Workshop: Legal Redress for Victims of Corruption: Enhancing the role of civil society in corruption related litigation

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Corruption is not a victimless crime – all citizens suffer as a consequence of corruption. International conventions compel countries to put laws in place so that victims can hold violators accountable, but these conventions are drafted by states for states. What if the state is involved in the theft of the country’s resources? What if victim-states are unable or unwilling to conduct the appropriate legal proceedings?

In many jurisdictions the legal tools are unclear, untested, or even nonexistent – leaving victims little recourse against corrupt officials or those who collude with them. The ability of victims to initiate civil claims and to participate in criminal proceedings is a crucial counterpart to enforcement by state actors. This is most profoundly true for victims in countries where corruption is systemic and meaningful prosecution is a fiction.

How can civil society play a role in corruption related litigation?

The workshop on Legal Redress for Victims of Corruption will present corruption cases initiated by civil society. This workshop will be followed on the 12th by a People’s Empowerment – Special Session that will seek to empower civil society by mapping the current legal landscape and available tools to address trans-national corruption.

SPEAKERS:

• Vijay ANAND, President, 5th Pillar (India)
• Alan BACARESE, Head of Legal and Case Consultancy, Basel Institute on Governance (Switzerland)
• Edward H. DAVIS, Lawyer, Astigarraga Davis Law firm (US)
• Adetokunbo MUMUNI, Executive Director, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project – SERAP (Nigeria)
• Juanita OLAYA, Director, Director, Basel Institute on Governance (Switzerland)
• Maud PERDRIEL VAISSIERE, Managing Director, SHERPA (France)
• K. Elizabeth RYDER, Senior Legal Consultant (Norway)

Discussions will be moderated by Gillian DELL, Programme Manager – International Conventions, Transparency International-Secretariat

Resources

You can listen to the Podcast by clicking on the play arrow below.

Please note that panelists often speak in Spanish.

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