Bi-weekly News and Opinion Roundup - January 5, 2022

Navigating Sanctions Workshop

PoliSync is hosting a training on sanctions for humanitarian actors. This multi-day course will be held both in May and July of 2023 and will be facilitated by Dr. Erica Moret, a leading expert on sanctions, global security, and humanitarian affairs. Full details and registration for the coursework can be found at PoliSync. 

Call for Inputs: Global Study on the Impact of Counter-Terrorism Measures on Civil Society and Civic Space

This forthcoming independent global study will be the first to evaluate the impact of counter-terrorism measures on civil society and civic space. Civil society, UN member states, and regional and international organizations can submit input until the February 1, 2023 deadline. Guidelines found at UN OHCHR.  

Submit Feedback: UN New Agenda for Peace

The United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UNDPPA) is calling for input from civil society and representatives from all around the world on their upcoming 'New Agenda for Peace'. You can view the UN's call for submissions here, and submit your ideas to NewAgendaForPeace@un.org in any of the six UN official languages by January 15, 2023.

Money Laundering: High Risk Countries and Sanctions

GISUSER provides an overview of UK government anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing guidelines for financial institutions, as well as a list of “high risk” countries and sanctions regimes. (Dec. 22)

State Sponsor of Terrorism Designations

With ongoing discourse over designating Russia a state sponsor of terrorism (SST), the Brookings Institute recap an August 2022 conference where sanctions experts discuss the nuances and legal impacts of designating an SST. (Dec. 29)

Congress Aims to Label Russia ‘Aggressor State’ Instead of State Sponsor of Terrorism

Secretary of State Blinken indicated the U.S. government is seeking to pressure Russia, while avoiding peacebuilding and humanitarian consequences that arise using the state sponsor of terrorism designation. Laura Kelly reports at The Hill. (Dec. 20)

Key Humanitarian Aid Policy Trends to Watch in 2023

Jessica Alexander and Irwin Loy at the New Humanitarian forecast key policy challenges, including the localization of aid, financial access, flexible funding, data privacy, and more. (Jan. 4)

Aid Operations Hit as Taliban Bars Afghan Women from Working for NGOs

Numerous international organizations ceased operations in Afghanistan in response, accentuating aid delivery challenges already present due to sanctions, aid cutbacks, and banking restrictions in place since the Taliban returned to power. Ali Latifi writes at The New Humanitarian. (Dec. 27)

If the CRA is Targeting Muslim-led Charities, Canadians Deserve to Know

Following reports that the Canadian government’s counterterrorism financing unit is disproportionately targeting Muslim-led charities, Alex Neve and Leilalni Farha call for a comprehensive review to prevent systematic discrimination. Read more at The Globe and Mail. (Dec. 20)

Joint Statement on Crypto-Asset Risks to Banking Organizations

The Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a statement on crypto-assets to banking organizations, highlighting - among many issues - a lack of risk management. Read the full statement. (Jan. 3)

FARA Reform Legislative Activity Heats Up

Covington & Burling LLP chronicle recent legislative activity regarding the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Potential changes to FARA regulation may require “think tanks” receiving funding from foreign governments to register as foreign agents. Read the full analysis at Lexology. (Dec. 21)

The End of the Age of Sanctions?

Decades of over-reliance on U.S. sanctions has slowly rendered them less impactful, as target entities have learned to utilize alternative “sanction-proof” financial pathways. Agathe Demarais writes at Foreign Affairs. (Dec. 27)

This UN Security Council Resolution is a Win for Humanitarians

The recent landmark UN sanctions humanitarian carve-outs “significantly reduce legal, administrative, and practical impediments generated by sanctions regimes.” Kathryn Sidlowski provides analysis on DevEx. (Dec. 22)

Sanctions, Fraud is Coming to Town: 2022 in Review

In wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UK government has turned heightened attention to counter-terrorism finance, anti-money laundering, and sanctions enforcement. Chris Ladusans writes at JD Supra. (Dec. 22)