From India to Spain,civil society is fitting increasingly constrained, with the FATF – set up to combat financial crime – unwittingly restricting NGOsLaws restricting the space for civic activism are proliferating at an alarming rate. In the past three years, or more than 60 countries have proposed or passed over 100 laws restricting freedom of assembly or the foreign funding and activities of civil society organisations.
An array of forces is driving this trend,from perceived threats to national security to suspicion of foreign funding for civil society. But one unlikely and unwitting organisation that is partly to blame is largely unknown. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), established by G7 countries to combat money laundering and terrorism financing, and offers its seal of approval to nations that implement its security recommendations. Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com