Ref: 44/2007
Date: 23 June 2007
Time: 12:30 GMT
PCHR Calls for Keeping Civil Society out of the Current Crisis
PCHR is gravely concerned by the latest decree issues by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas regarding the registration of civil institutions and organizations. The Centre views this decree as a first step in a crackdown on civil society organizations with the aim of closure or restricting its work during the state of emergency in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).
On 20 June 2007, President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree on civil society organizations. The decree was based on the state of emergency announced by President Abbas on 14 June 2007. Under first article of this decree the Palestinian Interior Minister is granted “the authority to review all permits for associations and organizations issued by the Ministry of Interior or any governmental source.” The second article gave the Minister of Interior or any person delegated by the Minister the power to “take any steps deemed necessary against associations and organizations with the intent of closure, amendment, or any other action.” The third article points that “all organizations and associations must submit new registration applications within one week; and all who violate this directive are subject to the law.”
This decree is a serious violation of the right to establish organizations, which is a basic human right guaranteed by article 26 of the Amended Basic Law for 2003, stating Palestinians’ right to “Establish unions, associations, federations, clubs, and public organizations in accordance with the law.”
In addition, the President’s decree is liable to bring about additional restrictions on civil society organizations other than those set in the Law of Benevolent Associations and Civil Society Organizations, issued by the Palestinian National Authority in 2000.
In line with precedents in other Arab countries, the state of emergency was a pretext for the regime to strike against civil society, democracy, and to cancel basic public freedom. For this reason, human rights organizations, civil society organizations, lawyers, and activists are against the state of emergency in principle.
In light of this situation, PCHR:
– Calls for an end to manipulating the legal status of organizations under the pretext of the emergency situation.
– Calls for protecting the constitutional right to establish civil society organizations under all circumstances.
– Calls for keeping civil society out of the current crisis, preserving the independence of civil society, and for ensuring the continuity of civil society’s work.
– Stresses the importance and necessity of civil society in the current crisis, especially the provision of humanitarian, relief, medical, and other services to the civilian population.
