The Global Programme against Money Laundering, Proceeds of Crime and the financing of Terrorism (GPML) is a global programme providing in-depth assistance to countries to build and strengthen their anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) capacity.
GPML is mandated to assist Member States - via their legal, financial, law enforcement and judicial authorities - to develop effective and comprehensive domestic AML/CFT legal and regulatory frameworks, as well as the institutional infrastructures and practitioner skills needed to implement them, in accordance with UN instruments and international standards. GPML is committed to promoting national coordination and regional and international cooperation on issues concerning money laundering and terrorism financing.
GPML has specifically been tasked by the United Nations General Assembly, most recently in resolutions 74/177 (2019), 73/186 (2018), 72/196 (2017), and 71/209 (2016) to:
“…continue providing technical assistance to Member States to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism in accordance with United Nations related instruments and internationally accepted standards, including, where applicable, recommendations of relevant intergovernmental bodies, inter alia, the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering, and relevant initiatives of regional, interregional and multilateral organizations against money laundering.”
In 2015 all United Nations Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership.
The international community recognized the challenges posed by the complexity of illicit financial flows and the need for the recovery and return of stolen assets. In particular, Member States are called upon by 2030 to significantly reduce illicit financial flows, strengthen recovery and return of stolen assets, and combat all forms of organized crime (SDG target 16.4). Organized crime and illicit financial flows erode sustainable development outcomes and undermine the rule of law. GPML’s work counters the threat by helping Member States to implement the Global Goals.
