A/HRC/19/2 human rights, in particular economic, social and cultural rights,67 only around 2 per cent of the estimated funds of illicit origin annually leaving the developing world are repatriated to their countries of origin, Noting the particular concern of developing countries and countries with economies in transition regarding the return of assets of illicit origin derived from corruption, in particular to countries from which they originated, consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, in particular chapter V thereto, so as to enable countries to design and fund development projects in accordance with their national priorities in view of the importance that such assets can have to their sustainable development, Convinced that the illicit acquisition of personal wealth can be particularly damaging to democratic institutions, national economies and the rule of law, and stressing that any resource that the State is deprived of because of corruption has potentially the same negative effect, regardless of whether it is exported or domestically retained, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the comprehensive study prepared by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the negative impact of the nonrepatriation of funds of illicit origin to the countries of origin on the enjoyment of human rights, in particular economic, social and cultural rights;67 2. Calls upon all States that have not yet acceded to the United Nations Convention against Corruption to consider doing so as a matter of priority; 3. Asserts the urgent need to repatriate illicit funds to the countries of origin without conditionalities, consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption and in line with the commitment made at the 2005 World Summit to make the fight against corruption a priority at all levels and to curb the illicit transfer of funds, and urges all States to step up their efforts to trace, freeze and recover those funds; 4. Acknowledges the importance of compliance with international human rights law in relation to the repatriation of funds of illicit origin through, inter alia, promoting human rights-based policy coherence in the deliberations and actions by States Members of the Human Rights Council and in the intergovernmental process of implementing the United Nations Convention against Corruption; 5. Invites the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption to consider ways of adopting a human rights-based approach in the implementation of the Convention, including when dealing with the repatriation of funds of illicit origin, and appreciates the continued efforts of the Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on Asset Recovery of the Conference to assist States parties in fulfilling their obligations under the Convention to prevent, detect and deter in a more effective manner the international transfer of funds of illicit origin and to strengthen international cooperation in asset recovery, bearing in mind that, regardless of the capacities, resources and willingness of the requesting State’s institutions and authorities, there is a victim society that is suffering the consequences of the transfer of those funds; 6. Welcomes the decision made at the fourth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption to convene open-ended intergovernmental expert meetings on international cooperation to advise and assist States with regard to extradition and mutual legal assistance, and notes with appreciation the Stolen Assets Recovery Initiative of the World Bank Group and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and encourages coordination among existing initiatives; 67 GE.13-14768 A/HRC/19/42. 119