A/HRC/RES/58/7 development of States, undermines the values of democracy, the rule of law and morality and jeopardizes social, economic and political development, Recognizing that good governance and the fight against corruption have a central role in the promotion and protection of human rights and in the elimination of obstacles to development, as well as in creating sustainable, effective, accountable and transparent institutions, Recognizing also that fighting corruption at all levels is a priority, that the prevention and eradication of corruption is a responsibility of all States, and that States should cooperate with one another, in accordance with the United Nations Convention against Corruption, with the support and full involvement of other stakeholders, Noting the particular concern of developing countries and countries with economies in transition regarding the urgent need to return 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, Concerned about the fact that funds of illicit origin, which are urgently needed for development and the realization of all human rights, are stalled in banks of requested States, which continue to accrue gains from them, Concerned also that developing countries lose billions of dollars every year through illicit financial flows, and that, in Africa, it is estimated that every year $88.6 billion are lost to illicit financial flows, which represent about 3.7 per cent of the continent’s total gross domestic product an amount higher to all the annual official development assistance ($48 billion) received, and foreign direct investment ($54 billion), and that, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in its 2020 Economic Development in Africa Report, some African countries with high illicit financial flows spend on average 25 per cent less on health and 58 per cent less on education than countries with low illicit financial flows, Recognizing the importance of studying the potential relationship between combating illicit financial flows and attaining debt sustainability, the availability of valuable resources for financing for development and the fulfilment of human rights obligations, Reiterating the need to enhance and strengthen effective domestic resource mobilization, including accountable and transparent public expenditure systems, and that the harm done by illicit financial flows in overextending the limited resources of developing countries evidently affects their ability to address the Sustainable Development Goal financing gap and to mobilize domestic resources for longer-term development goals, Reaffirming the commitment of States parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption thereunder, and that the return of assets is one of the main purposes and a fundamental principle of the Convention, and underlining its central role in fostering international cooperation to combat corruption and to facilitate the return of the proceeds of corruption-related crimes, and stressing the need for universal adherence to the Convention and for its full implementation, and the full implementation of the resolutions and decisions of the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention, particularly the relevant decisions adopted at its fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, nineth and tenth sessions, Recognizing that strong and efficient domestic legal systems are essential in preventing and combating corrupt practices and the transfer of assets of illicit origin and in returning such assets, and recalling that the fight against all forms of corruption requires strong institutions at all levels, including at the local level, able to take efficient preventive and law enforcement measures consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption, in particular chapters II and III thereof, Recalling that the repatriation of funds of illicit origin requires the close and transparent coordination and cooperation of requesting and requested States, including between competent authorities, in particular the judicial authorities and central authorities, 2