The Guatemalan Congress, with support from the ruling party and other conservative lawmakers, passed the controversial “NGO Law” in February this year. The law imposes many restrictions, sanctions, and controls on Non-Government Organisations. Amnesty International even called on the President to veto the bill since it acts as a serious impediment to the work of human rights activists in the nation.
Unfortunately, President Alejandro Giammattei went ahead and signed the bill into law on February 27. Giammattei is a surgeon and former prison director who is against same-sex marriage and abortion. At the same time, he has promised the people of Guatemala that he would fight against the rampant corruption that plagues the nation.
Once the bill was approved, Transparency International urged the Constitutional Court of Guatemala to reject the series of Congressional Amendments signed by Giammattei. Over fifty Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have also condemned the NGO Law.
The new NGO Law allows the government to control the day-to-day administrative and financial activities of NGOs functioning within Guatemala. The government has the ability to unregister an NGO without having to go through the proper legal procedure. It also forces NGOs to report their donations and gives the government more control over their accounts, especially in the case of international funding.
According to research and advocacy organization WOLA, the fact that the government approved the law despite criticism “shows a serious attempt to attack and undermine civil society.” CSOs are extremely critical to the health of a democracy. In the case of Guatemala, they have spoken up against corruption and human rights abuses, while at the same time demanding a stronger rule of law.
Many fear that the law could be used to target or even criminalize CSOs and leaders whose demands and actions go against the goals and priorities of the current government.
Leave a Reply