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Asia & the Pacific Program

ICNL works alongside local partners in 18 countries throughout Asia to foster an enabling legal environment for civil society, philanthropy, digital rights, and participation. Our partners include local and regional actors, civic organizations, coalitions and networks, and reformers in governments and parliaments.

Together we monitor the exercise of civic freedoms, advance reforms, respond to challenges, and strengthen civil society capacity to positively shape the legal environment for civil society.

Be sure to browse our Focus Areas, Key Resources, and Country Overviews.

Our Impact in the Region

2020-24 in Numbers

Stakeholders that received ICNL assistance:

1,500+

Positive changes to legal environment with ICNL assistance:

10 CSOs better equipped to protect their operations:

400+

Helping partners push back against restrictive NGO laws

ICNL worked with a coalition of local partners to successfully advocate for changes to a series of draft NGO laws in Thailand, which would have severely limited resources for non-profits.

A win for non-profits in India

ICNL’s work helped inform a recent Financial Action Task Force (FATF) report, which found that India’s non-profit regulations were implemented without adequate consultation. The report urged the government to adopt a more nuanced, risk-based approach going forward.

Recent Highlights

a street in the Philippines, photo credit creative commons, Ray in Manila

How Civic Space Restrictions Impact Development

These two reports, published in January 2025, document the impact of civic space restrictions on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They highlight how regressive laws often lead to poor socioeconomic outcomes and, conversely, how a vibrant civil society helps achieve the SDGs. The research uses empirical and quantitative analysis as well as case studies from the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, and Pakistan.

Thailand flag on building (photo credit: pixabay.com)

7 Things to Know About Thailand’s Proposed Act on Associations and Foundations

In October 2024, Thailand’s Department of Provincial Administration under the Ministry of Interior proposed a new draft Act on Associations and Foundations. The draft Act evinces a controlling approach to the non-profit sector which threatens to violate numerous aspects of international law. This short piece highlights seven key concerns in the current draft.

Jaipur Column at Rashtrapati Bhavan New Delhi

FATF Finds India’s Non-Profit Regulations Implemented Without Adequate Consultation, with Negative Impact on NPO Operations

On September 19, 2024, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental organization tasked with combating money laundering and terrorist financing worldwide, released its Mutual Evaluation Report on India. Although India achieved a high level of technical compliance overall, FATF noted that India needs to better comply with FATF Recommendation 8 on non-profit organizations. Read the full analysis here.

japan's pandemic governance; photo credit Unsplashed Nakaharu Line Ek

Sharing positive collaboration practices during times of emergency

How can countries better manage public health emergencies without compromising fundamental rights? Three of our recent reports explore examples of enabling, cooperative approaches to civic freedoms during times of emergency in Aotearoa New Zealand, South Korea and Japan.

What We Do

Six people standing and holding signs for Asia Centre and ICNL.

Advancing Legal Reform

ICNL works with civil society, government policymakers, and other reformers to protect and expand civic space across Asia. When legal threats emerge, ICNL cooperates with local actors to strengthen their efforts to advocate against restrictive measures and engage in informed dialogue. When enabling opportunities arise, ICNL’s partners are better placed to advance legal reform.

Our recent contributions include working with local partners to push back against restrictive laws in Myanmar and Bangladesh and further expand civic space in Taiwan.

A group of people in Thailand wearing white t-shirts

Supporting Local Partners

From increasing civil society expertise on good regulatory practices to bolstering partner capacity to navigate complex legal environments, we collaborate with local stakeholders to strengthen their efforts to defend and promote civic space. With ICNL support, local partners are better able to advocate for change, engage in informed dialogue with government, and leverage international mechanisms to enhance government accountability.

Our latest work has included helping partners address the ongoing impacts of Thailand’s COVID-19 Emergency Decree and supporting Myanmar’s civil society in exile.

Drawing of a head with arrows coming out

Creating Knowledge

ICNL undertakes cutting-edge research on laws and trends shaping civic space throughout Asia, informing policy discussions and advocacy efforts.

We monitor developments through the Civic Freedom Monitor and the Council on Foundations Country Notes, among others. See the Key Resources section below for more.

Key Resources

Journalist Detentions in Myanmar

The Myanmar military launched a crackdown on media freedom as part of its coup d’état in 2021, persecuting journalists and rolling back legal reforms. This page features data on detained journalists and analysis of their cases.

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India’s Foreign Contribution Regulation Act

In recent years, India has enacted several measures constricting funding for domestic nonprofit organizations, including the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA). Our resource page provides analysis, information, and key resources on FCRA.

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Philanthropic Protectionism in the Indo-Pacific

This study examines the extent and consequences of legal, regulatory and informal measures to restrict foreign funding of NGOs in nine countries in the Indo-Pacific region: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

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Laws Affecting Civil Society in Asia

This publication, updated in 2020, examines a broad array of regulatory trends shaping civil society in more than 40 countries of Asia.

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Civil Society Participation in Environmental Decision-Making in India

Examine the various mechanisms for public participation in India, their barriers and limitations, and recommendations for broadening the space for public engagement.

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National Relief Funds in Asia

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some governments in Asia established relief funds to address the pandemic. Some of these funds were criticized for lacking transparency and siphoning resources away from civil society. This paper explores government-run relief funds in six countries and examines how they impacted civil society.

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Government Responses to COVID

This page provides information on Asian and Pacific government responses to the coronavirus, using information from the ICNL-ECNL COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker.

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