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June 2009
Canada
New Not-for-Profit Corporations Act Passed
On 22 June 2009, the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce made its Third Report back to the Senate and recommended no amendments to Bill C-4, the new Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act.
Russia
Duma Passes New NGO Law
According to BarantsObserver.com, just a week after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
introduced the re-written law on Russian non-governmental organizations, the law passed
the State Duma in the first reading. BarentsObserver.com wrote last week that the re-written
text to the law could make fewer hurdles for Russian NGOs.
United States
ACLU Report Details Undermining of Muslim Charities Since September 11 Attacks
The fight against terrorism has dealt a harsh blow to Muslim charities and interfered with their donors’ religious freedom, a new report by the American Civil Liberties Union concludes.
May 2009
Lao PDR
International NGOs Welcome New Law Allowing Local NGOs to Register and Operate as Independent Entities
International aid groups have welcomed a decision by the Lao government to allow local NGOs to register and operate as independent entities for the first time. By November 2009, Lao citizens will be able to apply to form NGOs after the Decree on Associations was signed by Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh and announced on 11 May 2009.
Ethiopia
World Bank Extends $540 Million Loan and Says Country Should Ease Regulations on NGOs
Nasdaq
reports that the World Bank extended $540 million to develop basic services in Ethiopia and stated that the country
should ease its regulations on NGOs. Ethiopia adopted a controversial aid law early this year, under which any local group
drawing more than 10% of its funding from abroad would be classified as foreign and subjected to tight government control.
Egypt
EOHR Again Subjected to Harassment
On April 27, 2009, the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) received a letter from the Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity, Masr-El-Kadima district authority,
in which it was warned that the organization risks to be subjected to closure and dissolution for violating Law of Association No. 84 of 2002 because it had allegedly
received unauthorized foreign funding.
April 2009
Europe
ECtHR Decision Guarantees Freedom of Information as Being Encompassed within Freedom of Expression
In a landmark decision on 14 April 2009,
the European Court of Human Rights of the Council of Europe found in
favor of Tarsasag a Szabadsagjogokert, the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, in
its complaint against the Hungarian government over a submission to the Hungarian Constitutional Court filed by a member of parliament concerning drug policy.
March 2009
Australia
Productivity Commission to Study Contribution of Sector to Australian Society
The Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, the Assistant Treasurer, the Hon Chris Bowen MP, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Senator the Hon Ursula Stephens, today announced that the Productivity Commission will examine the contribution of the not-for-profit sector to Australian society.
February 2009
European Union
European Court of Justice Rules on Tax Deductions for Cross Border Gifts
The European Court of Justice ("ECJ") ruled that a tax deduction for cross-border gifts is encompassed by the free movement of capital guaranteed by European Community law.
January 2009
Cayman Islands
The Law Reform Commission has proposed new legislation that would establish a Charities Commission to regulate charities as well as implement Recommendation VIII of the Financial Action Task Force on Nonprofit Organizations. The Bill and the Discussion Paper are available in the Documentation Center.
Ethiopia
Repressive CSO Law Adopted
UNHCR and Amnesty International reported that the Ethiopian parliament adopted a potentially repressive new law which could criminalise the human rights activities of both foreign and domestic non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
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