Solutions

Update: Broad Coalition of Nonprofits Asks Obama to Put Humanitarian Imperative First in Fixing Problems for Charities

in
Date: 
June 4, 2010

Updated: 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 organizations represent a broad cross section of the charitable community, including grantmakers, humanitarian aid and development groups, peacebuilding programs, human rights advocates and more. 

Power Point of Proposed Policy Reforms

in

This power point reviews the Charity and Security Networks' proposed model policies for national security laws applied to charities, aid, development and other nonprofit organizations.  To view it, click on the file attachment below. It will make a download box in the lower left corner of your screen. Click on it to open.

Huffington Post: Time to Lift Ban on Conflict Resolution Programs & Humanitarian Aid Operating in Global Hot Spots

in
Date: 
July 19, 2011

Like Batman's enemy Two-Face, the United States government has two sides when it comes to national security and the work of charities and other nonprofit groups. The friendly side talks about the importance of civil society in addressing root causes of violent extremism, the need to aid civilians in conflict zones and the important role community organizations play in fostering democracy. Read more....

EU: Time to Examine Counterterrorism Policies

in
Date: 
July 18, 2011

Counterterrorism policy must be based on evidence and not assumptions, says a resolution approved by members of the European Parliament (EP) on July 12, 2011.  Supporters of the resolution called for a comprehensive evaluation of measures taken to combat terrorism in Europe and urge the European Commission (EC) to study the substantial costs and burdens of counter-terrorism policy. 

Cross-section of Nonprofits Support Reform of Security Laws That Hinder Charities

in
Date: 
July 18, 2011

On June 21, 2011 a group of 33 organizations released a statement calling for constitutional and human rights principles to guide the U.S. government’s approach to national security rules and policies impacting legitimate charitable work. 

USIP Report: Reform Listing Procedures to Turn Groups Away From Violence

in

A May 2010 report from U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) calls for reforming national security policies to allow for international engagement with armed groups listed as terrorists for peacemaking purposes.  Mediating Peace with Proscribed Armed Groups says reforms such as increasing transparency during the listing process could help conflict mediation groups find peaceful means of turning an armed group away from violence. The report recommends reforming the listing process to better reflect the fluid nature of geopolitics with incentives for groups to become delisted. 

Report: Charities Threatened by Government Barriers

in
Date: 
May 11, 2009

An April 2008 report from the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law and World Movement for Democracy Secretariat at the National Endowment for Democracy sounds the alarm for the governmental barriers impeding civil society groups. Combined with the usual repression of human rights and activism, the report focuses on the "subtle governmental efforts to restrict the space in which civil society originations-especially democracy assistance groups- operate."  

Safeguarding Charities in the War on Terror

in
Date: 
May 11, 2009

Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, federal measures intended to cut off terrorism funding have imposed undue burdens on the nonprofit sector. This report addresses unbalanced anti-terrorist financing regulations and guidelines and suggests a clear, sensible system, under which nonprofit organizations and foundations can pursue legitimate charitable activities. 

Report: Strong Partnerships Prevent Terrorism

in
Date: 
January 29, 2009

A January 2009 report by the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation (CGCC) calls on President Barack Obama to develop “more effective counterterrorism measures that protect the United States and promote and protect human rights.” Building Stronger Partnerships to Prevent Terrorism: Recommendations to President Obama outlines 12 steps that the President should take to help reframe the counterterrorism discourse, encourage multilateralism, and build capacities with nonprofits and the private sector around the world. 

How an Intent Requirement Can Fix Material Support Laws

in
Date: 
April 5, 2010
Author: 
Sahar Aziz, a civil rights attorney with the Bill of Rights Defense Committee

Sahar Aziz has just published a blog on the American Constitution Society website that makes a clear and forceful argument about why U.S. laws prohibiting material support of terrorism should have an intent requirement. Aziz says the Supreme Court, currently considering the material support laws in the Humanitarian Law Project case,  could avoid ruling on whether definitions of key terms in the law are too vague “by interpreting the challenged provisions to require a showing of intent to further illegal activities.” 

Syndicate content