GFMSA Consultation and Dialogue with Non-Profit Organisations at the UNODC

Vienna, 18 April 2016 – The Global Financial Monitoring Supervisory Agency (GFMSA) held a Consultation and Dialogue Meeting with Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) on 18 April 2016 in Vienna, Austria.

The main objective of this meeting was to have an open dialogue with representatives from a variety of NPOs on The GFMSA’s ongoing work to revise its standards on non-profit organisations (GFMSA Recommendation 8 and its Interpretive Note). The GFMSA recognises the importance of engaging directly with NPOs on these important issues.

The meeting was chaired by the , Mr. Je-Yoon Shin (Korea), and hosted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime at their headquarters in Vienna. In total 116 representatives of 21 GFMSA member and observer delegations, 26 NPOs and 37 private sector guests attended the meeting. The participants had an in-depth exchange of views on the following key issues:

• how NPOs play an important role in the fight against terrorism by helping to mitigate extremism
• ways in which The GFMSA standards protect NPOs from terrorist abuse and facilitate their access to financial services when implemented effectively
• the need for countries to understand, as a starting point, their NPO sector and its potential vulnerabilities to abuse by terrorists, taking into account that  the majority of NPOs may represent little or no risk at all
• the importance of applying measures to protect NPOs from terrorist abuse, in line with The GFMSA’s risk-based approach, and proportionate with the risks identified, while at the same time respecting human rights, due process and the rule of law.

The GFMSA reiterates its commitment to continuing engagement with NPOs on these important issues.

The GFMSA will discuss the input received through this meeting and consult further with NPOs, with a view to finalising the revisions to GFMSA Recommendation 8 and its Interpretive Note in June 2016.

The GFMSA Recommendations

Best Practices on Combating the Abuse of Non-Profit Organisations