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2003
Turkmenbashi Targets NGOs (December 17, 2003)
The former Soviet republic of Turkmenistan does not permit human right NGOs to operate. In order to exercise total control over the other NGOs, the government places tough regulations on their activities, funding and even property. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)Typical Greenpeace Protest Leads to an Unusual Prosecution (October 11, 2003)
The US government indicts the entire Greenpeace organization for its supporters’ free speech activities. A law professor suggests that the “purpose of the prosecution is to inhibit First Amendment activities.” Do NGOs have to fear for their advocacy rights? (New York Times)Silencing the Voices of Dissent (September 2003)
The more NGOs gain influence and importance, the more their opposition grows. This BOND article analyses comments from the American Enterprise Institute forum that addressed the NGO “threat” to governments.Non-Government Groups Fear Government Will Use "Dialogue" Process to Control Them (September 17, 2003)
Kazakstan’s first attempt to bring together NGO representatives and government officials serves only as “window- dressing.” NGOs fear that “government-organised non-government organizations” or GONGOs will dominate the dialogue. (Institute for War & Peace)Australia Scutinizes Influence of Nongovernmental Groups (September 5, 2003)
Spurred by fears of NGOs’ growing power, the Australian government hired a conservative think-tank to investigate NGO influence on government agencies. (Christian Science Monitor)Civil Society and Global Governance (June 2, 2003)
High Level Panel on UN-Civil Society Chairman Fernando Henrique Cardoso says that state and non-state actors have to collaborate to address critical transnational issues such as the protection of human rights.Setback for $3 Billion Pipeline Project (July 1, 2003)
“In a breakthrough for both judicial independence and the environment in the former Soviet republic of Georgia, the Georgian district court has granted an environmental group the right to sue the country's government for approving the controversial $3 billion Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline project.” (Asia Times)NGOs: Facing Up to the Need for a Viable Change Strategy (June 29, 2003)
John Bunzl, Director of the International Simultaneous Policy Organisation, comments on Naomi Klein's article, Bush to NGOs: Watch Your Mouths. He says that using the existing democratic system can be a “Trojan horse” for NGOs to successfully influence policy making.The United States in Iraq: An Experiment with Unilateral Humanitarianism (June 26, 2003)
The US seems to be taking a new approach to humanitarian relief in post-war Iraq, favoring single command authority and unilateral action over multilateral cooperation with NGOs and UN agencies. The vice president for policy at Refugees International warns that the problematic new approach compromises not only relief efforts but also US credibility. (Foreign Policy in Focus)Now Bush Wants to Buy the Complicity of Aid Workers (June 23, 2003)
Beyond merely pressuring NGOs in the US to serve as a loyal arm of the government, President George Bush is also searching for “self-censoring followers, from foreign governments to national journalists and international NGOs.” (Guardian)Nepal: Bhutanese Refugees Rendered Stateless. Leading Global NGOs Criticize Screening Process (June 23, 2003)
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Lutheran World Federation and other NGOs pressure the governments of Nepal and Bhutan to resolve the crisis in Nepal that involves 100,000 Bhutanese refugees seeking to regain their homes and nationality. (Human Rights Watch)Kazakhstan Draft Legislation Affecting NGOs (April 25, 2003)
Civil society organizations argue that the Kazak government’s first law on the status of NGOs discriminates on a political and religious basis. The government introduced the law without any dialogue with civil society. (INTRAC)Helping Hand for Bangladesh’s Poor (March 25, 2003)
The Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), a non-governmental development organization, manages 34,000 schools, provides health care and microcredit, runs an internet service provider, several agricultural factories, a plant-tissue laboratory, and more. In short, BRAC has taken over where the Bangladeshi government and the private sector have failed. (New York Times)NGO Concern over New Regulatory Framework in Afghanistan (March 19, 2003)
Afghanistan’s planning ministry has created a legislative framework designed to make NGO operations more efficient. NGOs argue that the law is “unnecessarily coercive and will essentially render NGOs as governmental organizations.” (Integrated Regional Information Network)Political Squall Stalls Bangladesh Development Projects (March 11, 2003)
The government of Bangladesh blocked foreign funding to five major NGOs while it investigates their political links. NGOs assist six million desperate people in Bangladesh and they argue that the government’s stance is a glaring contradiction to its thrust on social development, poverty alleviation and employment generation. (OneWorld)Tbilisi to Tighten Screws on NGO's (March 7, 2003)
Georgia’s national security ministry plans to pass new legislation increasing the government’s control over NGOs under the guise of countering terrorism. The new law allows any organization receiving funds from a foreign entity to be suspended or prohibited. It will be applied in blanket fashion to all NGOs. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)Human Rights Defenders in Aceh Criminalized! (February 26, 2003)
The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development released this statement condemning the Indonesian government’s ongoing harassment of human rights defenders and NGO activists in Aceh. (One World)Governments Accused of Excluding Public Voices in Policy Debate at United Nations Summit (February 25, 2003)
Government delegates voted to keep civil society members out of discussions on a plan of action for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Global Unions, a prominent umbrella organization of NGOs, accuses the delegates of “stifling voices of dissent.” (OneWorld)Is There Any Opposition? (February 2003)
The Putin Administration tries to mould civil society into a subservient tool of the Russian government. Such attempts have been largely successful as many human rights NGOs and trade unions submit to increasing control by the Kremlin. (Le Monde Diplomatique)
2002
Hun Sen to Sue Global Witness for Defamation (December 31, 2002)
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen threatens to sue watchdog organization Global Witness after the World Bank criticized the government for closing down the watchdog’s Cambodian office. Hun Sen accuses Global Witness of exaggerating government crackdowns on anti-logging protestors, but local NGOs confirm the claims. (Japan Today)Civil Society Needs to Build a Social Movement (December 5, 2002)
In Zimbabwe, civil society groups have created pro-democracy alliances, but competition for political space between the alliances and a lack of public participation has jeopardized the success of this social movement. This article presents alternate ways for civil society to move toward a democratic Zimbabwe. (All Africa)Groups Sue Government Agency Over Global Warming (December 5, 2002)
Three major environmental groups will sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to limit air pollution “despite growing impacts of global warming on human health and the environment.” The groups blast the Bush administration, and are concerned that environmental prospects will worsen with Republican control of Congress. (Inter Press Service)Should Government Take IMF Seriously? (November 25, 2002)
This article from the Chronicle Newspaper in Malawi reveals the complex relationships the IMF can produce with, and between, recipient country governments and civil society. Malawian civil society blasts the government for taking their criticism seriously only when the IMF agrees.Many Hands on Deck for Development (November 22, 2002)
The government of Nigeria has highlighted rural development as the “backbone” of the national development strategy but has yet to allocate the necessary funds. NGOs have begun to fill this void with projects that address reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, and prostitution. (This Day)Delhi NGOs, Cops Lock Horns over Beggars (November 19, 2002)
NGOs argue that a new law banning all forms of begging does little good. The police, on the other hand, allege it stifles criminal gangs that organize beggar networks. However, a study by a Delhi policeman “totally denied any role of the mafia operating behind begging in Delhi.” (Indo-Asian News Service)NGOs Activities are Effective Diplomacy (November 18, 2002)
Japan’s new ambassador in charge of NGOs hopes to strengthen the Foreign Ministry’s relationship with NGOs and create an environment where both parties can work effectively together. His post was created after the Ministry refused to allow NGO participation in an international aid conference on the reconstruction of Afghanistan. (Japan Economic Newswire)Afghanistan: It Is Time for a Change in the Nation-Building Strategy (November 15, 2002)
The international community must expand its nation-building strategies in Afghanistan to include grassroots level reconstruction and democratization. Civil society groups can play a key role in securing human rights and providing basic services while also promoting the community-based approach of traditional local councils. (Foreign Policy in Focus)Zimbabwe Says US Plans to Intervene (November 7, 2002)
Zimbabwe’s government claims the US is using food aid as a political tool to threaten its national sovereignty. The US government has signaled that it might pursue “interventionist measures” if Mugabe continues to block food delivery to Zimbabwe’s hungriest people. (Reuters)Well-Paid Development Jobs the Top Choice for Many in Afghanistan, Including State Workers (November 5, 2002)
Many Afghani people have left their jobs with the state to work for international aid groups that can pay much higher salaries. Although NGOs say they are aware of the problem and will try to avoid it, hospitals and schools remain concerned about losing their most skilled employees. (Associated Press)Improving Governance: Civil Society's Efforts for More Accountable Government in Latin America (October 2002)
The University of Sussex Institute of Development Studies looks at the role of civic associations, NGOs and social movements in achieving more accountable governments in Latin American countries. This paper discusses methods civil society actors have employed to accomplish this goal and how to measure the success of their efforts.NGOs Inconvenient to Totalitarian Project (October 25, 2002)
Zimbabwe President Mugabe seeks to replace legitimate NGOs with his own “pliant organizations” that support his values and “praise the government in the name of nationalism,” says lawyer and human rights activist Brian Kagoro. (Zimbabwe Independent)Some Basic Principles for Meeting the Challenges of Civil Society – Government Relations (October 2002)
This University of Sussex Institute of Development Studies policy brief suggests ways for governments and civil society organizations to foster improved relations by recognizing their reciprocal obligations.Philippine NGOs are Answer to Fraud Fears on Absentee Voting (October 19, 2002)
The current administration worries that allowing overseas Filipinos to vote in the presidential election will result in “massive fraud.” Opposition senator Edgardo Angara argues that NGOs can play a central role in fighting fraud during the Philippine elections by monitoring the ballot and forming anti-fraud teams. (Arab News)State Warns NGOs (October 14, 2002)
Zimbabwe President Mugabe accuses some NGOs of “gross interference” in internal affairs, citing the British-funded Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, which provided six of the winning opposition candidates. Mugabe argues that once NGOs seek government power, they cease to be non-governmental organizations. (Herald (Harare))First the Media, Now the NGOs (October 11, 2002)
“In a move to clamp down on independent voices,” the Mugabe regime has begun to enforce a controversial act that calls all NGOs to register or else face criminal charges. The Zimbabwean government believes that NGOs channel funds for the opposition party. (Mail & Guardian)Consultation and Participation (October 2002)
The British government and civil society organizations acknowledge the importance of collaboration, but neither understands the principles that would guide such a partnership. Some methods to foster healthy consultation include structure, clarity, and joint ownership. (BOND)Environmental Groups Challenge Lenders on Azerbaijan Finances (September 30, 2002)
NGOs object to Azerbaijan’s plan to use the State Oil Fund, created to channel oil and gas revenues into social programs, to finance an oil pipeline. NGOs also argue that the project lacks transparency and shows signs of suspicious accounting practices. (EurasiaNet)Civil Society Demands a Say in Peace Process (September 25, 2002)
At a recent conference, NGOs, trade unions and churches expressed their desire to “strengthen civil society’s participation in the process of peace, reconciliation and democratization in Angola.” (IRIN)Gov’t Asked To Treat Foreign NGOs Fairly (September 23, 2002)
NGO activists may encounter difficulties obtaining visas to work in Indonesia, according to the Indonesian Forum for the Environment. However, immigration law states that NGOs with a clear humanitarian agenda may work in the country as long as they “respect the country’s rules and sovereignty.” (Jakarta Post)NGOs Carry Load 'as Govt Fails Women' (September 21, 2002)
In South Africa, poorly funded NGOs are doing the government’s job in protecting women against violence. A new research report, “We’re Doing Their Work for Them,” outlines steps the government and NGOs could take to collaborate and provide improved services for women. (Dispatch Online)Coalition Protests Hong Kong Plans for Anti-Subversion Law (September 19, 2002)
NGOs oppose the Hong Kong government’s plans to implement anti-subversion legislation, which would “silence different opinions, suppress the development of our civil society and deprive Hong Kong people of their basic human rights protection.” (Agence France Presse)Zambia: Focus on Supreme Court Hearing on Election Results (September 18, 2002)
Zambian NGOs request that the government reform electoral laws and the constitution in the wake of a highly controversial presidential election.
(Irin News)US Should Block Military Aid to Colombia, Say Rights Groups (September 5, 2002)
As Colombia’s president prepares for an intensified counter-insurgency campaign, NGOs say the US should withhold military aid. “Not only has Colombia, once again, failed to meet even the minimum standard necessary to satisfy the human rights conditions, but its level of compliance has deteriorated markedly,” says a letter from human rights groups. (One World)Museveni Blasts NGOs Over Aes Bujagali (September 3, 2002)
Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni, attacked international NGOs for interfering with dam construction projects, calling them “the real enemies of the environment.” (The Monitor)Military Action May Get Peace Movement Rolling (September 2, 2002)
The peace movement gains momentum in the US as a war on Iraq seems increasingly imminent. Democrats’ hesitation to speak out against war has complicated the movement; however, local organizers remain hopeful that a strong grassroots force will emerge. (Los Angeles Times)Afghan Paper Questions Effectiveness of Foreign Aid Agencies (August 19, 2002)
An Afghan newspaper complains that $1 billion of the $4.6 billion “promised for Afghanistan has been allocated to NGOs this year” instead of to the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan. The article claims that the aid given to the NGOs “is spent on the high salaries and luxurious lives of foreigners.” (BBC)NGOs in Anti-Privatization Drive (August 5, 2002)
Targeting privatization because it is “not in the interest of workers,” a network of NGOs is pushing for the Zimbabwean government to halt the initiative. (allAfrica)NGOs Blast Government Over Food Imports (August 2, 2002)
Local and international NGOs argue that the monopoly on cereal importation, price and foreign exchange controls is exacerbating the food crisis in Zimbabwe. (allAfrica)Venezuela's Civil Society Coup (Summer 2002)
Civil society plays a vital role in establishing healthy democracy when strong state institutions and political parties exist. The case of Venezuela proves that in the absence of such institutions, a vigorous civil society can result in “instability, disorder, and even violence.” (World Policy Institute)Civil Society in Zimbabwe: A Report From the Front Lines (July 2002)
The author describes the “uphill task” that the civic movement in Zimbabwe must face in the post election period. He highlights the importance of maintaining autonomy and credibility while describing the interconnectedness of the main players, the activists, the think tanks and the victims with the donor communities and the local government. (Zimbabwe Indymedia)Pesticide Kills '500' Indian Farmers (July 31, 2002)
Several Indian NGOs are accusing their government of not paying enough attention to the consequences of pesticide spraying on farmers, estimating that at lease 500 cotton farmers have died in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh due to exposure to the chemicals. (BBC)Scholar Pushes For More NGOs Across Taiwan (July 31, 2002)
In an address to the NGO Summer Forum, a faculty member of the Institute of Sociology talked about the important role that NGOs play in the “prosperous development of democracy in Taiwan.” He also highlights the need for NGO autonomy with regard to funding sources. (Taiwan News)NGO Promotes Home-Ownership Project (July 30, 2002)
Habitat for Humanity Ethiopia has already built 172 houses for 860 people. “The houses are sold without profit, financed by affordable no-interest loans and use payments to build more houses.” (allAfrica)NGOs Scathing About Commission Performance (July 27, 2002)
Eight Environmental Protection Agencies have slammed the European Commission for “erring too much on the side on industry (and) a lack of interest in environmental issues.” (European Report)NGOs Grappling With Rising Number of Displaced People (July 26, 2002)
The Norwegian Refugee Council has called upon the collaboration of the Zimbabwean government and other NGOs to help the mounting number of internally displaced persons in Zimbabwe. Their numbers are said to be anywhere between 20,000 and 50,000. (allAfrica)Civil Society Consultation for Finance Ministers Meeting (July 24, 2002)
The secretary-general of the Commonwealth has stressed to NGOs that they have an important role to play “in ensuring the achievement of the objectives of the recent UN Financing for Development Conference.” It is clear that in order to properly address all the issues, the voices of the people must be heard. (allAfrica)NGOs to Import Food (July 12, 2002)
Until recently, the Zimbabwean government had banned NGOs from importing and delivering food to the hungry, claiming it would be used for “political purpose.” As the famine crisis continues to wreak havoc across the country however, the government has eased up and allowed the private sector to proceed. (allAfrica)Environment NGOs Accuse African Governments of Not Doing Enough (July 1, 2002)
At an environmental conference in Kampala, African NGOs and civil society organizations urged their governments to place more importance on the issues of environment and sustainable development at the Johannesburg Summit. (Agence France Presse)NGO Canvasses for Greater Participation of Women in Politics (July 8, 2002)
According to Women Aid Collective, a Nigerian NGO, in order to bring true democracy and sustainable development into the country, women, the clear majority of the Nigerian population, need to play an active role in politics. (allAfrica)NGO Brings International Criminal Court to Abuja (July 8, 2002)
Legal Assistance Project, an NGO made up of professional lawyers who offer free legal service to victims of injustice in Nigeria, has incorporated the Rome Statute into the country’s legislation with the help of the Nigerian Coalition on the International Criminal Court. (allAfrica)Chinese NGO That Probed Village AIDS Deaths Evicted (July 3, 2002)
After publicizing information on AIDS statistics in China, a local NGO has been ousted from its offices without reason. The issue of the current AIDS situation in China is one that officials have been weary to approach, despite urgent calls for action from the UN. (Agence France Presse)'No' Is Not an Answer (Spring/Summer 2002)
Georgian NGOs work to protect the rights of civil society in the face of government opposition. The Georgian Young Lawyers Association has taken the forefront in this movement by pressing for constitutional and legal reform. (NGO Net)Saitama Univ. Opens Largest Archives On NGO Activities (June 30, 2002)
In an effort to promote “an information-exchange base for NGOs, students, researchers and local residents”, a state-run Japanese university has opened the Center for the Study of Cooperative Human Relations, Japan’s largest archives on the work of grassroots organizations. (Japan Economic Newswire)Activist Groups Oppose Public Financing of Caspian Oil Pipeline (June 26, 2002)
Concerned that the “pipeline will bring few benefits to poorer people and could exacerbate tensions in the region”, 64 NGOs from several countries are requesting international financial institutions to deny funding for the oil pipeline project which will run from Azerbaijan to southeastern Turkey. (One World)Greater Government Transparency (June 25, 2002)
Philippine NGOs form a coalition to create a bill, which will push for government transparency and promote public awareness. (Business World, Philippines)China Says NGOs May Be Commissioned to Conduct Cross-Strait Negotiations (June 24, 2002)
China may call on NGOs to negotiate cross straight exchanges between the Mainland and Taiwan. A step forward for the government’s prudent relationship with civil society. (BBC)Egyptian Parliament Moves Toward Adopting "Restrictive" NGO Bill (June 1, 2002)
The Egyptian government has adopted a bill banning NGOs from political activity and threatening NGO members with jail sentences for not abiding by its terms. Egyptian NGOs accuse the government of “kill[ing] Egypt's civil society institutions”. (Agence France Presse)NGOs Need to Cement Links With Government (June 6, 2002)
The author asserts the important role NGOs play in the empowerment of the African people and the spread of democracy: “Civil society can…act as a countervailing force to the power of the African state, bureaucracy, and the local elites” (allAfrica.com)NGO Leaders Seek 'Space' for Development (May 30, 2002)
African NGO leaders complain about the lack of freedom and control they have over their own countries as Western organizations such as the World Bank and the IMF make all the important decisions. (allAfrica.com)Slovak NGOs Plan to Launch Strong Campaign Before Elections (May 10, 2002)
Slovakian NGOs will play a very powerful role in the 2002 parliamentary elections, as they launch a campaign to increase voter turnout, particularly among women, and serve as "a link between integration and elections." (Czech News Agency)NGOs Fear Crackdown Looms (May 23, 2002)
NGOs in Zimbabwe contend that the state-owned media portrays democracy and human rights organizations as “subversive” and “anti-government.” State officials are closely monitoring and even threatening such “dissenting voices in the country.” (Financial Gazette, Harare)Political Parties Can Learn from NGOs (March/April 2002)
Moises Naim, editor of Foreign Policy magazine, suggests that political parties should emulate the non-hierarchical, focused, transparent, and network-oriented nature of NGOs. (Foreign Policy)Government Must Recognize Role of NGOs in Foreign Policy (March 20, 2002)
As humanitarian issues have largely overshadowed economic projects in Japan, NGOs have begun to assume a consulting role once played by businessmen. With humanitarian aid contingent upon NGO involvement, Japan must reconsider the role of NGOs in international diplomacy. (The Daily Yomiuri)Civic Forum or Civic Chorus? Russian NGOs Must Decide (March 2002)
The Civic Forum held in Russia in November 2001 brought together NGO representatives and politicians from across the country. The Forum “could have become a ‘civic chorus’ of support for the President,” but NGOs insured contentious issues including human rights, Chechnya and environmental protection remained on the agenda. (Alliance)NGOs in Central Asia (March 2002)
NGOs in Central Asia face numerous difficulties, including a reliance on external donors, access to funding only in the short term, and a lack of coalition building. Many governments in the region view NGOs as “anti-governmental organizations,” further hindering attempts to foster civil society. (Alliance)Amnesty Protests "Slander" Against Zimbabwe Rights Group (January 21, 2002)
In the run-up to national elections, Amnesty International voices concern over the freedom of speech and physical safety of NGOs and independent media in Zimbabwe.(One World US)Colombia: NGOs Demand Democratization of Peace Process (January 22, 2002)
NGOs have called for the opportunity to participate in the next round of Colombian peace talks. An increased role for civil society would bring more voices to the discussion and more legitimacy to any agreements.
(Inter Press Service)NGOs Often Better Informed (January 22, 2002)
Japanese NGOs warn of the problems they are likely to encounter during the Afghan redevelopment program. Despite leaving most of the groundwork to NGOs, donor nations compete for international recognition of their involvement. (The Asahi Shimbun, Japan)A New Model United Nations (January 2, 2002)
Former German President, Richard von Weizsäcker, argues in favor of new social and economic institutions to help the UN face new challenges. Despite Secretary General Kofi Annan’s efforts to increase the dialogue between the UN and civil society, many states still see NGO’s as a threat to their sovereignty. (Project Syndicate)
2001
Groups Fear U.S. Aid for Poorest Countries May Go To Afghanistan (December 20, 2001)
Hundreds of Non Governmental Organizations caution President Bush not to send all US foreign aid to Afghanistan, but to increase the amount for all developing countries.(One World)Local NGOs to Set Development Priorities (December 14, 2001)
Afghan NGOs will have a crucial role to play in the rehabilitation of the country as they will complement the role of international agencies.(UN Integrated Regional Information Networks)Argentines Strike As "Endless" Recession Gets Worse (December 13, 2001)
Argentina currently suffers from a deep economic crisis, union groups called for a general strike to protest against the new banking curbs and an increasing unemployment rate. (Reuters)In Search of the Civil (December 14, 2001)
Egypt held a conference to debate on the future of Civil Society. The official policy polices NGOs rather than promotes them and NGOs are not always sufficiently autonomous from the government to engage in advocacy. (Al Ahram)Central Role in Development for Thai NGOs? (December 2001)
The experience of development NGOs in Thailand provides a unique insight into the problems experienced by civil society organizations in developing countries. Financial problems, suspicion from the public, and state dominance in development activities all hinder NGO success. (Alliance)The Monumental Task of Reconstruction (November 21, 2001)
To rebuild Afghanistan, international organizations, governments and donors must work with local NGOs and representatives of the Afghani government. (World Press Review)UN Report on Globalization and the State (November 2, 2001)
The impact of globalization compels to redefine the nature and the role of the state to take account of the emerging political, economical, and cultural changes.Global Tension and The Challenges for NGOs (October 12, 2001)
NGOs face new challenges after the terrorist attacks of September 11. Their role will be to ensure that governments take in full account the humanitarian consequences of any military actions to eradicate global terrorism. (One World)Thirst for Justice: How Civil Society Has Challenged the Democratic Legitimacy of G8 Countries (July 11, 2001)
The shift of legitimacy away from governments towards NGOs has resulted from state actors’ trading off equally important areas such as economy and environment against each other instead of taking an integrated approach to policy-making. (Guardian)Human Rights Defender Convicted in Unfair Trial (May 21, 2001)
Amnesty International reports that Saad Eddin Ibrahim, director of the Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies in Egypt and an outspoken advocate of independent elections, was sentenced to seven years in prison. This represents a serious setback for civil society around the world, not just in Egypt.An NGO Leader on Getting Governments to Take Action (March 8, 2001)
Mr. Cyril Ritchie, an experienced authority in the NGO business, tells why it is important for civil society to press governments to change legislation nationally to conform to international conventions. (Earth Times News Service)Helms Urges Foreign Aid Be Handled by Charities (January 12, 2001)
Senator Jesse Helms, long a critic of foreign development assistance, stated that he would lead a movement to increase foreign aid, but only if it was channeled through private and religious groups rather than the United States government. (New York Times)
2000
DPM's Meeting With NGOs Should Help Mend Fences, Ease Strained Ties (July 14, 2000)
NGOs and government often find themselves embroiled in political stalemates, due to a difference of opinion and conduct. However, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister is reaching out to NGOs by agreeing to meet with them for discussions. (New Straits Times)Zimbabwe Tells U.S. No NGOs To Monitor Elections (June 20, 2000)
Will the elections in Zimbabwe this weekend be monitored effectively? Does the Zimbabwean Government have something to hide? Doubts arise about the freedom of the parliamentary elections as accreditation of NGOs for election monitoring is delayed.How NGOs Serve the Disadvantaged: Some Pertinent Questions (April 2, 2000)
An article from the Bangladesh Independant acknowledges NGOs vast contribution to Bangladesh's successive development plans. The author expresses the need for a closer collaboration between government and NGOs through legislation and official procedure for genuine public accountability of the NGOs.
NGOs Told To Refrain From Meddling In Politics (December 4, 1999) 1999
NGOs in Burundi are asked to refrain from meddling in local politics and leave political and security issues to the government of Burundi (Panafrican News Agency).Doners Shift More Aid to NGOs (June 1999)
Africa Recovery article analyzing the trend to channel development aid in Africa through NGOs rather than governments. NGOs have a comparative advantage in furthering development, but aid will only be effective if governments and NGOs work together.
1998
Talking About NGOs (Fall 1998)
A strong critique of the role of NGOs published in the review of Fourth International, which denounces NGOs to be fully a “part of the murderous process of dislocation of the nations”. (The Truth)A New Geography of Power?
In this essay, Sociologist Saskia Sassen discusses the "incipient unbundling of the exclusive authority" of the state. She cites the proliferation of NGO's and the internet as two examples of the new power.Mexico: NGOs and Government Increasingly at Odds (May 21, 1998)
Growing Influence of Mexican NGOs Causes Government Discomfort.Why We Can't Do without NGOs Just Yet (Summer 1998)
President Moi continues to oppose NGO participation in Kenyan political life.
1997
Regulating the Non-Governmental Sector: The Dilemma (February 4, 1997)
This article looks at the legal challenges faced by governments experiencing an important proliferation of the activities of NGos in their own countries.(Nettime)
The Role of Transnational NGOs in Global Affairs (November 1994) 1994
Stephen Toulmin highlights a shifting balance of NGO and Nation State Governments’ influence in global affairs, resulting in increased tension between them in international institutions.(Peace Research Institute)
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