Programs > By Location > Middle East and North Africa > ICNL Workshop: Principles of Civil Society Law Reform in Yemen

Principles of Civil Society Law Reform in Yemen

November 17 - 18 , 2007 | Sana'a, Yemen

ICNL sponsored a workshop to engage Members of Parliament, selected representatives from the Ministry of Social Affairs, and prominent civil society organizations (CSOs) in comparative analysis and discussion of the principles and major issues that should be considered as part of a successful civil society law reform effort. The workshop featured moderated discussions and presentations on:

international law protecting the freedom of association;
components of good laws governing CSOs;
CSO financial sustainability;
proportional and effective enforcement of CSO laws; and
ensuring good governance and accountability.

In addition, participants took part in interactive sessions focusing on registration of CSOs and amending existing CSO law.

ICNL will continue to provide technical assistance to civil society representatives and the government of Yemen as they move forward in the law reform process. Conference materials and conclusions are available to the public below.

Participants listened to presentations by ICNL staff on the first day of the workshop.

Workshop participants split into smaller groups to make specific recommendations to guide the law reform process in Yemen.

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 Yemen (English) (Arabic)

III. Selected Presentations

International Law Protecting the Freedom of Association (English) (Arabic)
Overview - Components of Good Laws Governing CSOs (English) (Arabic)
CSO Financial Sustainability (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.

Printed Materials

Checklist for CSO Laws (2006) (English) (Arabic)
Yemen: Law 1 of 2001 (English) (Arabic)
Law Concerning Associations and Foundations

a) Civil Society Laws from the Gulf Region

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
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
Oman: Law 14 of 2000 (English) (Arabic)
Civil Associations Law
Qatar: Law 12 of 2004 (English) (Arabic)
Law of Associations and Private Institutions
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

b) Civil Society Laws from the Broader Arab Region

Palestine: Law 1 of 2000 (English) (Arabic)
Law of Charitable Organizations and Community Associations
Morocco: Decree 1.02.206 of 2002 (English) (Arabic)
Law Regarding the Establishment of Associations
Jordan: Proposed DRAFT Law of Civil Society Organizations (2007) (English) (Arabic)

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

International Law of Freedom of Association in the Arab World (2007) (English) (Arabic)
Final Declaration of Delegates to the 2006 Forum for the Future Civil Society Preparatory Meeting (October 2006) (English) (Arabic)
Comparative Report on Turkish Association Law Provisions (2004) (English) (Arabic)
NGO Laws from Selected Arab States (2005) (English) (Arabic)
Civil Society Law Reform in the Arab World: ICNL Middle East Associative Rights Initiative Senior Research Fellowship Papers (2006) (English) (Arabic)