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Egypt…Towards a Free Civil Society |
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Sunday, 09 September 2007 00:00 |
 With the participation of advocacy and human rights organizations, academics, members of the parliament and heavy media coverage, the EOHR held its first workshop responding to the new draft NGO law which is said to be under preparation by a committee formed by the Ministry of Solidarity, the General Union of Voluntary Organizations and with the support of the some donor organizations.
Participants in the event came out the following recommendations: Recommendations
The new amendments target advocacy and human rights organizations and also Islamic societies that represent 25% of registered NGOs.
For that reason participants recommended the following:
1. creating awareness among developmental organizations on the dangers of the new amendments
2. holding meetings with parliamentarians to explain the concerns of the NGO sector
3. Holding nationwide meetings to spread awareness on the dangers of the new law.
4. drafting a parallel law taking into consideration the recommendations reached during the different workshops to be held nationwide
Participants in the workshop stressed the importance of internal control and supervision of NGO and recommended the following:
1. Giving more authorities to the general assemblies of NGOs to supervise and monitor the work of the NGO
2. Ensuring transparency in the dealing with funds. In this regard participants suggested the following procedures:
1. Publishing the budgets of the NGO in one of the widely distributed newspapers
2. Informing the government of any donations and funds received
3. Keeping good accounts of these funds
4. If amounts received are above a certain limit, the NGO should assign a certified audit to control the accounts
Participants also stressed the importance of dealing with the government on the basis of good governance principles and the importance of dialogue and reaching compromises where possible. |
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