AN ENABLING LEGAL ENVIRONMENT FOR NGOs Dr. Dragan Golubovic European Center for Not-for-Profit Law.

AN ENABLING LEGAL AN ENABLING LEGAL ENVIRONMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT FOR

NGOsNGOsDr. Dragan Golubovic Dr. Dragan Golubovic

European Center for Not-for-Profit Law European Center for Not-for-Profit Law

Copyright 2007. ICNL. All Rights Copyright 2007. ICNL. All Rights Reserved.Reserved.

Civil Society Under ThreatCivil Society Under Threat(David Moore)(David Moore)

Regulatory backlash against NGOsRegulatory backlash against NGOs Restrictive regulations/practices Restrictive regulations/practices

introduced in 20+ countries since 2005introduced in 20+ countries since 2005 Global trendGlobal trend

• Africa: Eritrea, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Africa: Eritrea, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, ZimbabweZimbabwe

• Asia: China, Vietnam, Malaysia, NepalAsia: China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Nepal• NIS: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, NIS: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan,

Uzbekistan.Uzbekistan.• Middle East: Iraq, Egypt, JordanMiddle East: Iraq, Egypt, Jordan• Latin America: VenezuelaLatin America: Venezuela


PERCEIVED LEGAL BARRIERS PERCEIVED LEGAL BARRIERS

1) 1) Barriers to EntryBarriers to Entry2) Barriers to Operational Activity 2) Barriers to Operational Activity 3) Barriers to Speech / Advocacy3) Barriers to Speech / Advocacy4) Barriers to Contact / Cooperation4) Barriers to Contact / Cooperation5) Barriers to Resources5) Barriers to Resources


AN ENABLING LEGAL AN ENABLING LEGAL ENVIRONMENT FOR NGOsENVIRONMENT FOR NGOs

FRAMEWORK REGULATION.FRAMEWORK REGULATION. FAVORABLE TAX TREATMENT FOR NGOs FAVORABLE TAX TREATMENT FOR NGOs

AND DONORS.AND DONORS. VIABLE AND TRANSPARENT MECHANISM VIABLE AND TRANSPARENT MECHANISM

OF PUBLIC FUNDING.OF PUBLIC FUNDING. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR PUBLIC

PARTICIPATION. PARTICIPATION.



CHALLENGESCHALLENGES:: BINDING INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS PERTAIN BINDING INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS PERTAIN

TO FRAMEWORK REGULATION – AND FOR TO FRAMEWORK REGULATION – AND FOR MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS ONLY MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS ONLY ((ASSOCIATIONS)ASSOCIATIONS)..

FOUNDATIONS FOUNDATIONS (NON-MEMBERSHIP (NON-MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS) ARE NOT DIRECTLY PROTECTED ORGANIZATIONS) ARE NOT DIRECTLY PROTECTED BY THOSE STANDARDS. BY THOSE STANDARDS.

NO BINDINGNO BINDING INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE ENABLING LEGAL OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE ENABLING LEGAL ENVIRONMENT FOR NGOs (taxes, public ENVIRONMENT FOR NGOs (taxes, public financing, public participation). financing, public participation).



COE RECOMMENDATIONS (2007/14)COE RECOMMENDATIONS (2007/14) GOAL: TO SET MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR AN GOAL: TO SET MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR AN

ENABLING LEGAL ENVIRONMENT FOR NGOs.ENABLING LEGAL ENVIRONMENT FOR NGOs. RECOMMENDATIONS NOT LEGALY BINDING: RECOMMENDATIONS NOT LEGALY BINDING: A POLITICAL DOCUMENT (REFLECTS A POLITICAL DOCUMENT (REFLECTS

POLITICAL COMMITTMENT OF COE MEMBER POLITICAL COMMITTMENT OF COE MEMBER STATES TOWARDS AN ENABLING STATES TOWARDS AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR NGOsENVIRONMENT FOR NGOs. .



COE RECOMMENDATIONS (2007/14):COE RECOMMENDATIONS (2007/14):CONTENT:CONTENT: FRAMEWORK REGULATION FOR NGOs. FRAMEWORK REGULATION FOR NGOs. PUBLIC FINANCING OF NGOs. PUBLIC FINANCING OF NGOs. INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISM OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISM OF PUBLIC

PARTICIPATION.PARTICIPATION. THEY DO NOT DEAL WITH TAX TREATMENT OF THEY DO NOT DEAL WITH TAX TREATMENT OF

NGOs. NGOs.



COE RECOMMENDATIONS (2007/14):COE RECOMMENDATIONS (2007/14): EDUCATIONAL TOOL FOR KEY EDUCATIONAL TOOL FOR KEY

STAKEHOLDERS.STAKEHOLDERS.

POWERFULL ADVOCACY TOOL FOR NGOs.POWERFULL ADVOCACY TOOL FOR NGOs.

AN ENABLING LEGAL ENVIRONMENT FOR NGOs Dr. Dragan Golubovic European Center for Not-for-Profit Law.

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