Over the past several years, access to financial services have become increasingly difficult for civil society organizations that must conduct international financial transactions in order to operate overseas where their work is needed most. Financial institutions may delay, or refuse to make, transfers between organizations. Sometimes, nonprofit organizations (NPOs) are turned away as customers or have their accounts closed. Remittance services that facilitate fund transfers between diaspora populations and their families are threatened by the international banking system’s growing unwillingness to provide these services.
The U.S. government has said that banks should not “de-risk” but that policy has not been translated into concrete action or regulatory standards that remove current disincentives for banks to provide services to international NPOs. As a result, money will be taken out of transparent, regulated channels, making life more difficult for legitimate NPOs and easier for terrorist financiers.
Featured Resources
UN Human Rights Council’s 49th Session: Side Event on the Debilitating Impact on Civil Society of Restrictions on Access to Resources
On March 16, 2022, a virtual side event, Respect, Protect and Fulfil: Guaranteeing Access to Resources as a State Responsibility, was held at the UN Human Rights Council 49th Session. The event focused on how
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
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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
US Is Effectively Stealing Billions From a Nation Ravaged by a US-Initiated War – Truthout
February 18, 2022 C&SN Associate Director for Policy and Advocacy Ashleigh Subramanian-Montgomery offers her analysis of the Biden administration's recent decision to effectively steal Afghanistan's foreign reserves by setting aside half for the families of