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Report | Doc. 14570 | 07 June 2018

New restrictions on NGO activities in Council of Europe member States

Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Rapporteur : Mr Yves CRUCHTEN, Luxembourg, SOC

Origin - Reference to committee: Bureau decision, Reference 4205 of 22 April 2016. 2018 - Third part-session

Summary

The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights has taken stock of the developments which have occurred between 2016 and 2018 and is concerned about new legislative restrictions imposed on the activities of NGOs and by the increasingly hostile climate towards them. In Azerbaijan and in the Russian Federation, the working conditions of NGOs continue to deteriorate as a result of the implementation of laws restricting their foreign financing. In Hungary, a new law on the transparency of organisations receiving support from abroad came into force and the government proposed a ‟Stop Soros” package of laws aimed at restricting the activities of NGOs assisting migrants. In Romania and Ukraine, draft laws imposing additional financial reporting obligations on NGOs are currently before parliament.

The committee is particularly concerned about the situation in Turkey, where, following the introduction of the state of emergency, almost 1 600 associations and foundations have been closed down.

The Council of Europe member States are called upon to fully respect the right to freedom of association and to consult civil society on the relevant draft laws. The Council of Europe should establish a mechanism for receiving alerts on restrictions imposed on NGOs and strengthen its co-operation with them.

A. Draft resolution 
			(1) 
			Draft resolution adopted
by the committee on 22 May 2018.

(open)

B. Draft recommendation 
			(2) 
			Draft recommendation
adopted unanimously by the committee on 22 May 2018.

(open)

C. Explanatory memorandum by Mr Yves Cruchten, rapporteur

(open)