Feb
23
By Dr. Norman Bailey
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)are becoming ever-more significant on the international scene. Non-profit and generally non-taxed organizations, ostensibly with educational, charitable, human rights and environmental and othergoals and activities, do studies, issue reports,hold meetings and conferences and lobby governments and international organizations.
Feb
16
By Bree Feng
A proposal by China that would have withheld the names of countries that criticize nongovernmental organizations at the United Nations has drawn condemnation from diplomats and rights groups, citing concerns about transparency.
China made the proposal last week during a session of the United Nations committee that oversees accreditation for nongovernmental organizations to participate in United Nations meetings. At present, the United Nations publishes accounts of committee meetings that include any objections raised by the committee’s 19 member states to nongovernmental organizations seeking accreditation. Last Wednesday, however, China moved that the United Nations no longer name individual countries in its reports, participants in the session said. The motion was supported by Cuba, Iran, Russia, Pakistan and Sudan, the participants said.
Feb
10
By B. Sivakumar
The income tax department has cancelled exemption for two NGOs registered in Chennai under Greenpeace India for 2011-12 after finding that they violated provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and Income Tax Act.
Sources said the ministry of home affairs and the I-T department had under scrutiny the accounts of Greenpeace India Society and Greenpeace Environment Trust, NGOs that have common members and trustees. They were found to have spent 60% of foreign donations they received on administrative expenses, violating Section 8 of FCRA, 2010, which has placed a ceiling of 50% expenditure under this head.
Feb
05
By The China Post/Asia News Network
China was forced on Friday to drop a measure at the United Nations that targeted non-governmental organisations seeking to be heard at the world body.
China had proposed that the United Nations refrain from naming countries that criticise NGOs during meetings of a committee that decides which groups are accredited to the UN
The information blackout would have allowed China and other countries distrustful of non-governmental organisations to air their opposition without being singled out in any UN public report.