Press Release
PRE EVENT PRESS RELEASE NATIONAL SENSITIZATION SEMINAR FOR RELIGIOUS LEADERS BISSAU
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GIABA ORGANIZES A NATIONAL SENSITIZATION SEMINAR FOR HEADS OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS ON ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING AND COUNTER FINANCING OF TERRORISM IN BISSAU
The Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa ( GIABA ) will be organizing a National Sensitization Seminar on Anti-money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT ) for Religious Leaders and Heads of Religious Organizations and Institutions in Bissau (Guinea-Bissau), from 27th to 28th February, 2024.
Placed under the theme “ The role of religious leaders in the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism”, this meeting will contribute to defining the role of religious leaders in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing and to enhance their level of understanding and awareness on these issues. More specifically, this will entail: i) Enhancing the awareness of religious leaders about their role in AML/CFT; ii) Enhancing awareness-raising efforts to better detect signs of radicalization; iii) Supporting the initiatives and mobilization of religious institutions; iv) Encouraging private initiatives disseminating critical discourse on the ideology of radicalization; v) Encouraging credible opposition against hate speech and radicalization propaganda.
Fundamentally, one of GIABA’s strategic objectives of GIABA is the promotion of strategic partnerships with the private sector, civil society and other key stakeholders. The aim is to raise awareness about ML/TF, in order to empower citizens to act.
The fight against ML/TF is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders to protect economies and financial systems against the laundering of the proceeds of crime. GIABA recognizes the invaluable contribution of religious leaders as custodians of faith and the immense influence of their institutions on their followers.
Recognizing the role of religious leaders in preventing violent extremism (PVE) and promoting the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue, the United Nations Secretary-General has developed an action plan on PVE, which emphasizes on the crucial role of faith-based and community leaders in monitoring vulnerable followers, to enable them reject violent ideologies, promoting tolerance, understanding and reconciliation among communities. The participation of religious leaders is therefore crucial to the fight against ML/TF. They must understand what specific contribution they can and must make to overcome the threat of ML/TF and change the understanding, attitudes and behavior of their followers.
The seminar will be led by GIABA Secretariat staff and experts from Guinea-Bissau through presentations, case studies and sharing sessions.
In retrospect, GIABA has been organizing this seminar for years to strengthen the capacity of AML/CFT stakeholders at various levels; at both domestic and regional levels.