A
Call for the Amendment of the Charitable and
Non-Governmental Organizations Law and the Establishment
of an Independent National Commission to Oversee Civil
Society Organizations’ Affairs
February
5, 2007
AMAN
Coalition had organized a workshop to discuss a study
produced by Ms. Fatmeh Mo’akat, A Palestinian Lawyer,
contracted by AMAN for producing a legal review of the
Charitable and Non-Governmental Organizations Law. The
aim of the review is to ensure and enhance systems of
transparency and accountability in the work of these
organizations.
Dr.
Azmi Shuaibi, General Coordinator, AMAN Coalition opened
the workshop by saying that this workshop and this
analytical study are part of the activities planed for
NAZAHA Program which is funded by the EC and implemented
by AMAN Coalition in cooperation with Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation
and aims at strengthening civil society through
enhancing the accountability and good governance in the
NGO sector. He stated that the aim of this workshop is
to discuss the legal review produced and to come up with
recommendations for its further development. He said
that despite the pitfalls in the law, it should be
respected. He further pointed that attempts for
bypassing the law did not stop since its ratification in
the year 2000 which indicates the absence of effective
mechanisms necessary for its efficient implementation.
The
review revealed the need for amending the charitable and
non-governmental organizations law in a way that would
ensure and enhance their transparency and
accountability. The review also called for the
establishment of a national independent commission that
would oversee the work of these organizations. The
commission would be responsible for registering
charitable and non-governmental organizations,
overseeing their work, and maintaining a system of
development and evaluation for them. It also stressed
the importance of including law articles that
necessitate conducting periodic elections of boards of
directors and the initiation of laws that guarantee the
right of female representations in these boards.
