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Serbia Mutual Evaluation AML/CFT/CPF Measures Report

FATF published its 2025 Mutual Evaluation Report assessing Serbia's Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing/Proliferation (AML/CFT/CPF) framework. The report evaluates Serbia's compliance with FATF Recommendations and the effectiveness of its AML/CFT/CPF measures across 40 recommendations.

Civil society activist Vigário Balanta killed in Guinea-Bissau

The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) issued a press release on 2 April 2026 expressing shock over the killing of civil society activist Vigário Luís Balanta in Guinea-Bissau. The statement calls for a thorough and impartial investigation, fair trials for those responsible, and urgent steps toward restoring constitutional order following the November 2025 coup.

PIC/S GMP Guide Revised Chapters 3, 5, 8 and Annex 17

PIC/S has revised Chapters 3, 5, 8 and Annex 17 of the GMP Guide (PE 009-14), aligning them with EU GMP principles and Quality Risk Management. Key changes include new cross-contamination prevention requirements in Chapters 3 and 5, updated supplier qualification requirements, and expanded quality defect evaluation expectations in Chapter 8. The revision entered into force on 1 July 2018.

Updated Opioid Dependence Treatment and Overdose Prevention Guidelines

WHO announced updates to guidelines for opioid dependence treatment and overdose prevention, including new conditional recommendations for long-acting injectable buprenorphine alongside continued strong recommendations for methadone and oral buprenorphine. The full guidelines are expected later in 2026 or early 2027. Currently, fewer than 10% of approximately 64 million people worldwide with drug use disorders receive treatment.

Draft Children's Online Privacy Code for Online Services

Australia's OAIC released an exposure draft of the Children's Online Privacy Code, proposing new obligations for online services to protect children's data. The code requires consent before targeted advertising using children's data, grants children rights to request data deletion, and mandates notifications when parents consent on behalf of children or when geolocation is being tracked. Public consultation runs for 60 days, with the code set to become law in December 2026.

California Higher CCPA Fines Age Assurance Enforcement Ramp-up

California Privacy Protection Agency and state attorneys general indicated increased enforcement activity at IAPP Global Summit 2026. CalPrivacy is considering higher CCPA fines following $4 million in total settlements from five cases. The California AG's office is preparing rulemaking on age verification requirements under the Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act. Enforcement priorities include data minimization and purpose limitation principles.

ISO 20022 CBPR+ Address Structuring Deadline November 2026

SWIFT announced that the CBPR+ ISO 20022 migration achieved 97% adoption as of November 2025. A new requirement mandates removal of unstructured postal addresses from CBPR+ payment messages by November 2026. After this date, only fully structured or hybrid postal addresses will be accepted; payments with non-compliant addresses may be rejected or delayed by PSPs. Standards Release 2026 Usage Guidelines were published February 20, 2026.

UN adds HAMIDAH NABAGALA to ISIL sanctions list

The UN Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) approved the addition of HAMIDAH NABAGALA (QDi.439) to the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List on 30 March 2026. The individual, a Ugandan national born 9 March 1996, is subject to an assets freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo under Security Council resolution 2734 (2024) adopted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

Georgia Local Democracy Jeopardized - Congress Report

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe issued a report finding local democracy in Georgia to be in jeopardy, citing rapid democratic backsliding, high polarisation, one-party rule over local authorities, and lack of follow-up on past recommendations. The Congress debated findings from a fact-finding visit conducted September 24-25, 2025, and deplored irregularities in the October 4, 2025 local elections including widespread boycotts, electoral law changes, and intimidation of opposition voices.

Freedom of Expression Clampdown - Middle East Region

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned on April 1, 2026, of deepening repression of civic space and freedom of expression across the Middle East following US and Israeli attacks on Iran. In Iran, an estimated 2,345 people have been arrested since the conflict began on national security charges including terrorism, dissent, and alleged espionage, with 8 executions reported. Iran is experiencing its fifth week of nationwide internet blackout.