There is a strong business case for Collective Action against corruption - and more and more companies, law enforcement agencies, international organisations and civil society representatives are willing to engage. Which is good, because we need all players around the table to achieve sustainable change. 

These were key recurring messages during the Basel Institute's 3rd International Collective Action Conference, which took place on 14-15 November 2018 at the Volkshaus Basel, Switzerland.

The official launch of the Tainted Assets Initiative took place on 15 November 2018 at the Basel Institute on Governance’s Conference on Collective Action. This event marks the formation of the Project’s secretariat at the Basel Institute.

The Basel Institute will lead a project to develop a behavioural anti-corruption intervention for the Tanzanian health sector. 

The Basel Institute on Governance has partnered with Zurich-based MME to offer a training course on blockchain, cryptocurrencies and anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). The two-day course, FinTech AML Compliance Training, covers the essentials of blockchain and how to adapt AML/CFT processes to the FinTech industry.

In response to the recent wave of new electronic payment methods, including cryptocurrencies, the International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR) has developed training on money laundering using cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin.

At the invitation of the Romanian-American University in Bucharest, ICAR trainers delivered training on “Money Laundering using Cryptocurrencies and International Co-operation” for students during 27–29 November 2018.

Dr. Oscar Solórzano, Country Manager of the Basel Institute on Governance - Peru Office, had the honour of participating in Peru’s XI National Congress of Judges on 22 November, 2018.

Dr Solórzano's presentation took place within the framework of the primary theme of the congress, namely the prevention and combating of corruption. The event was opened by the President of the Republic of Peru, Dr. Martín Vizcarra Cornejo.

Around 60 justice officials, including judges and prosecutors, from the Peruvian provinces of San Martín and Piura, have participated in a training course entitled "Studies on Asset Recovery and International Judicial Cooperation in Corruption and Other Financial Crimes".

The Basel Institute on Governance welcomes the recent decisions by courts in Luxembourg and Switzerland to return almost USD 17 million to Peru in cases related to the regime of former Peruvian President Fujimori. We congratulate the involved authorities in Peru, Luxemburg and Switzerland for the successful conclusion of these 15-year old cases. We are honoured to have been able to support this successful outcome.

Swiss authorities have executed an extrajudicial agreement signed between Peru and Montesinos' frontman.

Peruvian authorities and Víctor Venero Garrido, the main frontman of former presidential advisor Vladimiro Montesinos, signed an out-of-court settlement to return approximately USD 15 million from Switzerland to Peru. The money comes from corrupt dealings during the 1990s and the case has lasted 17 years. This is the third and largest of the five accounts located in Switzerland whose assets will be returned to Peru.

The decision that Jersey shall become a core donor to the Basel Institute’s International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR) for a three-year period has been signed by Jersey’s Treasury Minister on Friday 11 May 2018.  With this decision, Jersey joins Liechtenstein, Switzerland and the United Kingdom in supporting the implementation of ICAR’s Operational Strategy which has been developed jointly with ICAR’s donors and partner countries.