The Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF), in partnership with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) through the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT), held a practical virtual webinar on countering the misuse of virtual assets (VAs) and virtual asset service providers (VASPs) for terrorism financing. The session focused on translating international standards into operational steps relevant to the MENA region, drawing on the practical application of the UNOCT Handbook on Countering the Misuse of VAs and VASPs for Terrorism Financing. The webinar also examined the practical implications of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee’s Non-binding Guiding Principles (the Algeria Guiding Principles) and introduced an online survey mechanism for MENAFATF members to voluntarily share experiences and practices for a forthcoming handbook addendum. Contributions were provided by international and regional partners including ESAAMLG, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), INTERPOL, the UN 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee Monitoring Team, AFRIPOL, Nigeria, India, and IMCTC, alongside private-sector participants such as Chainalysis and Binderr.
Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) 2026-02-17
Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force hosts UNOCT webinar on countering terrorism financing via virtual assets and VASPs
MENAFATF and the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism held a virtual webinar on countering the misuse of virtual assets for terrorism financing. The session focused on applying international standards to the MENA region and discussed the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee’s Algeria Guiding Principles. An online survey was introduced for MENAFATF members to share experiences for a forthcoming handbook addendum, with contributions from international and regional partners and private-sector participants.