| NGOs
and Governments:
Challenges and Threats
The past few decades have witnessed a growing recognition of
the role of Non Governmental and Civil Society Organisations.
These organisations have created awareness in the areas of social,
political and economic inequalities. This has resulted in public
discourse on ensuring the rights of vulnerable groups especially
women and children. Non Government Organisations (NGOs) have
consistently challenged the contribution of the International
Financial Institutions’ to perpetuating poverty and injustice.
They have reminded governments of their International and National
Commitments and campaigned against any form of discrimination
against disadvantaged groups. They have demanded reform in Government
policies and electoral process. NGOs have sought the redirection
of existing excessive budgetary allocations for defence and
other non-developmental activities to poverty eradication and
development.
While the governments are generally comfortable with the welfare
and service-providing role of NGOs, they exhibit open hostility
towards their growing social, political and advocacy roles.
Increasingly, NGOs are directly challenging and exerting pressure
on governments to carry out reforms that ensure the rights of
the citizens, increase transparency and accountability on key
issues.
Governments feel increasingly threatened by the role played
by NGOs in mobilizing support of communities at large on issues
like violence against women, honour killings, democracy, human
rights, freedom of information, accountability and corruption.
The resulting hostility has resulted in attempts by the State
to intimidate and control the working of rights based and advocacy
organisations especially in developing countries.
There are several instances where such NGOs, their leaders and
representatives have been targeted and victimized for their
positions on human rights issues. In extreme cases attempts
have also been made to discredit and deregister these organisations.
The recent coercive actions of the Bangladesh Government against
ICSW’s President Qazi Faruque Ahmed are very concerning.
Mr. Ahmed, who led a voter education campaign during last year’s
national elections, is presently under threat for his activism
in Bangladesh. He has been unable to leave his country to attend
important meetings and the restrictions imposed on Mr. Ahmed
impede the democratic functioning of ICSW. The grave situation
relating to the safety and security of Mr. Ahmed merits immediate
attention from the International Community to call on the Government
of Bangladesh, and all governments, to guarantee a secure environment
that is conducive to the full exercise of civil and political
rights for civil society organizations and their leaders and
representatives.
These kinds of situations are further exacerbated by the absence
or inconsistencies in Government policies towards NGOs. There
is therefore an urgent need for governments to initiate dialogue
with NGOs and other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to ensure
a favourable environment for the rights based organisations
to work effectively.
With the growing complexities in the working of NGOs and CSOs,
there is a growing need for concerted efforts to evolve National,
Regional and International bodies. These arrangements would
have equal representation from both Government and CSOs to monitor
the States’ Policies, working environment and relationships
between the State and NGOs. Through such
innovations we can move towards societies which guarantee a
safe and secure environment for the CSOs and their leaders and
representatives. The outcomes will benefit the people who are
served by governments, NGOs and CSOs.
Bushra Gohar
Vice President, ICSW
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