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Bi-weekly News and Opinion Roundup - February 2, 2023

Opportunities

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 recently extended February 28, 2023 deadline. Guidelines found at UN OHCHR.  


One Year In: Details and Impact of Financial and Trade Sanctions Against Russia

Legal experts at Morrison Foerster will discuss how governments around the world continue to coordinate and respond with increasingly severe sanctions and export controls against Russia. Register for the February 14 webinar at Morrison Foerster


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.

Featured Resources

Effective Advocacy: Push Back Against Undue Counter-terrorism Restrictions

The European Center for Not-for-Profit Law released a new resource to help nonprofit professionals and advocates understand the impact counterterrorism laws have on civil society programs, and how they can advocate for greater protection. (Jan. 30)

Counterterrorism

Why Free Speech Advocates Should be Rooting for Google

Paul M. Barrett argues that the upcoming Supreme Court case - in which Google is accused of providing material support to the Islamic State via YouTube - could strangle free speech in the U.S., especially amongst political dissenters and minority groups. Read more at The Hill. (Jan. 31)


Wagner Group May Have Committed War Crimes in Mali, UN Experts Say

The Wagner Group has been involved in at least half a dozen countries across Africa. In Mali, officials estimate that around 1,000 Wagner operatives may be deployed alongside the country’s military fighting a jihadist insurgency. Elian Peltier reports for The New York Times. (Jan. 31)


USA: Will the Supreme Court Chip Away at “the Law that Created the Internet”? 

Social media platforms are accused of aided and abetted terrorism by failing to take sufficient measures to prevent terrorist organizations from using their platforms. The results of these cases could broaden the scope of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), which may impact nonprofits working in proximity to terrorist organizations, as highlighted by InterAction. Vivian Tse and Jonathan Tam provide analysis at Lexology . (Jan. 30)


Permanently Winding Down the War on Terror Requires Greater Transparency

Although the Biden administration has reduced their counterterrorism rhetoric, U.S. armed forces continue to engage in comprehensive counterterrorism operations which risks putting a veil on the “war on terror”. Brian Finucane and Luke Hartig argue that greater transparency is required on Just Security. (Jan. 30)


Russia’s Bloody Sledgehammer

Justyna Gudzowska and Nathalia Dukhan highlight the implications should the U.S. designate the Wagner Group a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). Such designation could cause a chilling effect for humanitarian organizations - fearful of breaking overly broad counterterrorism measures - working where the Wagner Group is active. Read more at Politico. (Jan. 27)

Civil Society

'Foreign Agents': Meet the Russian Activists Risking Everything for the Climate

Following the onset of the war in Ukraine, dissenting Russian civil society organizations voicing are being targeted more frequently under Russia’s “foreign agents” legislation. Rosie Frost reports at Euronews. (Feb. 1)


Venezuela NGOs Fear New Bill Will Put Stranglehold on Civil Society

New legislation would require nonprofit organizations operating in Venezuela to provide government their financial records. Those deemed to be involved in political activities or endangering national security would be banned. Luke Taylor reports for The Guardian. (Jan. 30)


Zimbabwe Passes Law Designed to Throttle Independent Civil Society

Broad scoped counter-terrorist finance laws would allow the government to monitor and seize funds received by civil society organizations and activists. The Zimbabwe government cites Financial Action Task Force (FATF) compliance as rationale for the new legislation. Thandekile Moyo writes at the Daily Maverick. (Jan. 23)


FARA: 2022 Review and 2023 Preview

The review highlights the Think Tank Transparency Act - a Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) related bill proposed in 2022 - which would require nonprofits engaged in influencing U.S. policy or public opinion to disclose to the Department of Justice funding received and agreements signed with foreign principals. Ressa Capeloto provides an overview at JD Supra. (Jan. 20)

Financial Access

Regulators Sharpen Focus on Anti-Money Laundering Expectations for Crypto Industry

While some crypto industry companies have implemented bank-styled anti-money laundering programs, others have bolstered anonymity. U.S. regulators and legislators are pushing the crypto industry to a more fulsome adoption of anti-money laundering controls. Read more at JD Supra. (Jan. 20)

Human Rights

Afghan Lawyers on Rule of Law’s Frontlines Need Urgent International Support

The Taliban have effectively gutted the Afghani legal system and replaced it with a de facto system that violates international standards and stifles human rights. Meg Satterhwaite and Richard Bennet write at Just Security. (Jan. 25)

Humanitarian Access

The Treasury Department’s Material Support Carveouts are a Welcomed First Step – But Congress Must Act to Create a Sustainable Fix

The recent humanitarian carveouts safeguarding nonprofit activities in crisis zones must be codified and expanded in order to be protected from future U.S. policy shifts. Alliance for Peacebuilding’s Liz Hume and Megan Corrado argue at Just Security. (Jan. 24)

Lawfare

Zionist Group Uses US Anti-terrorism Laws to Sue Palestinian Activists

The Jewish National Fund (JNF) is using U.S. anti-terrorism laws to sue the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights over its support for the international boycott movement. The lawsuit follows a trend of “lawfare” in which politically motivated actors harass dissenting civil society groups by abusing legal systems. Chris McGreal writes at The Guardian. (Jan. 20)

Sanctions

US to Sanction Russia’s Wagner Paramilitary Group

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned several key individuals associated with the Wagner Group, but stopped short of listing the group itself a terrorist organization, instead designating it “significant transnational criminal organization”. Read the full story on Voice of America. (Jan. 26)

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