Summary
The administrative process for NGO registration should be applied with minimum margin of discretion.
Obligations
Election Parts
Quotes
- The administrative process for the registration of NGOs should be applied with a minimum margin of discretion provided. The government ministry or agency responsible for the registration of NGOs should publish rules and regulations applicable, and forms that explain the process. It should provide assistance to NGOs that are seeking formal legal status, and it should be required to provide a written statement of reasons for any refusal to register an NGO...Decisions not to register an NGO or to terminate one should be appealable, both administratively and to an independent court.
- Governments must refrain from adopting measures that disproportionately target or burden civil society organizations (CSOs), such as imposing onerous vetting rules, procedures or other CSO-specific requirements not applied to the corporate sector.
- States should not resort to tax pressure to discourage associations from receiving funds from abroad. Tax exemption and other privileges for associations should be considered positive examples.