Financial Action Task Force of Latin America holds strategic preparation meeting for Guatemala mutual evaluation

The Financial Action Task Force of Latin America held a strategic preparation meeting in Guatemala City from June 9 to 11 to support Guatemala’s mutual evaluation and strengthen the country’s anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing and counter-proliferation financing framework. The event brought together public and private sector authorities involved in financial intelligence, supervision, investigation and prosecution, asset recovery, international cooperation, transparency and beneficial ownership. Its stated aim was to help Guatemala identify priorities, strengthen interinstitutional coordination and develop a coherent, evidence-based country narrative as mutual evaluations place greater weight on effectiveness and demonstrable results. The working sessions focused on fifth-round priority areas including risk assessment, transparency and beneficial ownership, risk-based supervision, preventive measures, financial intelligence, asset recovery, international cooperation, terrorist financing and targeted financial sanctions. A separate session for the private sector covered the risk-based approach, preventive measures, implementation of targeted financial sanctions and the sector’s role in the mutual evaluation process.