Programs > By Location > Middle East and North Africa > ICNL Workshop: Developing Civil Society Law in Bahrain

Developing Civil Society Law in Bahrain

April 4 - 5, 2007 | Bahrain

ICNL, in partnership with the Kingdom of Bahrain's Ministry of Social Development, sponsored a workshop on the development of civil society in Bahrain from April 4 - 5, 2007. The workshop brought together prominent members of Bahrain's civil society and government to initiate discussion on law reform as part of a broader process of development and support of Bahrain's civil society. ICNL will continue to provide technical assistance to civil society representatives and the government of Bahrain as they move forward in the law reform process. Conference materials and conclusions are available to the public below.

Workshop participants listened to presentations by ICNL staff and worked together to generate recommendations for future law reform efforts in Bahrain.

Opening Remarks were delivered by Her Excellency the Minister of Social Development, Dr. Fatima Bint Mohammed Balushi.

Workshop Materials

Jump to:
Agenda | Workshop Conclusions | Selected Presentations | Distributed Materials

Note: Unless otherwise specified, all files are in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.

I. Agenda

Workshop Agenda (English) (Arabic)

II. Workshop Conclusions

Final Recommendations by Workshop Participants to Guide Law Reform Efforts in Bahrain (English) (Arabic)

III. Selected Presentations
Note: These files are in Microsoft PowerPoint (PPT) format.

Freedom of Association: Definition and Protections in International Law (English) (Arabic)
Forming a Legal Entity (English) (Arabic)
Legal Analysis Exercise (English) (Arabic)
Internal Governance and Accountability of CSOs (English) (Arabic)
Government Supervision of CSOs (English) (Arabic)

IV. Distributed Materials
Conference participants received a CD with the materials that follow. These materials are also available free of charge from the ICNL Online Library. If you do not have an ICNL Online Library account, you may be prompted to sign up for one when you click on the links to these items.

a) Civil Society Laws from the Gulf Region

Bahrain: Constitution (English) (Arabic)
Bahrain: Law 21 of 1989 (English) (Arabic)
Law of Associations, Social and Cultural Clubs, Special Committees Working in the Field of Youth and Sports, and Private Institutions
Bahrain: Ministry Decision 1 of 1990 (English) (Arabic)
Model Regulations of the Basic Bylaws of Societies, Social Clubs, and Cultural Clubs Working Under the Supervision of the Ministry of Social Development (formerly of Labor and Social Affairs)
Bahrain: Ministry Decision 2 of 1990 (English) (Arabic)
Regarding the Organizing of the Register of Societies, Social Clubs, and Cultural Clubs Under the Supervision of the Ministry of Social Development (formerly Labor and Social Affairs)
Kuwait: Law 24 of 1962 (English) (Arabic)
Law on Clubs and Public Welfare Societies
Kuwait: Law 12 of 1993 (English) (Arabic)
Amendment of Some Provisions of Law No. 24 of 1962
Kuwait: Law 48 of 1999 (English) (Arabic)
On the Basic Model Organization of Charitable Institutions
Kuwait: Law 74 of 1999 (English) (Arabic)
Concerning the System of Public Charities
Oman: Law 14 of 2000 (English) (Arabic)
Civil Associations Law
Qatar: Law 12 of 2004 (English) (Arabic)
Law of Associations and Private Institutions
Saudi Arabia: Draft Regulations of Associations and Civil Organizations (2006) (English) (Arabic)
United Arab Emirates: Law 6 of 1974 (English) (Arabic)
Law on Public Associations
United Arab Emirates: Law 20 of 1981 (English) (Arabic)
Amending Some Provisions of Law No. 6 of 1974
Yemen: Law 1 of 2001 (English) (Arabic)
Law Concerning Associations and Foundations

b) Civil Society Laws from the Broader Arab Region

Jordan: Proposed Draft Law of the Civil Society Organizations (2007) (English) (Arabic)
Palestine: Law 1 of 2000 (English) (Arabic)
Law of Charitable Organizations and Community Associations
Jordan: Law 33 of 1966 (English) (Arabic)
Societies and Social Bodies Law

c) Civil Society Laws from the Outside the Arab Region

Afghanistan: Law on Non-Governmental Organizations (2005) (English) (Arabic)
Kosovo: UNMIK Regulation 22 of 1999 (English) (Arabic)
UNMIK Regulation on the Organization and Operation of Non-Governmental Organizations in Kosovo
Turkey: Law 5253 of 2004 (English) (Arabic)
Associations Law

d) Legal Analyses and Other Documents

Final Declaration of Delegates to the 2006 Forum for the Future Civil Society Preparatory Meeting (October 2006) (English) (Arabic)
ICNL, Checklist for CSO Laws (2006) (English) (Arabic)
ICNL, Economic Activities and Income Taxation (1997) (English) (Arabic)
Kareem Elbayar, Freedom of Association in the Arab World (2007) (English) (Arabic)
TUSEV and ICNL, Comparative Report on Turkish Association Law Provisions (2004) (English) (Arabic)
Kareem Elbayar, NGO Laws from Selected Arab States (2005) (English) (Arabic)