Workshop spotlights on combating 'proliferation financing' of weapons of mass destruction

A workshop hosted by the National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing, in co-operation with the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) in Doha on Sunday provided a comprehensive understanding of combating the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, its mechanisms, and to help identify and assess the associated risks.

The workshop was titled ‘Investigation and Prosecution in the Field of Countering the Financing of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction’.

The workshop also seeks to offer insights into the international legal framework governing proliferation financing, including relevant international organisational resolutions and recommendations from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which will enrich participants' practical experience.

In his opening remarks at the workshop, Essa al-Hardan, Secretary of the National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing in Qatar and Head of the Technical Assistance and Typologies Working Group at MENAFATF, stressed that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction posed a significant threat to global peace and security.

He noted that the international community has focused on proliferation financing for nearly two decades, recognising the need to implement financial measures to prevent the spread of these weapons, based on UN Security Council Resolution 1540 of 2004.

In 2008, the Financial Action Task Force addressed proliferation financing by adopting an application report that identifies and analyses the current threat of proliferation financing, as well as the methods used by those involved in proliferation and its facilitators.

Since 2012, FATF has worked to enhance and refine its recommendations to provide countries with more effective tools to combat the financing of weapons of mass destruction. Regarding national responses, judicial authorities worldwide have varied in their handling of this issue, with many displaying deficiencies in the framework and implementation of counter-proliferation measures. For example, mutual evaluation reports have highlighted that the majority of jurisdictions do not specifically address proliferation financing separately from other financial crimes, such as terrorism financing or money laundering.

Accordingly, al-Hardan affirmed that the workshop will assist participants from MENAFATF member states in taking actions and measures to meet the requirements of combating the financing of proliferation, enhancing investigative frameworks, supporting relevant authorities in fulfilling their duties, and establishing sound practices in this field.

It will also help develop a broader understanding of FATF standards, relevant Security Council resolutions, and the importance of effective tracking and prosecution of proliferation financing crimes, in addition to emphasising the need for widespread and effective application of targeted financial sanctions.

Experts from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the German Agency for International Co-operation, the Executive Office for Control and Non-Proliferation from the United Arab Emirates, as well as experts from the Technical Committee for Implementing Targeted Financial Sanctions, are participating in this workshop alongside MENAFATF observers.