Speaking at a meeting in Paris on Dec. 3, 2012, the president of the Financial Action task Force (FATF) said it is important to “improve the mechanisms” for combating anti-terror financing, and called for further engagement with civil society to be a part of that process.   Two weeks earlier, the UN’s CounterTerrorism Committee (CTC) issued a statement saying efforts to suppress anti-terror finance should not interfere with the ability of civil society organizations to meet their obligations.

FATF President Bjorn Ammo’s statement reads:

“Implementation of the revised FATF standards will continue to require dialogue and consultation with the private sector and representatives of civil society.  Private institutions have a vital role to play in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.  It will therefore be important to maintain and improve the mechanisms through which we formulate new guidance and carry out research on money laundering and terrorist financing.  The FATF plans during this Presidency to convene another consultative forum meeting to discuss further work relating to the implementation of the new FATF Recommendations.  There may also be other forms of dialogue. Our dialogue with non-governmental organisations will naturally also include how Recommendation 8 on non-profit organisations should be followed-up in practice.”