NGO Forum

The recent clampdown on an NGO, media freedom and the potential for the EU to monitor the fundamental rights situation in member states were among the main issues raised at a public hearing on human rights in Hungary. The hearing took place on 22 January in the Parliament’s justice committee with representatives of NGOs, international organisations and the Hungarian government in attendance.

European Parliament

Claude Moraes, a British S&D member and chair of the justice committee, pointed out that “the European Parliament has to make an effort to ensure that fundamental rights are respected in member states, even if it is one of the most difficult and sensitive tasks.”

By Laura DeGeer

Jurist

[JURIST] China aims to “regulate” foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) under a law being discussed this week, which aims to step up supervision of the fast-growing sector, state media said [Xinhua report] on Monday. The bill, which was submitted to the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, running from Monday to Sunday, essentially provides that non-domestic NGOs will have to “register with, and be approved by Chinese authorities if they want to set up representative offices” within China, either permanently or temporarily. The bill also asserts that Chinese governments at all levels are obligated to provide guidance, and policy consultation to assist in aiding NGOs opening, and operating on the mainland of China, as well as punishments for NGOs if they are to violate the law. The overarching theme behind this proposed law is the regulation, guidance and supervision of NGOs activities within China.

Paperwork Burden Too Much for Struggling Nonprofits

By Rebeca Morla

PanAm Post

The Secretariat of Governance and Justice announced on January 11 that 4,104 nonprofit organizations will lose their legal status in Honduras. The NGOs failed to present financial reports the government requires to legalize their operations in the country. Among those affected are religious groups, medical charities, and human-rights organizations.

In accordance with the 2011 Special Act for Promotion of Non-Governmental Development Organizations, which stipulated the need to monitor all civil-society organizations, NGOs are required to submit an annual report detailing their administrative activities, funding, assets, and liabilities.

Dhananjay Mahapatra

The Times of India

NEW DELHI: CBI on Monday raised a question mark on NGOs in the country, informing the Supreme Court that of the more than 22 lakh NGOs in various states, less than 10% had filed their balance sheets on grants received and their expenditures with the authorities.

CBI collated data from 20 states and seven UTs, and informed the court that 22,45,655 NGOs were operating in the states. Of these only 2,234,78 NGOs, that is 9.9%, have filed their returns.