Grand corruption is a pervasive global problem. It undermines effective governance and trust in leadership while also harming many of the most vulnerable particularly those fleeing economic hardship, persecution, state disintegration and armed conflicts. The World Bank estimates that every year corrupt officials worldwide steal US$20 billion to US$40 billion from money intended as development assistance.
On August 6, 2020, the Consejo Mundial para los Refugiados y la Migración (WRMC) hosted a webinar with Integrity Initiatives International to discuss two complementary proposals to hold kleptocratic leaders to account for the damage they have caused: an International Anti-Corruption Court (IACC) proposed by Integrity Initiatives International; and an initiative to seize and repurpose illicit assets of kleptocratic leaders for victims of corruption especially refugees proposed by the WRMC.
The panel discussion was moderated by Susan Harada. Our panelists were: Lloyd Axworthy, Chair, World Refugee & Migration Council; Michael Camilleri, Director, Peter D. Bell Rule of Law Program, Inter-American Dialogue; María de los Ángeles Estrada, Executive Director, Transparency and Anti-corruption Initiative, Monterrey Institute of Technology; Ratna Omidvar, Independent Senator, Senate of Canada; and WRMC Distinguished Advisor Allan Rock.