INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR CIVIL SOCIETY LAW
 USING LAW TO EMPOWER CITIZENS






For more information on announcements, click on Announcements.

The July 2010 issue of the IJCSL Journal is now available online.

The August 2010 issue of the IJCSL-N Newsletter is now available online.

 

PROMOTING AN ENABLING LEGAL ENVIRONMENT FOR CIVIL SOCIETY AND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD

Formed in 2003 by legal professionals and social entrepreneurs Leon Irish and Karla Simon, ICCSL is a unique international organization. It seeks to protect human freedoms by improving the laws that affect the freedoms of belief, expression, association, assembly, information, and participation. It operates both on its own and through its affiliates (the African Centre for Civil Society Law and the Asian-Pacific Centre for Civil Society Law) with various partners, such as universities, associations of civil society organizations, individuals, governments, and individual CSOs and foundations. Because its principals have been active in the field since its inception, ICCSL is an unparalleled legal resource for global civil society.

ICCSL pursues its mission through four separate but inter-related programs: The International Journal of Civil Society Law; research and publications; technical assistance; and education and professional development.

ICCSL's publications are free online or through email subscription. Donations to help defray costs of production are gratefully accepted. ICCSL is a 501 (c) (3) public charity, and donations are tax deductible within the limits of U.S. law. For information on how to make donations, please consult our contact information.

 
Highlights:
 
June 2010
 

Prof. Karla Simon recently made a presentation at the European China Law Studies (ECLS) conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. The presentation was based on a paper that Prof. Simon and CUA Research Fellow 2009/10 Hang Gao have in preparation entitled Opening the Space: New Developments for China’s Community Organizations. Prof. Simon also recently published a short paper on the ICCSL website dealing with two recent developments in the Chinese regulation of civil society, including new rules with regard to access to foreign funding.
 
 
May 2010
 

Karla Simon Quoted in WSJ China Blog

Stanley Lubman, one of the pre-eminent legal scholars of China, recently quoted two of Prof. Karla Simon's papers in his blog for the Wall Street Journal. "The latest crackdowns reflect only one of various currents in Chinese government policy toward NGOs. A useful analysis by Karla Simon, an expert on China's NGOs, describes a complex regulatory structure and inconsistent administrative patterns. (Karla W. Simon, Regulation of Civil Society in China: Necessary Changes After the Olympic Games and the Sichuan Earthquake Fordham Int’l L. Journal, vol. 32, 2009, 943). Simon also notes that "Experiments have been conducted in outsourcing social services and reforming the registration system to move toward doing away with the "dual management" system. (Karla W. Simon and Hang Gao, Opening the Space: New Developments for China’s Community Organizations.)"

The latter article, which is posted as a "work in progress" to the Social Science Research Network (SSRN) has made several "top ten" download lists in recent weeks.

 
 
April 2010
 

Religious Freedom in the Former USSR Conference was held at CUA's Columbus School of Law April 12, 2010, 1-5 PM. 
For more information please contact Karla Simon simon.karla@gmail.com.

The Agenda is available here and more information about the conference can be found on CUA's Columbus School of Law website. Videos from the event can be found here.

 
What our partners are saying:
 

From a Civil Society Activist in Uganda:

It wasn't until I came on this AKF Study Tour with members of the Government that I even knew there was anyone there with a true interest in civil society.

From an IJCSL-N subscriber:

I love reading the IJCSL newsletter. I am assuming that the first article in the April 09 Newsletter is an April Fools joke! (Editor: actually, it is unfortunately true that Ontario is limiting citizen participation.)

From an NGO activist in Mongolia:

Thanks for care about the tax law; your comments were very helpful for us.

From a Japanese civil society researcher and activist:

Thanks again for helping to reform Japanese legal system for not-for-profit organizations. I am sure you and Lee played very important roles. In the quite near future, I would like to trace your roles for the Japanese reform.

From a Chinese law professor and researcher:

Your paper is really insightful. Actually you raised your proposals and proved them from an insider’s point of view, which is different from most western scholars. You are trying to be helpful during China’s policy-making, rather just help western people to understand China.

From a South African civil society activist:

Thanks to ICCSL for a really strong and in-depth report. Our Board will be impressed by the solid work you have done.

From USAID:

"The most successful" academic legal education in civil society law in Central and Eastern Europe is the "NPO law course" taught at Central European University by Profs Leon Irish and Karla Simon. USAID evaluation, 11 April 2006.


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For more information on news items, click on ICCSL News.

August 2010

Bolivia and Ecuador

Efforts Underway to Clamp Down on NGOs

According to a report published by the Americas Program, there is conflict brewing between indigenous rights groups and the governments in Bolivia and Ecuador. "These people are gringos who are coming here with NGOs. Take it somewhere else. These people's stomachs are full enough", said the president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, in reference to the protesters who belong to the National Confederation of the Indigenous in Ecuador (CONAIE).

India

New Version of FCRA Passes Parliament

The Hindu reported that Parliament has given its stamp of approval to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Bill, 2010. The Bill seeks to regulate the acceptance and utilization of foreign contributions, prohibiting the acceptance and utilization of foreign contributions for activities detrimental to the national interest or national security.

Pakistan

Delivery of Foreign Aid:
Lessons for Disaster Relief in Pakistan

A FREE, ABA non-CLE teleconference (with an optional onsite component)
presented by the
Asia-Pacific Committee
September 1, 2010
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. EDT/ 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. BST/6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. CET

Register for Free Today

China

ICCSL posts new Update on Civil Society, Charity and Giving in China on its website

July 2010

China

China Foundation Center Launched

The Wall Street Journal’s Realtime China Blog reported that some of China’s most recognized philanthropic leaders have gathered in Beijing for the launch of the China Foundation Center, a new organization that aims to help increase the transparency of Chinese charitable groups, which have sometimes struggled with public suspicion of mismanagement and even corruption.

Global

Prof. Karla W. Simon has posted her article in the International Lawyer to her SSRN webpage. The article is a "year-in-review" summary of developments during the year 2009 regarding civil society organizations around the world.

United States/Israel

West Bank Settlements Supported by Tax Exempt Funds from the U.S.

As the American government seeks to end the four-decade Jewish settlement process and foster a Palestinian state in the West Bank, the American Treasury helps sustain the settlements through tax breaks for donations to support them. A New York Times examination of public records in the United States and Israel identified at least 40 American groups that have collected more than $200 million in tax-deductible gifts for Jewish settlement in the West Bank and East Jerusalem over the last decade.

Vietnam

New Association Regulations Effective July 1, 2010

The revised Decree 45 (2010) on the Organization, Activities, and Management of Associations, was promulgated on April 21, 2010, and took effect on July 1, 2010. The new Decree governs the registration, operations, and activities of associations at national, provincial, municipal, and sub-provincial levels.