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
C&SN’s Year in Review: 2023
Throughout 2023, eruptions of conflict and multiple natural disasters in regions already burdened by violence and inequity compounded the turmoil experienced by millions. Yet, because conflict zones and politically unstable regions are often subject to
Gender, Counter-terrorism Financing, and De-risking: Women Pay the Price
This issue brief, published on International Women’s Day (IWD), provides an overview of the gendered impacts of counter-terrorism financing measures and de-risking, highlighting the disproportionate impacts these have on women. Read the brief here.
India: Stop Abusing Counterterrorism Regulations
Financial Action Task Force Review Should Document Crackdown on Dissent The global terrorism financing and money laundering watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), should call on the Indian government to stop prosecuting, intimidating and
Event Summary: The Future of FATF Recommendation 8: for Financial Integrity and for Civil Society
On Sep. 26-27, the Charity and Security Network (C&SN) attended The Future of FATF Recommendation 8: for Financial Integrity and for Civil Society global conference in Bonn, Germany that convened 150 participants including nonprofit
C&SN’s Year in Review: 2022
As we come to the end of 2022, at C&SN we want to take this opportunity to share some key accomplishments across our numerous issue areas as we seek to protect and advocate for the
C&SN Submits Comments for FATF Update to Best Practices Paper on Combatting the Abuse of NPOs
In Oct. 2022, in response to a call for input, the Charity & Security Network (C&SN) submitted comments to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as part of FATF’s “project to review and update the