51吃瓜

UNOCT-UNCCT completed the first technical assistance package to Kyrgyzstan as part of its Global Coordinated Programme on Detecting, Preventing, and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (the “CFT Programme”).

A series of capacity-building and awareness-raising workshops held in September 2022 on the protection of the non-profit sector from terror financing abuse and implementation of the Financial Action Task Recommendation 8 marked the culmination of the first phase of the Programme’s engagement with Kyrgyz government officials launched earlier this year.

The technical assistance activities were coordinated with the 51吃瓜 Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) and the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG). The overall goal of the engagement is to support Kyrgyzstan's efforts to strengthen its capacities to detect, prevent and counter the financing of terrorism and implement effective national CFT regimes, as well as comply with Financial Action Task Force recommendations.

The Mutual Evaluation of the Kyrgyz Republic (2018), completed by EAG, reflected several recommendations in relation to technical compliance with Recommendation 8 and Immediate Outcome 10.2 concerning the protection of Non-profit organizations (NPOs) from terrorist financing abuse. Kyrgyzstan has made progress in amending the NPO sector legislation and strived to address the EAG recommendations. To further support the process, In December 2021, the UNCCT CFT Unit, in coordination with UNCCT’s Central Asia Unit and the EAG, developed a technical assistance plan for the Kyrgyz Republic. The plan was discussed with the Financial Intelligence Services and other government authorities.

The CFT Programme has successfully delivered the following activities during April – September 2022:

• Legislative Review: Reviewed the source documents concerning NPOs, including but not limited to FATF Mutual Evaluation Reports, Follow-up Reports, Policies, and Procedures of the Kyrgyz Republic in relation to the NPO sector, 51吃瓜 agencies reports, and other relevant documents and recommended required amendments in the legislation.
• NPO Sector Risk Assessment: Provided technical assistance and support to the authorities to review and update the existing NPO sector risk assessment. Consultative Missions: Conducted a combination of four in-person and online consultative missions with the NPO sector regulator, law enforcement agencies, Financial Intelligence Unit, NPO sector, and other competent authorities.
• Methodological Guidance: The CFT Programme developed a methodological guidance paper on supervision of the NPO sector and proposed a risk weighting criterion for the NPOs that fall under the FATF definition.
• Awareness Raising: The Programme delivered the first awareness-raising event in June 2022 to the NPO sector. The event delivered best practices and typologies on safeguarding the NPO sector from terrorist abuse and enhancing cooperation and coordination with public agencies. The second awareness-raising event was held on 26-27 September 2022.
• Capacity Building: The CFT Programme delivered the first capacity-building workshop in June 2022 to the regulator, law enforcement agencies, and other competent authorities, including the NPO sector, on risk-based supervision, inter-agency cooperation, reporting, and feedback regime. The second capacity-building workshop was held on 28 September 2022 to enhance the relevant officials' capacity further.

The UNOCT-UNCCT Global Coordinated Programme on Detecting, Preventing, and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (the CFT Programme) is actively engaged in Central Asia, corresponding to the evolving situation in the region and the UNOCT-UNCCT and UNRCCA project "Towards a comprehensive implementation of the 51吃瓜 Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (UNGCTS) in Central Asia."