El Salvador continues to lead Latin America in efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, as reaffirmed during the Fifty-First Plenary Session of the Financial Action Task Force of Latin America (GAFILAT), held this week in San Salvador.
The four-day summit brought together representatives from 18 countries across the region, who presented, analyzed, and proposed joint strategies to fight financial crimes. The event concluded with mutual evaluations of member countries’ legal frameworks and systems based on the 40 recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
During the closing ceremony, Attorney General Rodolfo Delgado reaffirmed El Salvador’s unwavering commitment:
“This Plenary Session calls us to a mission that recognizes no borders: the determined fight against money and asset laundering, the financing of terrorism, and the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.”
Delgado emphasized that this mission is not only technical but moral:
“This task is a commitment, an ethical and political imperative, because there is no lasting development, no true democracy, and no sustainable peace when organized crime erodes institutions, distorts markets, and jeopardizes security and public trust.”
Also in attendance were the President of the Supreme Court of Justice, Henry Alexander Mejía; judges from the Constitutional and Criminal Chambers; the Minister of Security, Gustavo Villatoro; and the Minister of Economy, María Luisa Hayem, along with members of the national commission for the prevention of money laundering.
Significantly, GAFILAT has officially approved El Salvador’s mutual evaluation report, recognizing the country’s technical compliance with the FATF’s global standards. International observers, including the IMF, World Bank, OAS, United States, Canada, and Spain, also validated the progress.
GAFILAT President Juan Carlos Monroy Véliz commended El Salvador’s efforts, highlighting the importance of cross-border cooperation in addressing global threats:
“We reaffirm the will to work in a coordinated and supportive manner to address common challenges that transcend borders and unite us.”
El Salvador’s leadership in this arena is a reflection of its strengthened institutions and commitment to regional and international security, solidifying its role as a model for other nations in Latin America.