The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an intergovernmental policy-making body that sets anti-terrorist financing and anti-money laundering standards. These standards are used to assess the adequacy of laws and regulations in nearly every country in the world. Since 9/11, FATF has increased its focus on regulation of financial services and charities. In doing so, it created Recommendation 8 (R8) on laws relating to nonprofit organizations. Although FATF has taken positive steps since 2012 to prevent abuse or misapplication of its program, more needs to be done to ensure that anti-terrorist financing laws cut the flow of money to terrorists, not to civil society. CSOs must pay close attention to the workings of FATF to prevent new laws that impede their work.
Global NPO Coalition on FATF
Since 2012, the Global NPO Coalition on FATF has helped civil society raise its voice with FATF at the national level. It has coordinated responses to draft revisions of FATF’s Best Practices Paper and Typology Report, as well as working to develop a formal consultation process with FATF. More recently, it has worked for changes in R8 and its accompanying Interpretive Note (see p. 54).
Featured Resources
Synopsis: Unpacking Treasury’s 2022 National Strategy for Combatting Terrorist and Other Illicit Financing
By Ashleigh Subramanian-Montgomery 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 the
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
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
U.S. Treasury, FATF Support Financial Access for Nonprofits Battling COVID-19
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, both the U.S. Department of Treasury and Financial Action Task Force (FATF) issued statements that emphasize the urgent need for aid in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, calling for
UN Report: “Soft Law” Bodies Must Integrate Human Rights Into Counterterrorism Efforts
A new report from the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism (SRCT), Fionnuala Ni Aolain, focuses on the role of “soft law” bodies – organizations such
Global NPO Coalition on FATF Submits Comments to UN
The Global NPO Coalition on FATF submitted comments to the United National Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism regarding “Soft law and informal lawmaking in the