Friday, 2 February 2024, Baghdad, Iraq – As part of efforts to empower trainers from Iraq’s Judiciary and Financial Investigation Unit (FIU), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a new workshop series on anti-money laundering. 

Developed jointly by UNDP, the FIU, and the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), the ten-workshop series will bring together some 150 specialized judges, prosecutors, and investigators to learn and work together about the most effective tools for solving money laundering cases. 

The workshop series will focus on practical skills development and collaborative work techniques and will be delivered by experienced Iraqi and regional anti-money laundering experts with a wealth of experience in money laundering cases. Iraq’s Judicial Development Institute will host the series as part of its capacity-building offer. 

Tailored to address needs identified by the Central Bank and partners 

The workshops are part of a two-year project funded by the US International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and carried out by UNDP and the UN Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The project is aimed at strengthening Iraq’s anti-money laundering system. Its main beneficiary is the Iraq Central Bank’s FIU which co-designed all activities to address roadblocks in the current system to effectively counter money laundering. 

The project also supports Iraq’s authorities to prepare for, respond to, and address the ongoing Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) review process. In particular, the project will support the Iraqi National Action Plan to close any gaps that may be identified through the MENAFATF evaluation.

Through the project, a culture of joint problem-solving and a shared understanding of challenges and solutions across relevant institutions in all of Iraq will be built. The workshop series will provide the Central Bank’s FIU with a platform to showcase to the Judiciary its analysis tools and capacities in tracing money flows and avail these products for criminal investigations. 

Learning among experts and peers 

The first module of the series held on 2^nd -3^rd February 2024 was attended by 15 participants including: Anti-Money Laundering (AML) trial court judges, investigative judges, prosecutors, and FIU representatives. 

"I found this workshop immensely beneficial as it was crafted by Iraqi trainers from the SJC and the FIU and specifically tailored for Iraqi judges. It ensures that international standards are effectively communicated to Iraqi participants in line with Iraqi laws and the national context." one of the Judges taking part in the workshop shared. 

Limiting the number of selected participants and centring around simulations of practically solving cases, enhanced the value of the workshop. Participants could immediately connect the activity to their practical work. 

"We are privileged to bring together this distinguished expert group who are eager to find joint solutions to joint challenges. This initiative is crucial in enhancing the collective capability of the relevant institutions to tackle financial crimes effectively. Everyone in the room brings a wealth of experience in countering crime and together participants developed pathways to strengthen the response to anti-money laundering cases" said Andrew Mahoney, UNDP AML project team leader and seasoned money laundering investigator.

Rashid El Takash, a UNDP AML specialist, and former FIU expert in Lebanon emphasized the need for collaboration saying, “Money laundering cases are challenging. From my work in the FIU in Lebanon and my experience as MENAFATF assessor, I know that we will only succeed in countering money laundering if FIU, law enforcement, and judiciary work hand in hand.” 

Using real case examples, participants were guided through the investigative process by experts from the FIU, the Judiciary, and UNDP.  Different sessions covered law provisions enabling parallel financial investigation, international standards, coordination among agencies, obtaining material from international partners, and how to access the information, intelligence, and analysis held by the FIU to further such investigations.

ENDS. 

UNDP in Iraq supports the Government of Iraq's efforts towards reconciliation, reform, and stability. The Expanding the Impact of Iraq’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) project is part of its work under the Security Sector Reform and Rule of Law Programme. It supports the Government of Iraq’s efforts toward improving its financial intelligence structure and is co-implemented with UNODC with funding from the US International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).