Report: NGOs are Threatened by Harsh Legal Constraints

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A February 2008 report details the legal and regulatory measures used by governments to undermine and constrain the existence and operations of nonprofits around the world. Defending Civil Society: A Report of the World Movement for Democracy was co-authored by the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) and the World Movement for Democracy Secretariat at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

According to the report, NGOs –especially ones focused on human rights and democracy building- are being subjected to a variety of legal barriers that threaten their existence and place severe restrictions on operations and access to resources. The report covers restrictions in several countries including Ethiopia, Colombia and the Philippines and calls for the adoption of internationally-recognized principles to protect the NGOs and the vital work they do.