed Sessions)

This space is intended for practitioners in Work Streams 1 and 2 to organize bilateral meetings to discuss individual cases as well as identify and resolve specific technical questions and challenges.

13.15    Lunch
14.30    Closing Session

Closing remarks

15.00    Close of Forum
15.30    Visit to the Museum of Islamic Art
Work Stream 3

for Policy makers, legal draftspersons, staff of foreign affairs and technical assistance providers

Effective policies, laws and technical assistance to advance asset recovery at domestic level and internationally

Rapporteur: U.S./StAR

This Work Stream will provide a platform to discuss and identify good practices and models in terms of policies, laws, resource allocation and coordination mechanisms providing an enabling legal, institutional and operation environment and framework to effectively identify and trace assets, ensure timely seizure and freezing, effective confiscation and recovery both at national as well as at international levels.

Day 1    September 11     
16.30    Creating an enabling policy environment:

Moderator: UAE

  • Presentation 1 by the US: Taking the profit out of crime - Establishing and operating effective proceeds of crime regime, domestically and in cooperation with foreign jurisdictions (10 min.).
  • Presentation 2 by Qatar: Establishing asset recovery policies and creating domestic coordination mechanisms (10 min.).
  • Open Discussion (60 min.)
  • Conclusions
18.00    Close of First Day
19.00    Dinner hosted by the H.E Dr. Ali Bin Fetais Al Marri, Attorney General of the State of Qatar
Day 2    September 12     
9.00    Creating an enabling legal environment – Part 1

Moderator: Jersey

  • Presentation 1 by Canada: Putting laws or mechanisms in place to rapidly freeze assets of corrupt regimes (10 min.).
  • Presentation 2 by Libya: Rapid asset freeze by domestic decree – advantages and challenges (10 min.).
  • Open Discussion (90 min.)
  • Conclusions
11.00    Break
11.30    Creating an enabling legal environment – Part 2

Moderator: Russian Federation

  • Presentation 1 by Italy: Rebuttable presumptions, non-conviction based forfeiture and other legal tools for effective confiscation (10 min.).
  • Presentation 2 by Switzerland: Innovative legal tools to facilitate Asset Recovery (10 min.)
  • Open Discussion (60 min.)
  • Conclusions
13.00    Lunch
14.30    Technical assistance/capacity building cooperation priorities in advancing asset recovery and anti-corruption reforms

Moderator: The World Bank/UNODC

(Closed Sessions)

  • Presentation of TA priorities by Libya Discussion with TA providers (14.30 – 15.00)
  • Presentation of TA priorities by Yemen Discussion with TA providers (15.00 – 15.30)
  • Presentation of TA priorities by Egypt Discussion with TA providers (15.30 – 16.00)
16.00    Break
16.30    Agenda continues with general sessions
Day 3    September 13     
11.30    Technical assistance/capacity building cooperation priorities in advancing asset recovery and anti-corruption reforms

Moderator: The World Bank/UNODC

  • (Closed Sessions - Continues)
  • Presentation of TA priorities by Tunisia Discussion with TA providers (11.30 – 12.00)
  • Presentation of TA priorities by other countries (upon request) Discussion with TA providers (12.00 – 13.00)
13.15    Lunch
14.30    Closing Session

Closing remarks

15.00    Close of Forum
15.30    Visit to the Museum of Islamic Art
First Meeting Documents

First Meeting Agenda

جدول أعمال الاجتماع الأول

Report of the First Meeting of the Arab Forum on Asset Recovery

Speech of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani the Emir of the State of Qatar for the opening session of the Arab Forum on Asset Recovery

U.S. President Obama’s Message to the Arab Forum on Asset Recovery

Speech of the Attorney General of the State of Qatar at the closing session of the Arab Forum on Asset Recovery 

Chairs' statement by Qatar and the United States on the September 11 - 13, 2012 meeting of the Arab Forum on Asset Recovery with the Deauville Partnership with Arab countries in transition - English 

Chairs' statement by Qatar and the United States on the September 11 - 13, 2012 meeting of the Arab Forum on Asset Recovery with the Deauville Partnership with Arab countries in transition - Arabic

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Arab Forum on Asset Recovery

Other Documents

G8 Action Plan on the Deauville Partnership with Arab Countries in Transition Fact Sheet

Deauville Action Plan on Asset Recovery - English

Deauville Action Plan on Asset Recovery - Arabic

Deauville Action Plan on Open Governance and Participation