Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are voluntary self-governing bodies or organisations that have been established to pursue non-profit objectives. NGOs fulfil an important role in a democracy through the promotion of public awareness, participation in public life, and ensuring the transparency and accountability of public authorities.
NGOs can remain effective by using a variety of tools and adapting their resources and capabilities to the goal in question, meaning that they are able to serve many different functions, from serving as a means of communication between stakeholders and the public, to advocating active change in law or policy. NGOs can be local, national, or international in nature, and in their focus and reach respectively.
There are several ways to exercise your right to civic participation through an NGO. You may support the activities of a particular NGO by, for example, participating in its activities or donating to it. You may also become a member of an NGO and directly contribute to its objectives by, for example, helping to organise its activities and recruiting new members. If you are interested in either of these options, you might look up or get in touch with the NGO that you are interested in and request more information on how to support its activities or become a member. As an alternative, you may establish your own NGO.
How to establish your own NGO?
The requirements for establishing an NGO are listed in the Law on non-commercial organizations. Your NGO may be either an association, a foundation or a private institution. An association is a voluntary union of persons established to achieve the goal specified in the statute of the association. A foundation, also a fund, is an aggregate of property that has been set aside for the achievement of a goal specified in its founding document. A private institution is established by a single person for non-commercial purposes and financed in whole or in part by that person. Both associations, foundations and private institutions are non-profit.
An association can be established:
- by a natural or legal person
- by no fewer than two persons
- without an initial property investment
A foundation can be established:
- by a natural or legal person
- by one or more persons
- with an initial property investment
An private institution can be established:
- by a natural or legal person
- by one person
- with or without an initial property investment, but with an expectation that it will be financed in whole or in part by its founder
NGOs may act for the benefit of society, their members or other persons. In order to achieve their statutory objectives, NGOs may engage in any type of activity not prohibited by law. In order to achieve their statutory objectives, NGOs may:
- carry out and promote civil, economic, cultural, educational and other initiatives not prohibited by law
- protect human rights, including the rights of minority, vulnerable and marginalised groups
- carry out scientific and educational activities
- freely disseminate information in any form not prohibited by law
- request and receive financial and material resources from within the country or abroad, including public funds
According to the law, NGOs may express their opinion on the programmes of political parties and socio-political organisations, as well as on electoral candidates and their programmes, organise electoral debates, and monitor the elections. However, NGOs cannot:
- provide material support and free of charge services to political parties
- provide free of charge services and/or material support to electoral competitors during the election campaigns
- conduct election campaigns
What human rights violation may there be?
If you are prohibited from joining or establishing an NGO, your right to freedom of assembly and association may be violated. In addition, depending on the circumstances, this may also constitute a violation of the prohibition of discrimination.