International Center for Not-for-Profit Law The Civic Freedom Monitoring Network

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Leo Dean
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Internatinal Center fr Nt-fr-Prfit Law The Civic Freedm Mnitring Netwrk Cuntry Reprt Research Template This Cuntry Reprt Research Template is designed t assist partners f the Mnitring Netwrk in

1 Internatinal Center fr Nt-fr-Prfit Law The Civic Freedm Mnitring Netwrk Cuntry Reprt Research Template This Cuntry Reprt Research Template is designed t assist partners f the Mnitring Netwrk in preparing the cuntry reprt in the standard frmat used fr all Civic Freedm Mnitr cuntry reprts. The cuntry reprt is intended t present an verview f the legal framewrk fr civil sciety and civic freedms the freedms f assciatin, expressin and peaceful assembly and t highlight key barriers t civil sciety and civic freedm. The cuntry reprt is nt intended t be a cmprehensive reprt cvering all legal issues that might arise within a cuntry; rather, the reprt is intended t fcus primarily n key barriers t civil sciety activity and civic freedm. We expect that the cuntry reprt yu prepare in respnse t this questinnaire will be apprximately 5-6 pages. Once cmpleted, ICNL will uplad the cuntry reprt nt the Civic Freedm Mnitr website ( Fr purpses f this prject, civic freedm includes, but is nt limited t, the fundamental right t the freedm f assciatin, expressin, and peaceful assembly. The terms civil sciety rganizatin r CSO and nn-gvernmental rganizatin r NGO are used t refer t ntfr-prfit, nn-gvernmental rganizatins such as assciatins, fundatins, nn-prfit cmpanies, scieties, public benefit cmpanies, etc. in ther wrds, rganizatins that are private, nn-prfit distributing, self-gverning and vluntary. Althugh this definitin wuld n its face include trade unins, plitical parties, cperatives, and pssibly religius rganizatins, this prject will generally exclude such rganizatins, since they are frequently (thugh nt always) regulated under separate laws. ICNL remains available t prvide guidance, as necessary and apprpriate. Cuntry Reprt Research Template Intrductin This sectin is intended t prvide a brief intrductin t civic freedm and civil sciety and its accmpanying legal framewrk in yur cuntry. This sectin shuld be n mre than 3-4 shrt paragraphs. We knw that this is a challenge, but the key is t prvide a general verview. Please cnsider the fllwing questins: What is the cntext in which civil sciety perates in yur cuntry? In ther wrds, what shuld a reader understand abut the nature f civil sciety in yur cuntry in rder t make sense f the rest f the reprt? 1

2 Des civil sciety play an active rle in yur cuntry? Is it firmly rted in the cultural traditins f yur cuntry? Des the legal framewrk fllw civil law, cmmn law, r ther legal traditins? Is the legal framewrk generally supprtive r cnstraining fr civil sciety? Are civic freedms generally respected r restricted in yur cuntry? Cnstitutinal Framewrk Please prvide the relevant cnstitutinal prvisins that relate t civil sciety, including the rights t the freedm f assciatin, expressin, and peaceful assembly, etc., specific references t civil sciety (if any), and any limitatins (e.g., natinal security r public rder) that may be used t justify interference with civil sciety. Natinal Laws and Regulatins Affecting the Sectr Please prvide a list f the relevant laws and regulatins affecting civil sciety and the cre civic freedms. These culd include the civil cde, registratin laws, taxatin laws, labr laws affecting CSOs, as well as implementing regulatins relating t registratin, freign funding, prcurement, vlunteerism, etc. Please als prvide either links t the laws r attach electrnic versins f the law. If these are nt available, kindly mail hard cpies t ICNL, and we will reimburse yur pstage. Please als prvide English translatins if they are available. If yu need t purchase cpies f laws, please cntact ICNL befre purchasing any dcuments, and we will determine n a case-by-case basis whether it makes sense t purchase them. Pending Legislative / Regulatry Initiatives Is there pending draft legislatin r prpsed amendments t existing legislatin affecting civic freedm and/r civil sciety? If s, please briefly describe the status f the initiative and highlight the key prvisins f the draft law r regulatin. Legal Analysis Please prvide an analysis f the legal framewrk based n the fllwing categries and questins. Organizatinal Frms: What types f frmally registered civil sciety rganizatins (CSOs) can be frmed, and what are the defining characteristics f each type f rganizatin? What gvernment authrity registers each type f CSO? What are the purpses fr which different types f CSOs may be established (e.g., the public benefit, the benefit f the rganizatin s members, etc.)? Apprximate Numbers Apprximately hw many f each rganizatinal frm are fficially registered? Public Benefit Status: Des the legal framewrk recgnize a special status fr CSOs public benefit r taxexempt r charitable status that prvides fiscal benefits fr qualifying CSOs? If s, what law r regulatin gverns this status? What are the prcedures fr recgnitin r certificatin? Wh is eligible fr certificatin (i.e., what are the criteria fr recgnitin)? 2

3 What are the benefits? Barriers t Entry: Des the law prhibit the frmatin and peratin f unregistered grups? Are there ptential sanctins r penalties fr carrying ut activities thrugh an unregistered rganizatin? Fr each frm f CSO listed abve, what d the laws prvide fr the frmal establishment f a CSO as a legal entity? Fr example: Wh may be a funder (individuals, legal entities, freigners, minrs, etc)? Are there restrictins n wh can serve as a funder? What are the criteria fr establishing an rganizatin? Fr example, is a minimum number f funders required? A minimum amunt f assets required? What are the general registratin prcedures? Fr example, what dcuments must be submitted? Is there a registratin fee? Is the respnsible registratin authrity bliged t review and decide upn registratin within a fixed time perid? Des the Gvernment have discretin t deny registratin and hw des it exercise that discretin? D CSOs have the right t appeal? Are there special rules r restrictins applicable t the registratin r incrpratin f freign CSOs? If s, what are they? Are there ther significant cnstraints n the registratin/incrpratin prcess that need t be cnsidered? Barriers t Operatinal Activity: Des the law impse burdens r cnstraints relating t the peratinal activity f a CSO? Fr example: Are certain activities prhibited r restricted? Des the law permit gvernment interference with the internal self-gvernance f a CSO (e.g., the right f the gvernment t attend meetings f the NGO, the right f gvernment t appint r apprve bard members, r requiring the NGO t ntify the gvernment in advance f internal meetings, etc.)? Des the law subject CSOs t cnstraints such as advance apprval fr prject activity? Are CSOs subject t burdensme reprting requirements? Are special sanctins (fines, penalty taxes, suspensin f activities, etc.) applied unfairly r disprprtinately against CSOs? Are CSOs subject t terminatin/disslutin n arbitrary grunds? Are CSOs subject t gvernment harassment (e.g., frequent inspectins, requests fr dcumentatin, etc.)? Des the gvernment prvide adequate prtectin t CSO representatives in the face f threats and vilence? Has gvernment established its wn CSOs (Gvernment rganized r cntrlled NGOs) that threaten the independent space fr CSOs? Barriers t Speech / Advcacy: 3

4 Des the cnstitutin in yur cuntry prtect the freedm f expressin? Please prvide the full language f the relevant cnstitutinal prvisin. Besides the cnstitutin, what laws and/r regulatins affect (enable r restrict) the freedm f expressin? Please prvide the reference t the law and/r regulatins, and if pssible a link t the electrnic surce. Are there restrictins n the ability f individuals/csos t criticize the Gvernment r t advcate plitically unppular causes, including issues f human rights and demcracy? Are there limits t the ability f CSOs t engage in plitical r legislative activities (fr example, endrsing candidates fr public ffice, helping t draft laws, r urging the gvernment t adpt certain plicies)? Barriers t Internatinal Cntact: Are there restrictins n the ability f CSOs t cntact and cperate with clleagues in civil sciety, business and gvernment sectrs, either within r utside the cuntry (e.g., requiring advance ntice f internatinal cperatin, restricting travel, prhibiting cnferences, etc.)? Des the law r gvernment impse restrictins n participating in netwrks r n accessing the Internet r Wrld Wide Web? If s, what are they? Barriers t Resurces: Freign Funding: Are there special restrictins r rules fr dmestic CSOs t receive freign funding (e.g., permissin f a ministry, a requirement t depsit the mney in a gvernment-cntrlled bank, etc.)? If s, what are these rules? Dmestic Funding: T what extent are CSOs permitted t engage in cmmercial/ business/ecnmic activities? May business activities be cnducted directly by the CSO r must they be cnducted thrugh fr-prfit subsidiaries? Any restrictins r limits? Des the law (r implementatin practice) impse any ther cnstraints n the ability f CSOs t seek and secure funding? If s, what are they? Barriers t Assembly: Legal Basis: Des the cnstitutin in yur cuntry prtect the freedm f assembly? Please prvide the full language f the relevant cnstitutinal prvisin. Besides the cnstitutin, hw is assembly (hwever defined, e.g., as public gatherings, demnstratins, marches, etc.) regulated in yur cuntry? Is there, fr example, a specific law n assembly r public gatherings? Are there gverning prvisins in the civil cde r plice act? Please prvide the reference t the law and/r regulatins, and if pssible a link t the electrnic surce. Is the law and/r regulatin accessible and clearly understandable t the general public? Des the law and/r regulatin include vague prvisins allwing fr the exercise f 4

5 excessive gvernment discretin? If s, please prvide examples f the vague statutry language. Applicable Prcedures and Requirements: Is advance permissin r advance ntificatin required t engage in an assembly, prtest, r public gathering? If s, please prvide details f the required prcedure. Fr example: Des the law set a threshld fr the number f participants triggering the ntificatin requirement? Hw many days ntice are required? What infrmatin must the rganizer prvide? Is the rganizer required t disclse the identity f the assembly participants? Is the regulatry authrity required t respnd, and if s, hw quickly? Is there a right t appeal a denial f permissin? Des the law allw fr spntaneus demnstratins? If s, under what circumstances? What bligatins and liabilities are impsed n the rganizers f assemblies? (Fr example, are there requirements that rganizers keep the peace r cmpensate any persn r party fr damages that ccur during the assembly?) What bligatins and liabilities are impsed n the participants in assemblies? Legal Barriers t Freedm f Assembly: Des the law and/r regulatin prhibit r ban assemblies at certain places r times? If s, please describe the nature f the prhibitin r ban. Are certain types f assemblies restricted based n their cntent, such as plitical gatherings r gatherings that discuss certain sensitive tpics? If s, please describe the nature f the cntent-based restrictin. Are certain categries f persns r grups restricted frm rganizing r participating in assemblies, such as students, nn-citizens, yuths, peple with a criminal recrd, r thers? If s, please describe the nature f the restrictin. Des the law prhibit any specific kinds f actins during an assembly? Fr example, are unifrms and masks prhibited? Is the use f certain symbls prhibited? Is the use f megaphnes r ther amplificatin devices prhibited? Des the law prevent peple frm exchanging infrmatin, planning r cmmunicating abut prtests either within the cuntry, with freigners, r nline? If s, please prvide specific references. Are there ther legal barriers against the freedm f assembly? Plicing / Enfrcement: In practice, des the State use excessive frce t break up assemblies? If s, please prvide examples f the use f excessive frce. In practice, des the State prvide sufficient prtectin t the rganizers and participants in assemblies? Des the law specifically address cunter-demnstratins? If s, hw are cunterdemnstratins regulated? 5

6 Des the law make available criminal sanctins, such as prisn terms r fines, against the rganizers and/r participants in assemblies, fr vilatins f the law relating t assemblies? If s, please prvide infrmatin regarding the sanctins. 6

Club and Organization Conduct Procedures

Club and Organization Conduct Procedures Club and Organizatin Cnduct Prcedures Purpse The purpse f the Student Cde f Cnduct ( Cde ) is t maintain the general welfare f the University cmmunity and supprt cmmunity safety and student grwth by helping