NGO Forum

By Jonas Bernstein

Voice of America

The United States has expressed concern over a new Russian law giving prosecutors the right to declare foreign and international non-governmental organizations “undesirable” and to fine or jail Russians who are involved with them.

The U.S. State Department said Saturday that it is “deeply troubled” by Russia’s new law that allows the government to ban activities of “undesirable” organizations and criminalizes “cooperation” with them.

“We are concerned this new power will further restrict the work of civil society in Russia and is a further example of the Russian government’s growing crackdown on independent voices and intentional steps to isolate the Russian people from the world,” said State Department spokesperson Marie Harf.

More than 100 environmental NGOs said on Tuesday (12 May) that they feared the European Commission may use its better regulation programme to cut nature protection laws.

By EurActiv.com

The European Commission opened a consultation on Tuesday into EU nature legislation as part of its Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme (REFIT).

REFIT is part of the better regulation strategy led by Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans. It aims to simplify EU law and reduce regulatory costs, but has been criticised for endangering social and environmental standards.

Campaigners are worried that the consultation is a first step towards sacrificing the Birds and Habitats Directives in a bid to become more “business friendly”.

By India-Briefing

Government Crackdown on Foreign Funded NGOs

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently revoked the licenses of nearly 9,000 non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The MHA revoked the licenses for non-compliance with Section 18 of the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA), which stipulates that NGOs must declare financial contributions from abroad to the central government.

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s government implemented the FCRA in 1976 during the so-called ‘Emergency’ – which was associated with the suspension of democratic exercises and curbs on civil liberties – to limit the political influence of foreign funded organizations. In 2011, the Congress-led government overhauled the FCRA, increasing the MHA’s discretionary powers and the number of compliances for NGOs. The overhaul followed several high-profile protest campaigns supported by foreign funded NGOs against large-scale infrastructure projects.

By Victor Mallet

They don’t wear balaclavas or wave banners, but they are bringing about change

The Economist

VIRIDIANA RÍOS is a 32-year-old activist who grew up in the impoverished suburbs of Mexico City. But she is no left-wing firebrand. She is the Harvard-educated head of an NGO that uses analysis, statistics and cheeky social-media campaigns to agitate for clean government. Instead of adopting the rabble-rousing tactics of the street, she is part of a movement of civil-society wonks who are gaining big influence in Mexico. Their weapons are hard facts and solid arguments. “We are the technocracy of civil society,” she says.