A/HRC/RES/17/23
undermine the values of democracy and morality and jeopardize social, economic and
political development,
Deeply concerned that the enjoyment of human rights, be they economic, social and
cultural, or civil and political, in particular the right to development, is seriously
undermined by the phenomenon of corruption and the transfer of funds of illicit origin,
Convinced that the illicit acquisition of personal wealth can be particularly damaging
to democratic institutions, national economies and the rule of law,
Recognizing that States continue to face various challenges in fund and asset
recovery of illicit origin, including legal challenges,
Convinced that corruption, including the transfer of funds and assets of illicit origin
and the non-repatriation of such funds and assets, is no longer a local matter but a
transnational phenomenon that affects all societies and economies, making international
cooperation essential to prevent and combat it,
1.
Expresses grave concern about cases of corruption that involve vast
quantities of assets, which may constitute a substantial proportion of the resources of States,
the deprivation of which threatens the political stability and sustainable development of
those States;
2.
Recognizes the urgent need to repatriate such illicit funds to the countries of
origin and urges all States to commit their political will to act together to recover the
proceeds of corruption, including by repatriating illicit funds and assets to the countries of
origin;
3.
Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to
prepare a comprehensive study and, when necessary, to seek information from relevant
international organizations and agencies on the negative impact of the non-repatriation of
funds of illicit origin to the countries of origin on the enjoyment of human rights, in
particular economic, social and cultural rights, and to submit a report thereon to the Human
Rights Council at its nineteenth session.
35th meeting
17 June 2011
[Adopted by a recorded vote of 32 to 2, with 12 abstentions. The voting was as follows:
In favour:
Angola, Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile, China, Cuba,
Djibouti, Ecuador, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Maldives,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Thailand, Uganda, Uruguay, Zambia
Against:
Japan, United States of America
Abstaining:
Belgium, Hungary, France, Norway, Poland, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland,
Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]
2