Background
The Ministry of Justice convened a national workshop in Phnom Penh from 6 to 8 October 2026 to prepare government agencies for an upcoming Financial Action Task Force (FATF) mutual evaluation. The three-day event targeted senior leaders and implementing officers from ministries and institutions responsible for anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing, and financing related to weapons of mass destruction proliferation.
FATF mutual evaluations measure national systems against Immediate Outcomes (IOs) and assess the effectiveness of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures. Workshop sessions included dissemination of FATF technical standards, the mutual evaluation methodology, and practical guidance on compiling evaluation reports and supporting documents ahead of the anticipated 2028–2029 evaluation cycle.
Scope of Application
The workshop was aimed at policy-level officials and operational law enforcement and regulatory officers from relevant ministries and institutions charged with AML/CFT and proliferation financing responsibilities. Participants included ministry leadership, officials from coordinating bodies, and law enforcement practitioners responsible for preparing documentation and coordinating inter-agency inputs for mutual evaluation processes.
Key Provisions or Decisions
Presentations and discussions covered the FATF Immediate Outcomes framework, stages and expectations of the mutual evaluation (Mutual Evaluation) process, and recent methodological developments for the fifth round of global assessments. The agenda also prioritized practical preparations for report drafting, evidence compilation, and measures to demonstrate effectiveness against the IOs during the 2028–2029 review period.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
Strengthened inter-agency coordination and improved preparedness for mutual evaluation can affect compliance reporting and due diligence expectations for regulated entities. Training for implementing officers focused on the documentation and procedural readiness that domestic regulators will draw on when assessing private-sector compliance with AML/CFT obligations.
Official Source
Ministry of Justice press release (Facebook): source post.
