July 17, 2023, Islamabad – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, in collaboration with the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) and financial support from the UN Peace and Development Trust Fund (UNPDTF), organized a One-day workshop on Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) and international cooperation for Criminal justice officials. The workshop aimed to enhance coordination among stakeholders, explore opportunities for collaboration, and address challenges in the fields of MLA, International Cooperation, and Counter Financing of Terrorism (CFT).
A total of 17 Participants ( 13 Male and 4 Female) attended the workshop, Representatives from Federal Investigating Agency, National Accountability Bureau, Customs, Counter Terrorism Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Counter Terrorism Department Balochistan, Counter Terrorism Department Sindh, Counter Terrorism Department Punjab, and others gathered in Islamabad.
The workshop covered challenges, coordination mechanisms, gaps, and areas of improvement in informal cooperation in MLA and reporting. Participants engaged in fruitful discussions regarding the significance of effective coordination among stakeholders in enhancing MLA, International Cooperation, and CFT efforts. They also addressed challenges and areas of improvement in suspicious transaction reports and financial intelligence sharing. Forms for data sharing between Counter Terrorism Departments (CTDs) and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) were shared, promoting transparency and cooperation.
The workshop facilitated discussions on the roles, responsibilities, and mandates of stakeholders involved in informal cooperation related to MLA, and areas of overlap and opportunities for collaboration was identified, enabling participants to learn from each other's experiences and share best practices. The challenges and successes of informal cooperation with other Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) were discussed, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement.
During the brainstorming sessions, specific areas that require attention and improvement were identified. Mechanisms to enhance communication and information sharing among stakeholders were explored, including the potential use of technology platforms and tools for streamlined collaboration. An action plan was developed to improve coordination among stakeholders, with clear objectives, tasks, and timelines for implementation.
At the end of the workshop participants were recognized all officials agreed on the importance of coordination and enhancing communication and information for sharing, international cooperation, and Counter Financing of Terrorism (CFT).
The training workshop was made possible with the support of the UN Peace and Development Trust Fund.
