A/HRC/25/52
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
7 May 2014
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Twenty-fifth session
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
The negative impact of the non-repatriation of funds
of illicit origin on the enjoyment of human rights
Final report of the Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt
and other related international financial obligations of States
on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly
economic, social and cultural rights, Cephas Lumina*
Summary
The present report, submitted in accordance with resolution 19/38, illustrates the
negative impact of illicit financial flows on developing countries and in particular the
extent to which the non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin have an impact on the
implementation of human rights in the countries of origin. The Independent Expert finds
that illicit financial flows, including those derived from corruption and embezzlement by
public officials, have considerable negative impacts on the realization of human rights,
particularly in developing countries and especially in a context where those countries face a
financing gap of around US$ 112 billion annually to meet the Millennium Development
Goals aimed at delivering basic social goods such as education, health care, water and
sanitation and food security. By reducing the resources available to States to establish the
conditions for the realization of economic, social and cultural rights through investment in
social programmes, and to create and strengthen the institutions that uphold civil and
political rights, illicit financial flows compromise the ability of the affected Governments
to devote the maximum available resources to the realization of human rights. An
additional consequence of illicit funds is the further perpetration and promotion of criminal
activities, including terrorism, which endanger democracy and the realization of human
rights.
* Late submission.
GE.14-02717
*1402717*