VIENNA, 30 August 2012 – Ways of identifying and recovering stolen assets will be the focus of an OSCE seminar in Vienna from 3 to 5 September.

Corrupt officials steal 20 to 40 billion dollars from developing countries each year – equivalent to 20 to 40 per cent of annual international development assistance – according to estimates by the Stolen Asset Recovery (StAR) Initiative of the World Bank and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), who are organizing the conference along with the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities.

Senior officials from OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation that deal with anti-corruption and anti-money laundering as well as representatives from financial institutions will exchange experience on asset recovery cases and issues related to legal instruments, the identification of risk groups, asset tracing, and international and regional co-operation frameworks.

The event comprises two segments: an expert segment on 3 and 4 September and a political segment on the morning of 5 September. The political segment will focus on how the outcomes and recommendations of the expert discussions can be further advanced in order to strengthen national and international asset recovery efforts.

Heather Lowe, Legal Counsel and Director of Government Affairs at Global Financial Integrity, will give the keynote speech at the opening session of the political segment.

The full agenda is available at http://www.osce.org/eea/92151

The event is supported by the Irish Chairmanship of the OSCE and the Basel Institute on Governance.

Journalists are invited to attend the opening session of the political segment on Wednesday, 5 September at the Ratsaal of the Hofburg Congress Centre at 09.30. Journalists wishing to arrange interviews with experts should contact press@osce.org