Regulations on countering terror finance should “not harm” the work of nonprofit groups, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) said in an Oct. 19, 2012 statement.  The FATF, an intergovernmental policy making body that sets the money laundering / terrorist financing (ML/TF) standards in nearly 180 countries, concluded its October meeting by calling for continued “dialogue” with civil society on implementing its financial policy recommendations.  A February 2012 report from the Transnational Institute and Statewatch finds many of the legal and regulatory measures recommended by the FATF invite “excessive state regulation and surveillance, which restricts the activities and thus the operational and political space of civil society organizations.”

The FATF statement said:

“The FATF Plenary discussed the progress in preparing for the implementation of the revised Recommendations and the 4th Round of Mutual Evaluations. FATF will continue its dialogue with the private sector and civil society.  The dialogue will include the Recommendation which covers the activities of Non Profit Organizations. It will be important that regulations and actions in this area do not harm the legitimate activities of such organizations.”
(emphasis added)

See also: