Назад Taking stock of results and planning next actions on strengthening anti-money laundering and asset recovery in Azerbaijan

Taking stock of results and planning next actions on strengthening anti-money laundering and asset recovery in Azerbaijan

The second Technical Project Committee meeting on strengthening anti-money laundering (AML) and asset recovery in Azerbaijan took place, with representatives from 16 national authorities. The aim was to provide an overview of the activities implemented since the beginning of the project and present through discussions the ones envisaged in the workplan till the end of the implementation period. It also ensured an open platform for national authorities to discuss and share their thoughts and feedback on the implemented actions, and to echo needs and suggestions for future needs.

The impact of the project’s contribution was demonstrated by progress in several areas at the national level, inter alia:

  • the development of legal amendments to introduce nonconviction-based confiscation;
  • the improvement of institutional capacities;
  • the increase in the number of money laundering and terrorism financing (ML/TF) cases, as highlighted by national partners during the meeting.

The national authorities emphasised the importance of complementary actions requiring increased attention, which included capacity enhancement in the area of financial investigations, beneficial ownership, mutual legal assistance, application of new IT solutions for prioritisation of AML/TF measures based on risk, development of a new stand-alone law on asset recovery and a dedicated national strategy, a separate training for judges in processing and adjudicating ML/TF cases with a specific focus on gathering and use of evidence and other relevant subjects.

The meeting offered the opportunity to continue the ongoing active dialogue with national partners by planning activities that correspond to their needs and expectations and contribute to a joint effort towards improving the national regime for anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). The project activities will also help to significantly enhance the effectiveness of the application of AML/CFT measures, which will be the focus of the upcoming fifth round evaluation of Azerbaijan by the Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL).    

This activity was organised in the framework of the project “Strengthening anti-money laundering and asset recovery in Azerbaijan,” funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe in their Partnership for Good Governance II.

Azerbaijan 16 July 2021
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Strasbourg, France Strasbourg, 1-2 July 2024
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Addressing hate speech and hate crime: regional gathering of the network of Equality Bodies from the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership Region

A two-day workshop on addressing hate speech and hate crime took place at the premises of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, involving Equality bodies from the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership regions.  The event supported by the EU and Council of Europe, gathered 50 representatives from both regions who discussed and exchanged on the best practices, measures and common challenges when addressing hate speech and hate crime. Through monitoring and reporting, policy advocacy, raising awareness and supporting victims equality bodies play a fundamental role in protecting human rights and ensuring that all individuals are treated equally.

In her opening remarks, Angela Longo, Head of Anti-discrimination Co-operation Unit, Council of Europe, underlined the significant progress in engaging with Equality Bodies through this network, regularly exchanging best practices and addressing the challenges of hatred and intolerance in societies. She highlighted that this new chapter of discussion delves into the grey area between hate speech and hate crime, addressing issues of incitement and biases,

Representatives from Equality Bodies had the opportunity to discuss and enhance their knowledge on the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers Recommendation to member States on combating hate crime, adopted on 7th May 2024, as well as gain a clearer understanding of EU standards in the field of hate crime. Moreover, participants engaged in exchanges with peers from the Spanish Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia (OBERAXE), who shared insights on addressing hate speech in the public discourse. The National Office Against Racial Discrimination (UNAR) in Italy provided practical examples for developing counter-narratives and raising awareness initiatives.

They also explored opportunities to advocate for legislative reform, foster multisectoral co-operation, enhance data collection, and overall improve national mechanisms to counter hate crimes.

This seminar was organised within the action “Promoting equality and combating racism and intolerance in the Western Balkans” and the project “Promoting equality and non-discrimination: towards more resilient and inclusive societies” – co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe  under the joint Programmes “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” and “Partnership for Good Governance”.

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