NGO Law and Association News
In 2008, the Royal Government of Cambodia announced the intention to focus on the introduction of several laws in this mandate, one of these being the NGO/Associations Law. The government has still not made a draft law available nor had any discussion with civil society on the issues. It is known that the entire NGO community will be affected by the legislation. It is a priority for CCC to facilitate and co-ordinate civil society’s concerns and responses in partnership with NGO Forum, Medicam and CARE.
A Joint Statement was produced and 237 NGOs have endorsed this.
CCC has engaged NGO leaders, representing all sectors and from both the national and international NGOs. The issues and approaches and approaches have been discussed with NGOs and other stakeholders in a variety of forums; there has been strategic dialogue and opportunities promoted for civil society to influence the development of such legislation.
The NGO/Associations law in Cambodia comes at a time when there is an increased focus on governance issues for NGOs at a global level. The reasons for this come from the Aid Effectiveness agenda (see link) coupled with the global recession. More than ever NGOs have to prove that they can be effective stewards of development funding and deliver programmes that are truly accountable to the communities they serve.
CCC has responded to these different demands for good governance with the focus on transparency and accountability, through a series of regional workshops. The agenda included Aid Effectiveness, the NGO GPP ( see link) and the NGO/associations law. This provided valuable space for discussion and learning on the NGO/Associations law issue, 287 NGOs participated. CCC also used this opportunity to establish regional Focal Groups of representatives from local NGOs to ensure good communication and linkage between provinces and Phnom Penh based activity.
Other activity on the issue has included high level strategic workshops; dialogue with development partners; and links with international organisations that have an interest- including CIVICUS, the International Federation for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch. The issue has also been discussed with theUN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights .
For further information on the NGO/Associations law please refer to the linked documents below:
1. Joint Statement in Khmer and English
2. Briefing: Benchmarks for a law that meets International Standards/Principles
3. Power Point: Benchmarks for a law that meets International Standards/Principles
4. Briefing: International Best Practice for NGO and Association legal reform process
5. International Principles for Protection of Civil Society
6. Tool for analyzing draft law and comparing to existing requirements/framework
7. Not For Profit Law checklist (ICNL)
8. NGO and Association Law January Update
9. NGO and Association Law February Update
10. NGO and Association Law March Update
11. NGO and Association Law June Update
12. Minutes of NGO Law meeting January
13. Minutes of NGO Law meeting March
14. Minutes of NGO Law meeting April
15. Minutes of NGO Law meeting May
16. Minutes of NGO Law meeting June
