The declaration aims to set global priorities for tackling illicit finance following its 2026 Ministerial Meeting in Washington DC.
Key focus areas within the declaration include:
➡️ Fraud as a Core Focus: Commitment to deploy the full AML/CFT/CPF toolkit to combat the growing scale, sophistication and cross-border nature of fraud, including organised scam centres;
➡️ Emerging Risks: Increased focus on misuse of legal persons, virtual assets and technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) in facilitating illicit finance;
➡️ Risk-Based Approach: Ministers emphasised effective, proportionate implementation of the risk-based approach as the cornerstone of the FATF Standards;
➡️ Payments Transparency: Support for revised standards to strengthen traceability and security of cross-border payments; and
➡️ Global Cooperation and Accountability: Commitment to rigorous mutual evaluations and continued collaboration across the FATF Global Network to drive effectiveness.
✅ Firms should prioritise fraud risk management, reassess exposure to emerging risks, and ensure risk-based AML controls are aligned with the FATF’s evolving expectations.