Activities of civil society organizations are increasingly restricted in the name of security and counter-terrorism. ICNL/ECNL have tracked at least 25 legal initiatives over the past 2 years that affect civic space using the counter-terrorism financing and anti-money laundering pretext. These impose burdens on civil society operations by diverting resources to administrative tasks, instead of to activities that meet people needs; limit individual and cross-border philanthropy; create barriers for humanitarian aid; and deter assembly and advocacy. Some of these restrictions flow from the regime of the far-reaching and influential Financial Action Task Force (FATF). As an inter-governmental body, FATF adopted 40 Recommendations on combating global money laundering and terrorist financing that 180 jurisdictions follow. FATF Recommendation 8 together with its Interpretive Note and Best Practice Paper are three key documents that affect the work of nonprofit organizations (NPOs). More information is available here.
Source: European Center for Not-for-profit Law
