The Asia Centre policy briefs Moving Beyond COVID-19 Restrictions in Southeast Asia: Pushing Back Against Authoritarian Pandemic Governance

To empower parliamentarians (MPs) to advocate for internet freedoms, APHR & ICNL presents this Toolkit for Parliamentarians: Promoting Internet Freedoms in Southeast Asia.

Localization—giving local partners more control and ownership of development initiatives—is a priority for the international development community. Local civil society organizations (CSOs) that can lead, design, and implement effective projects are indispensable to this agenda. This, in turn, is predicated on the existence of an enabling environment for civil society.

To get a full picture of how COVID-19 measures have impacted civil society in the Asia-Pacific region, ICNL conducted a survey in December 2020 to assess government practices. We received responses from organizations in 14 countries across the region.

The COVID-19 pandemic does not have to be a crisis for human rights. In the context of widespread adoption of emergency laws and other extraordinary measures to respond to the pandemic, many governments have demonstrated that it is possible to safeguard rights while effectively countering the virus. This briefer shares positive practices that governments should follow in responding to COVID-19, along with selected examples of these practices.

In this report, the UNSR on Freedom of Expression registers alarm that some efforts to combat the coronavirus disease pandemic may be failing to meet the standards of legality, necessity, and proportionality. The Special Rapporteur highlights five areas of concern, showing that access to information, independent media, and other free expression rights are critical to meeting the challenges of the pandemic.

Made up of more than 40 countries, Asia defies easy categorization. On the one hand, many countries are home to vibrant civil society sectors. On the other hand, in too many countries, state regulatory controls on civil society are becoming increasingly restrictive.

The legal environment for civil society organizations in Bangladesh is complex. After conducting a needs assessment, ICNL found that limited understanding of rights and obligations was a big issue for the sector. To address this, ICNL partnered with Counterpart International Inc. to develop a legal manual to help organizations carry out their missions more effectively.

In this issue of the Civic Freedom Digest, ICNL highlights some of the key challenges and opportunities for civic freedoms across the Asia-Pacific region.

This manual lays out the laws and procedures required for an organization to obtain legal status, serving as a roadmap to the Bangladeshi legal environment. Its goal is to help Bangladeshi civil society organizations carry out their missions more effectively and safely.

In this inaugural publication of the Civic Freedom Digest, ICNL highlights some of the key challenges that digital technologies pose to civic freedom, as well as successful civil society efforts to combat these threats.

1 FOREIGN DONATIONS (VOLUNTARY ACTIVITIES) REGULATION ACT 2016 Whereas it is necessary and expedient to promulgate a new law updating and considering the provisions of […]

As restrictions on foreign funding for civil society continue to multiply around the world, Western public and private funders committed to supporting civil society development are diversifying and deepening their responses.

This article by Kay Guinane of the Charity & Security Network explains how the Financial Action Task Force has contributed to the global trend of restrictions on civil society.

THE DHAKA METROPOLITAN POLICE ORDINANCE, 1976 (ORDINANCE NO. III OF 1976). [20th January, 1976] An Ordinance to provide for the constitution of a separate police-force […]

The Companies Act (Bangladesh), 1994 (See section 404) (Published by Notification No. SRO 177-law dated 1-10-95. of Ministry of Commerce) Act No. 18 of 1994 […]

গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশের সংবিধান ১[ বিসমিল্লাহির-রহমানির রহিম (দয়াময়, পরম দয়ালু, আল্লাহের নামে)] প্রস্তাবনা আমরা, বাংলাদেশের জনগণ, ১৯৭১ খ্রীষ্টাব্দের মার্চ মাসের ২৬ তারিখে স্বাধীনতা ঘোষণা করিয়া ২[ […]

Bangladesh National Parliament Dhaka, 23 Ashwin, 1413/8 October, 2006 The following Act undertaken by the Parliament received approval from the President on 23 Ashwin, 1413 […]

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1 1THE POLICE ACT, 1861 (5 of 1861) [22 nd March, 1861] An Act for the Regulation of Police Preamble: – WHEREAS it is expedient […]

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!1 !People’s Republic of Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office Old Parliament Building Dhaka Letter number: 03.070.022.03.00.013.2010-90(500) Date: 29 Chaitra 1418 12 April 2012 Circular Subject: Working […]

1 !A Circular Issued by The Prime Minister’s Office Relating To The ‘Working Procedure for Foreign and Foreign-Assisted Bangladeshi Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Working in Bangladesh […]

THE TRUSTS ACT, 1882 (ACT NO. II OF 1882). [13th January, 1882 ] 1 An Act to define and amend the law relating to Private […]

Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies,(Registration and Control) Ordinance 1961. T HE V OLUNTARY S OCIAL W ELFAR E A GENCIES (REGISTRATION AND CONTROL ) Ordinance, 1961 […]

This document has been provided by the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL). ICNL is the leading source for information on th e legal environment […]

This document has been provided by the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL). ICNL is the leading source for information on th e legal environment […]

This document has been provided by the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL). ICNL is the leading source for information on th e legal environment […]

This document has been provided by the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL). ICNL is the leading source for information on th e legal environment […]

The International Journal of Not-for-Profit Law Volume 9, Issue 3, July 2007 By Masudul K. Biswas 1 This article examines factors influencing news coverage of […]

The International Journal of Not-for-Profit Law Volume 7, Issue 2, February 2005 By Mark Sidel and Iftekhar Zaman* Philanthropy and Law in South Asia – […]

The International Journal of Not-for-Profit Law Volume 3, Issue 3, March 2001 By Mokbul Morshed Ahmad* Abstract Despite numerous efforts, the amount of poverty in […]