Clément Nyaletsossi Voule has released a report that integrates many of the issues IFEX raised in its submission, included below, related to protecting the ability of civil society to do its important work.
“The Special Rapporteur stresses that for associations to deliver on their mission, access to resources is critical. States contradict their commitments to sustainable development and aid effectiveness when they unduly restrict funding to associations.”
An independent and robust civil society is essential to ensure the promotion and defense of all human rights. But it cannot do that, if it cannot resource its work.
In February 2022, the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association asked for submissions to inform his 2022 Report on ‘trends, developments, and challenges regarding the ability of civil society organizations to access resources, including foreign funding’.
Spurred by the knowledge that the IFEX network has extensive experience being subjected to – as well as working to try to overcome – serious obstacles of this kind, we responded with a submission featuring critical information and thoughtful perspectives provided by IFEX member organisations working in different regions of the world. Country cases included Belarus, Cambodia, Egypt, Mongolia, Nicaragua, and Zimbabwe.
The Special Rapporteur’s final report, released on 10 May 2022, integrates many of the issues IFEX raised.
We welcome its recommendations, which includes calls for States to: ensure organisations have the right to seek, receive, and use funding and other resources; repeal laws and regulations contrary to international human rights standards; ensure full compliance with the Financial Action Task Force recommendation 8; and strengthen financial sustainability.
The Report also issues recommendations for the donor community, which include consulting with organisations to understand funding and resourcing needs, as well as restrictions; moving to a participatory and co-creative process between civil society and donors; and increasing longer-term investments and improved core support.
These actions are key to building an enabling environment for civil society, promoting a healthy democracy, and expanding civic space.
We invite you to read the Special Rapporteur’s Report, share it widely amongst your networks, and use it to encourage governments and the donor community to act on its recommendations.
For a birds-eye view of the Report, check out our Twitter thread.
You can read IFEX’s submission below [in English].
