Bolivia strengthens its legislative systems in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing

The Bolivian cities of Sucre and La Paz have hosted a specialised training course for judges and prosecutors entitled: 'Vulnerable legislative and institutional systems in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing', which aimed to strengthen national capacities to more effectively address the challenges associated with money laundering and terrorist financing.

The activity was organised by the European project on the fight against organised crime, implemented by Spain, Italy and France through FIAP, IILA and Civipol, respectively, in collaboration with another United Nations project and in coordination with the State School of Judges and the School of Prosecutors of the Bolivian Attorney General's Office.

Institutional strengthening and international cooperation

The main objective of this training has been to strengthen the strategic and operational capacities of the Bolivian institutions responsible for the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) system, enabling tangible progress to be made in the country's regulatory and operational frameworks. These actions are part of national efforts to comply with the international standards of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and help Bolivia get off the grey list.

The training has involved the participation of investigating and criminal judges, prosecutors specialising in drug trafficking and anti-corruption, police investigators from the Special Force for the Fight against Crime (FELCC) and the Special Force for the Fight against Drug Trafficking (FELCN), as well as analysts from the Financial Investigations Unit (UIF).

Practical and multidisciplinary approach

With a theoretical and practical approach, the sessions addressed understanding the internal and external dimensions of terrorism and its financing, along with an analysis of international best practices in the use of special investigation techniques, international judicial and police cooperation, and institutional coordination among the various actors in the system.

Likewise, the legal and structural frameworks that underpin AML/CFT activities have been explored in depth, identifying the need to develop comprehensive guidelines, legislative recommendations and protocols for action that will enable Bolivia to strengthen its regulatory and operational framework in this area.

During the training, the role of the State School of Judges and the State School of Prosecutors was highlighted as key drivers for improving standards of judicial and prosecutorial independence, particularly in the selection and initial and ongoing training of judges and prosecutors.

For their part, the police forces and the FIU have demonstrated a high level of commitment and participation, consolidating themselves as fundamental pillars of the multidisciplinary work required to strengthen the national AML/CFT system.