In the framework of its bilateral programme with Iraq, the UNODC's Terrorism Prevention Branch ( UNODC/TPB) organized a national workshop on the structural reform of the Iraqi Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to strengthen its cooperation with national and international stakeholders in counter-terrorism matters. The training took place in Beirut from 5 to 7 December 2016 and was generously funded by the Government of Japan.
Fourteen Iraqi participants, predominantly from the Financial Intelligence Unit, as well as law enforcement and criminal justice officials were joined by peers from the Lebanese FIU, as well as international experts from Switzerland, the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the Security Council committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da'esh) Al-Qaida and associated individuals groups undertakings and entities , the International Monetary Fund, and UNESCO.
UNODC/TPB implemented this timely training in the context of the adoption of the anti-money laundering and terrorism financing law in Iraq (Law No°39-2015), establishing inter alia the Iraqi FIU within the Iraqi Central Bank.
The two-day training offered a platform for the Iraqi FIU officials to exchange views on challenges and good practices to detect, analyze and deal with suspicious transactions with their peers from the Lebanese FIU. The training also focused on the role of the financial footprint to effectively implement a proactive strategy while preventing terrorism financing as well as in the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of terrorism financing cases.
Emphasis was also put on the international legal framework and its requirement to prevent terrorism financing; the effective implementation of the United Nations sanctions regimes, in particular the three targeted sanctions (the freezing of assets, the travel ban and the arms embargo), and the crucial role of the financial actors in this regard. Emerging terrorism financing trends ranging from the physical cross-border transportation of currency to the illicit trafficking of cultural artefacts were also subject to interactive discussions.
UNODC/TPB also organized a visit to the premises of the Lebanese FIU where Iraqi officials had the opportunity to observe the structure and the coordination between its different units.