RE:Ethiopia's own mining regulations Case study: Ethiopia – the Charities and Societies Proclamation
In February 2009, the Ethiopian government issued the Charities and Societies Proclamation (CSP). This imposes strict rules on the registration and regulation of both domestic and international civil society organisations (CSO) operating in Ethiopia. Under its provisions, no CSO working on governance, human and minority rights or conflict prevention may receive more than 10% of its funding from foreign sources.In December 2009, the Charities and Societies Agency (CSA), which is responsible for implementing the CSP, froze the bank accounts of the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association and the Ethiopian Human Rights Council. Both organisations appealed against the decision, saying that they had received the overseas funding in question before the CSP came into force (the law is not retroactive). Their appeals were rejected. The work of both has been significantly curtailed in consequence. In its July 2012 annual report, the CSA stated that it had ordered the closure of seven CSOs and planned to close a further two and issue warning letters to an additional 476 because they had breached provisions in the CSP.
The Ethiopian government has said that the CSP is an attempt to improve the regulation of CSOs working in Ethiopia to strengthen the transparency, accountability and effectiveness of civil society. Human rights groups however believe that the law is an attempt to stifle dissent. Human Rights Watch say the law is “inherently abusive of basic human rights” and Amnesty International has described its impact on Ethiopia’s civil society as “crippling”.
The British Government believe that a regulated, transparent CSO sector is in Ethiopia’s development interest but is concerned that the CSP undermines the confidence and effectiveness of Ethiopia’s civil society, and has caused significant numbers of CSOs to end important governance and human rights-related work. A study funded by DFID has suggested that survivors of gender-based violence in Ethiopia have found it harder to access relevant services since the introduction of the CSP because of the reduced ability of CSOs working in this field to provide protection and redress.
British ministers continue to make the case at the most senior levels of the Ethiopian government for a vibrant and active civil society. By robustly gathering evidence, funding studies into the achievements of civil society and honest dialogue, British officials in Ethiopia are demonstrating the harmful impact that some aspects of the CSP are having. The UK also funds the multi-donor Civil Society Support Programme (administered by the British Council), which seeks to build the capacity of Ethiopia’s civil society.