ACTIVITIES
Main participations as speaker in events at local and international levels
GAFILAT Regional Workshop on the implementation of the risk-based approach and de-risking
March 3 - 5, 2020
Havana, Cuba
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Invited by GAFILAT, members of the Global NPO Coalition on FATF led a session on Compliance with Recommendation 8 and Financial Inclusion of charitable entities.
Regional Workshop: The FATF recommendations and NPOS
Meeting with GAFILAT authorities on the margins of XL plenary of representatives
December 2 - 5, 2019
Arequipa, Peru
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With the support of ICNL and the Government of Sweden, members of the NPO Coalition on FATF held a workshop for representatives of networks of non-profit organizations from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and the Dominican Republic. As a result of the debate and exchange, a Declaration was drafted and shared at a high-level meeting with GAFILAT on the margins of the plenary XL.
Members of the Global NPO Coalition on FATF and GAFILAT agreed to carry out a regional TF risk mapping exercise in the non-profit sector during 2020 with the aim of helping countries comply with recommendation 8.
Multi-Sector Initiative to build a more favorable Legal and Financial Environment for NGOS activities
November 21, 2019
Pilar, Argentina
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With the support of Austral University and ICNL Gabriela led conference in which experts and referents from NGO networks dialogued with representatives of public and private bank chambers about regulatory and financial restrictions that negatively impact the non-profit sector.
2nd WINGS Regional Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean: Finding common paths to fostering an enabling environment in the region
October 29-30, 2019
São Paulo, Brazil
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Gabriela facilitated the session “Analyzing Options on How to Engage in Collective Action” to discuss concrete initial ideas on how the Group can engage in collective efforts (e.g. GAFILAT; FATF; regional campaign to raise the awareness on enabling environment issues; produce policy recommendations; etc).
Latin American initiative on Legal and Financial restrictions on civil non-profit organizations: Key findings of sectorial TF risks assessments in Argentina and Mexico
October 10, 2019
CDMX, Mexico
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Representatives of Mexican non-profit organizations met to discuss the results and lessons of the sectorial TF risks self-assessment processes conducted by members of the Expert Hub from Argentina and Mexico. The event was supported by OSF and partners of the Global NPO Coalition in FATF and was held in ORT University.
XXXIX GAFILAT Plenary of Representatives
July 23, 2019
City of Asunción, Paraguay
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At the GTFT meeting organized by GAFILAT, Gabriela Pellón was invited to participate as an expert to share the perspective of the Global NPO Coalition on FATF on Chapter 5 of the recently published TF Risk Assessment Guidance of the FATF.
International Lessons Learned in Increasing Financial Inclusion of Non-Profit Organizations
June 27, 2019
Temple University, Japan Campus, Osaka Center
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HSC, ICNL and ECNL organizations representing the Global Non-Profit Organization (NPO) Coalition on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), along with the C20 Japan Steering Committee and the host, the Temple University, Japan Campus, in collaboration with the World Bank, were honoured to organize a conversation among high-level experts entitled “International Lessons Learned in Increasing Financial Inclusion of Non-Profit Organizations.”
This event, convened on the margins of the Osaka G20 Summit, was built on the growing recognition that bringing together technical experts, government agencies, multinational bodies, banks, and NPOs can, indeed, contribute to meaningful progress to mitigate the financial exclusion of NPOs.
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http://fatfplatform.org/announcement/g20-side-event-osaka/
FATF Private Sector Consultative Forum
May 6, 2019
Vienna, Austria (hosted by UNODC)
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FATF delegations met with representatives from the non-profit sector to discuss the draft TF Risk Assessment Guidance, and to seek feedback on common challenges and good practices in assessing TF risk within non-profit organisations. Participants spoke about the importance of ongoing engagement with the sector, including through the use of multi-stakeholder working groups to facilitate information exchange.
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https://www.fatf-gafi.org/publications/fatfgeneral/documents/private-sector-may-2019.html
Second Convening of the Expert Hub on AML/CFT
May 8, 2019
Vienna, Austria
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The group of NPO experts from regions around the world facing restrictions due to AML/CFT rules and regulations reconvened in Vienna (after the formation and training of this technical Expert Hub in The Hague in January 2018) to discuss progress made during the last few months in their countries/regions and new/emerging challenges. Organised by ICNL, ECNL and HSC, and with representation from 29 countries, the peer to peer exchange was rich and fruitful. The Hub also engaged with the FATF Secretariat and select government representatives on the implementation of Recommendation 8.
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http://fatfplatform.org/announcement/second-convening-of-the-expert-hub-on-aml-cft/
Strengthening NPOs in Argentina to Mitigate the Impact of De-Risking, phase II
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Feb-April 2019
City of Buenos Aires, Misiones, Salta, Chaco and Neuquén
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As part of Phase II of the Project "Strengthening NPOs in Argentina to Mitigate the Impact of De-Risking" led by Gabriela Pellón and Pedro Gecik in articulation with civil society networks, emphasis was placed on raising awareness and strengthening capabilities of civil society organizations located in the City of Buenos Aires, Posadas, Salta, Resistencia, and Neuquén. For the implementation of the workshops, presentations were prepared with contents on Recommendation 8, FATF good practices for NPOs, outcomes of the research conducted in 2018 on the impact of FIU regulation, difficulties caused by de-risking and the importance of drafting a recommendations guide as a tool to mitigate problems with banks. In addition, dialogue meetings were articulated through multisectoral working tables promoting the participation of officials, representatives of banks, professionals and advisers of NPOs and referents of social organizations.
Latin American Initiative on Legal and Financial Restrictions on Civil Non-Profit Organizations
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November 29, 2018
Universidad Austral, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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With the attendance of nearly 40 civil organizations, in dialogue with members of the Expert Hub on AML/CFT created by members of the Global NPO Coalition on FATF, officials and representatives of local financial institutions, a high-profile conference was held in Universidad Austral.
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http://fatfplatform.org/announcement/high-level-discussion-on-de-risking-side-event-at-g20-summit/
Terrorist Financing (TF): International Measures, Financial Intelligence and Prevention
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November 12, 2018
City of Tegucigalpa, Honduras
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The Course "Terrorist Financing (TF): International Measures, Financial Intelligence and Prevention" organized by GAFILAT and the Government of Spain, with the support of the National Commission of Banks and Insurance of Honduras was attended by judges, prosecutors, investigators, compliance officers from Banks and insurance companies, technical representatives of the supervisory areas and financial information units from Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama.
Experts from the regional hub created by the Global NPO Coalition on FATF, Jocelyn Nieva, Miguel de la Vega and Gabriela Pellón discussed the proper implementation of Recommendation 8 and sensitized officials and bank representatives to de-risking and its impact on NPOs.
Compliance with Recommendation 8 - Major Government Challenges in the NPO Sector
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November 8-9, 2018
City of Tegucigalpa, Honduras
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Two workshops were held in Tegucigalpa as part of ICNL's support project for NPOs and Honduran officials, with USAID's assistance. Expert Gabriela Pellón spoke about "Contributions for effective collaboration between CSOs and government entities."
The workshop addressed to NPOs focused on helping to understand the perspective of FIU and GAFILAT officials on the "vulnerability" of the NPO sector, as well as the challenges and opportunities to collaborate with these entities in the implementation of AML/CFT standards.
For its part, the workshop for public officials emphasized technical assistance opportunities by the Global NPO Coalition on FATF and collaborative opportunities with Honduras' NPO sector in compliance with Recommendation 8 and mutual evaluation processes.
Terrorist financing investigation and measures related to the freezing of terrorist assets
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September 17, 2018
Montevideo, Uruguay
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GAFILAT, with the training assistance of the Spanish government, organized the course "Terrorist Financing Investigation and Measures Related to the Freezing of Terrorist Assets." The course was aimed at intelligence, investigation and law enforcement authorities with duties related to the prevention and fight against the financing of terrorism from the countries of the South American region. Jocelyn Nieva and Gabriela Pellón were invited to address the Global NPO Coalition on FATF's perspective on "Compliance with Recommendation 8: Main Challenges in the NPO Sector."
Strengthening NPOs in Argentina to mitigate the impact of de-risking
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Sep-Nov 2018
Buenos Aires, Misiones, Salta, and Santa Fe
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Under the project "Strengthening NPOs in Argentina to mitigate the impact of de-risking" conducted by Gabriela Pellón and Pedro Gecik in articulation with Sociedad Civil en Red (which groups Argentine civil society federations and networks) and ICNL's support, an effective multisectoral dialogue was fostered on the impact of anti-money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF) laws and policies on Argentine non-profit organizations (NPOs), as well as the need for enabling reforms for a more inclusive legal, operational and financial environment.
As part of the initiative, two rounds of training sessions were carried out aimed at raising awareness of the NPOs residing in and around Buenos Aires, Salta, Misiones and Santa Fe regarding the linkage between FATF, Recommendation 8, local anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regulations, de-risking and civil society.
XXXVIIth GAFILAT Plenary
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July 23, 2018
Panama City
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The Global NPO Coalition was invited to make presentations in the framework of the Working Group on Terrorist Financing (GTFT) at the XXXVIIth GAFILAT plenary held on July 23-27 in Panama City. Presentations were made on the financial access problems faced by NPOs as well as on NPOs and Risk Assessment
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http://fatfplatform.org/announcement/4993-2/
Shadowed by Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Terrorism: How Can Civil Society Push Back Restrictions?
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May 7, 2018
Dakar, Senegal (hosted by World Movement for Democracy - Ninth Global Assembly)
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Governments around the world continue to impose restrictions on civil society
organizations (CSOs) justified by a stated need to prevent money laundering
and terrorist financing (known as AML/CFT.)
Gabriela Pellón together with members of the Expert Hub on AML/CFT of Tunisia and Jordan lectured in workshop 4 organized by ICNL in the framework of the ninth meeting whose objectives were focused on:
Increasing understanding of AML/CFT measures as a driver for restrictions on civic space.
Identifying entry points on how to engage and influence at national and
regional levels.
Learning about approaches undertaken in different countries and how those might be applicable to participants' own situations.
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https://www.movedemocracy.org/ninthassembly_agenda
UnidOSC
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February 7-8, 2018
Mexico City, hosted by ORT University
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UnidOSC, a collective of civil society organizations (CSOs), academic institutions and Mexican activists, organized a workshop to articulate efforts with national and international actors, to update perspectives on the international, regional (Latin America) and national frameworks and identify general objectives and strategies to address the impact of the FATF Recommendations on the non-profit sector. On the recommendation of ECNL and Human Security Collective, Gabriela Pellón was part of the aforementioned initiative. The event was supported by USAID and OSF.
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First Convening of the Expert Hub on AML/CFT
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January 23-25, 2018
The Hague, Netherlands
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A three-day workshop took place in The Hague, with representatives from 16 countries, the aim of which was to set up a technical resource group of experts from countries/regions facing restrictions under the guise of AML/CFT regulation. The group will promote peer learning, share information and generate knowledge. It will also develop guidance, collect good practices, and monitor threats.
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http://fatfplatform.org/announcement/aml-cft-expert-hub/