International Advocacy
Resource Center
Advocacy in Action
Learn about the potential regulatory changes our team is tracking on behalf of the global credit union movement, the issues they are proactively raising to the international standard setting bodies and the ways they are connecting with our members around the world to ensure a level playing field for all credit unions and financial cooperatives.
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A Call to Action
WOCCU Vice President of International Advocacy Paul Andrews on May 21 sent a letter to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa urging the G20 Presidency recognize cooperatives as essential institutions in the global effort to advance financial inclusion in its 2025 Leaders' Declaration.
A Win at FATF
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in 2025 revised its guidance on key anti-money laundering/counter financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) issues to include language WOCCU advocated for that encourages national governments to identify where AML/CFT regulations can be proportionally tailored for lower-risk institutions such as credit unions. WOCCU applauds those efforts but is seeking minor adjustments.
Webinar
The WOCCU International Advocacy team recently sat down for a panel discussion about the regulatory uncertainty caused by government upheavals across the globe, and the issues that aren't going away no matter who is in elected office, like digitalization, climate finance and the need to strengthen national regulatory frameworks.
The Global Credit Union Difference: Stronger Together
Our credit union industry is at its strongest when we harness the strength of our global movement. That's what Steven Stapp, President and CEO of Unitus Community Credit Union and a former WOCCU Board Chair writes in this recent op-ed for CU Insight.
Why International Development Work Must Continue for Credit Unions
Credit unions are powering change around the world, but global development work is under threat. Cutting this work doesn’t just hurt communities abroad, it weakens U.S. influence and global stability. WOCCU Board Vice Chair Joe Thomas makes the case for why we must keep going in this opinion editorial for CU Insight.
Island Time Advocacy
Paul Andrews, WOCCU Vice President of International Advocacy, goes back on the road June 20-25 for the 2025 Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions' Conference in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. He will host a breakout session for Caribbean credit union professionals on Advocacy and Influence: Strengthening the Voice of Credit Union Leagues in Policy and Regulation.
Set for Stockholm
Paul Andrews and Erin O'Hern, WOCCU International Advocacy and Regulatory Counsel, organized and will be moderating several credit union advocacy breakout sessions at the 2025 World Credit Union Conference in Stockholm, Sweden, July 14-16.Foro Cooperativo en Panama
Erin O'Hern in May traveled to Panama to highlight the importance of cooperative regulation and sustainability at WOCCU's first ever Cooperative Forum on Financial Innovation (Foro Cooperativo de Innovación Financiera).FATF Forum in India
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) asked Erin O'Hern to be a part of its invitation-only 2025 Private Sector Collaborative Forum in Mumbai, India, in early April. She participated in continued discussions on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing (AML/CFT), voicing WOCCU's support for FATF"s renewed focus on financial inclusion and how it benefits credit unions.Guides and Manuals
Protecting the Credit Union and Cooperative Model in a Year of Uncertainty
With a vast amount of regulatory uncertainty resulting from an unprecedented number of newly elected officials across the globe—2025 will be a critical year for credit union advocacy worldwide. That is the overriding theme of WOCCU International Advocacy's 2025 Global Regulatory Update.
Model Law on Credit Unions
The Model Law for Credit Unions provides a sample legislative framework to movement leaders, legislators, regulators and others in preparing and seeking approval of laws that will strengthen the safety and soundness of credit unions without imposing unreasonable regulatory burdens.