Combating Proliferation Financing
The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction pose a significant threat to international peace and security, as identified by relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs). FATF Recommendations require countries and the private sector to:
- identify,
and assess the risks of potential breaches, non-implementation or evasion
of the targeted financial sanctions related to proliferation
financing, and
- take
appropriate mitigating measures commensurate with the level of risks
identified
This
will ensure that private sector entities and their supervisors are aware of the
risks involved in their businesses and professions, and do not unwittingly
support or become part of proliferation financing networks or schemes, in
contravention of the relevant obligations.
This
will also ensure appropriate allocation of resources by countries and private
sector entities, which is commensurate with the level of proliferation
financing risks faced.
The
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction not only affects the financial
system but also all citizens. Helping to prevent UN-sanctioned entities from
using the financial system to support their programmes to develop or obtain WMD
should be a priority for every jurisdiction.
The FATF
Recommendations contain specific measures that complement the United Nations
Security Council Resolutions with respect to proliferation financing:
- The global approach aimed at
preventing non-state actors from taking part in proliferation-related
activities (United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) and its
successor resolutions)
- The country-specific approach
against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Islamic
Republic of Iran (United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1718 (2006)
and 2231 (2015) and their future resolutions)
As a
standard-setting body, the FATF develops specific requirements to give effect
to and implement these UNSCRs, specifically on targeted financial sanctions to
counter proliferation (Recommendation 7 and Recommendation 2). The FATF’s
robust assessment process places the FATF in the unique position of being able
to evaluate how effective a national countering proliferation financing regime
is (Immediate Outcome 11).
Essentially,
jurisdictions must ensure that proliferation-related assets are frozen, and
have national mechanisms in place to do so effectively. However, understanding
their obligations pursuant to the UNSCRs, and implementing effective measures
to tackle the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and terminate
sanctions evasion can be challenging for certain jurisdictions. This
non-binding guidance aims to help both public and private sector stakeholders
understand and implement the obligations of the UNSCRs, as well as how to
prevent sanctions from being evaded. It also aims to assist public sector
stakeholders in building a more effective national coordination mechanism and
supervisory regime to counter proliferation financing.
The UNSCRs have evolved significantly in recent years. The scope and nature of the sanctions regarding DPRK has expanded, given the country’s repeated violations of earlier UNSC resolutions. Some proliferation financing-related targeted financial sanctions against Iran have been terminated following the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. This Guidance updates two earlier guidance Papers: The Implementation of Financial Provisions of United Nations Security Council Resolutions to Counter the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (2013) and Best Practices Paper to Recommendation 2 Information Sharing and Exchange Related to the Financing of Proliferation Among Relevant Authorities at the Domestic Level (2012).
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