On June 4, 2010 almost 40 nonprofits, grantmakers and charitable groups wrote to President Barack Obama asking him to fulfill the commitment made in his June 2009 speech in Cairo to address problems current national security laws create for charitable giving. The letter opens by saying, “Restrictions by the U. S. Government on charitable giving practices continue to do irreparable harm to the work of our organizations and to our nation’s image abroad.” This harm affects individual donors, grantmaking foundations, operational charities and other legitimate organizations. To address the issue, the groups asked Obama to issue “a White House directive to all federal agencies mandating revision of their current policies and practices to conform to basic humanitarian principles.”  Read the full letter here.

 

CSN Events

Audio File: Prof. David Cole Explains Why HLP Ruling Hurts Conflict Resolution Work

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2010-07-16 14:16
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July 16, 2010

During a teleconference call on July 12, 2010 Georgetown Law Professor David Cole, who represented Humanitarian Law Project (HLP) and argued the case before the Supreme Court, spoke about the case and its potential adverse impact on conflict resolution work (mp3 file) around the world. The Association for Conflict Resolution sponsored the teleconference call. 

Panel of Experts Reviews Need for Action to Fulfill Obama's Cairo Commitment

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2010-05-17 15:48
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May 17, 2010

During his remarks in Cairo, the President acknowledged the “rules on charitable giving” had created harsh barriers for legitimate charities and donors and pledged a “commitment” to remedy those restrictions. On May 12, 2010, a panel of U.S. nonprofit leaders and legal experts examined the administrations’ response to these concerns. The event hosted by the Muslim Public Affairs Council and the Charity and Security Network. 

Authors Highlight the Securitization of Aid and Restrictions on Nonprofits

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March 15, 2010

On March 1, 2010, the Charity and Security Network held a reception and discussion based on a new book Civil Society Under Strain; Counter-Terrorism Policy, Civil Society and Aid Post 9/11 (Kumarian Press). The books editors, Jeremy Lind and Jude Howell of the London School of Economics Civil Society Centre provided insight from their research about the changing landscape of humanitarian work in a political environment dominated by security concerns.

May 12: Experts Addressed Obama's Commitment to Charitable Giving: One Year After the Cairo Speech

Submitted by suraj on Thu, 2010-05-06 11:07
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May 6, 2010

An event recap will be posted shortly. 

Commitment to Charitable Giving: One Year After Obama's Cairo Speech 

Event Recap: A Briefing on What's at Stake in the Supreme Court Case Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project

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February 18, 2010

On Feb. 17, 2010 the Charity and Security Network teamed with the Constitution Project  to host a briefing on the Supreme Court case, Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project, which held oral arguments on Feb. 23.  The case is the first constitutional challenge to provisions of federal laws, including the Patriot Act, prohibiting “material support” for groups designated a “terrorist” by the United States government. The event, Free Speech, Human Rights & Counter-Terrorism Laws, explored the likely impact and misconceptions of the Court's ruling on national security policies. 

Roundtable Discussion on Zakat Committees Highlights Problems with Anti-Terror Regime

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January 26, 2010

On Jan. 14, 2010, a roundtable discussion with UK scholar Jonathan Benthall featured research on zakat committees in the West Bank, focusing on their evolutionary process during the past 20 years. Benthall was in Washington, DC to share the findings of a November 2009 report about zakat committees written by his colleague Emanuel Schaeublin of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding in Geneva, Switzerland.  Alistair Millar, President of the Fourth Freedom Forum and Co-Director of the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, described how nonprofit groups reduce the threat of terrorism but have been viewed with suspicion by governments. 

July 1, 2009 Panel Event- Dilemma for US NGOs: Counterterrorism Laws vs. the Humanitarian Imperative

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July 1, 2009

The legal constraints national security laws impose of U.S. charitable organizations cause tensions with international law and codes for humanitarian aid and development programs. The standards and principles expressed in the Geneva Conventions and International Red Cross Code of Conduct could be emulated by the U.S and incorporated into future polices.

This panel discussion featured NGO leaders and experts from the U.S. who shared their expertise on humanitarian codes, charitable groups and donors affected by U.S. laws and regulations.

Panel of Experts Explain How the Work of Charities Counters Terror

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March 23, 2009

Speaking to a standing room only crowd at the National Press Club on March 20, 2009, a panel of NGO leaders explained how ill-advised counterterrorism measures (CTMs) diminish the critical work of humanitarian groups and exacerbate the root causes of terror- poverty, injustice and being excluded from the political process. The panel guests shared an in-depth look at how these issues are experienced by NGOs on the ground.  

March 20, 2009 Panel Event- Friend Not Foe: How the Work of Charities Counters Terror

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March 20, 2009

Friday, March 20, 2009
Zenger Room at the National Press Club 

Charities perform work that counters global terrorism by advancing development, human rights, and conflict prevention. Rather than being embraced as a valuable asset in reducing the threat of terror, civil society groups have found themselves the target of counterterrorism policies and enforcement measures that are restrictive and intimidating. Barriers to prevent the financing of terrorism have created a chilling effect both donors and charities. Organizations are fearful of operating humanitarian relief projects in political hot spots. Opportunities to increase our security by reducing the root causes of terror are lost.

Experts Describe Tensions Between U.S. Laws and Providing Humanitarian Assistance

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July 2, 2009

On July 1, 2009, a panel discussion featuring U.S. NGO leaders and experts shared their expertise on humanitarian codes, charitable groups and donors affected by U.S. laws and regulations.  The speakers voiced concerns over the legal constraints national security laws impose on U.S. charitable organizations that cause tensions with international law and codes for humanitarian aid and development programs and leave donors unsure where to safely and legally contribute.