Access to resources is a right. It is also critical for civil society organisations’ (CSOs) existence and ability to carry out their activities. Despite the key role CSOs play in delivering essential services to the wider public and protecting fundamental freedoms, they are subject to severe funding limitations. This does not only impact the existence and operations of CSOs themselves, but it also affects societies they serve.
The new report by Clement Voule, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, provides practical recommendations on how states, donors, multilateral bodies and banks can facilitate CSO's right to access to resources, including foreign funding. The new guidelines build on the recommendations from his previous report in 2022, which examined global trends and challenges civil society faces.
ECNL is grateful to have been able to provide input to the new report. We especially welcome the inclusion of the following aspects:
- Strengthening the language on promoting philanthropy and removing obstacles on fundraising;
- Putting more emphasis on meaningful participation of CSOs and tax incentives for donations;
- Featuring of the critical issue of human rights defenders and civil society activists working from exile;
- Covering a broad scope of indirect costs under project grants, including the costs of fundraising efforts;
- Including a recommendation for multilateral bodies to refrain from the adoption of any policies that would restrict the right to access resources and civic space as a whole; and
- Featuring the good example of the Netherlands and ABN AMRO's efforts around bank derisking.
As a next step, the UN Special Rapporteur will meet donors and governments and discuss how they can implement the provisions from the report. ECNL will stay committed to supporting the mandate to ensure that CSOs can fully enjoy their right to seek, receive and use financial resources.
To read the full report, click here.