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
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
US Sanctions Russia and Certain Regions of Ukraine, and Issues General Licenses
Feb. 24, 2022 The Charity & Security Network strongly condemns the Russian government’s decision to invade Ukraine, which poses a serious threat to the Ukrainian people, as well as the civil society groups working on
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
C&SN Op-Ed: 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
New FAQs Mark Treasury’s Latest Progress on Afghanistan, but Broader Policy Solutions Are Still Essential
On February 2, 2022 the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the General Licenses issued for Afghanistan. These FAQs are designed to help clarify what types of activities