Since 9/11, measures designed to criminalize financial support for terrorist organizations are increasingly linked to laws and regulations governing charities and nonprofits. The Financial Action Task Force, a global standard-setting body on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing, sets recommendations for member states, which in turn promulgate laws and policies to combat illicit finance. In the U.S., the Department of Treasury is responsible for these programs.
Under this framework, repressive regimes and financial institutions can restrict the legitimate activities of civil society through the imposition of extensive legal and financial requirements. The important work that civil society organizations do to address the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism must be protected.
This page contains information on many aspects of Counter-terrorist Financing, including on the Financial Action Task Force and U.S. Treasury.
Featured Resources
Unpacking Treasury’s 2022 National Strategy for Combatting Terrorist and Other Illicit Financing
By Ashleigh Subramanian-Montgomery Background On May 13, 2022, the Treasury Department published their 2022 National Strategy for Combatting Terrorist and Other Illicit Financing (2022 Strategy) and accompanying Press Release. The 2022 Strategy aims to enhance
Sanctioned Taliban Financier Holds Leadership Post at Afghan Central Bank – Wall Street Journal
C&SN Director Paul Carroll is quoted on financial access issues caused by sanctions, arguing that banks are sometimes hesitant to process transactions in sanctioned contexts even when Treasury authorizes certain transactions. Read the full article
Unpacking Treasury’s 2022 National Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment
By Ashleigh Subramanian-Montgomery Background On March 1, 2022, the Treasury Department published the 2022 National Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment (NTFRA). This updates the 2018 NTFRA and 2015 NTFRA reports. The risk assessment identifies the groups
New Issue of International Review of the Red Cross: Counterterrorism, Sanctions and War
On Feb. 23, 2022, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) released their latest edition of the International Review of the Red Cross, with a thematic focus on ‘Counterterrorism, sanctions and war’. The edition
C&SN Submits Comments to UN Special Rapporteur for Report to the 50th Session of the Human Rights Council
On Feb. 18, 2022, responding to a request for input, the Charity & Security Network submitted comments to the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, in order
UN Report Examines Nexus of Counterterrorism and International Humanitarian Law
The UN’s Counterterrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) study, The Interrelationship between counter-terrorism frameworks and international humanitarian law, released on Jan. 10, 2022 is a significant step forward in bringing these two legal frameworks into alignment and