On April 9, 2021, the Inter-American Juridical Committee (IAJC) of the Organization of American States (OAS) approved a motion championed by Commissioner Ramiro Orias and ICNL. The motion, which the IAJC officially adopted during its March 2023 plenary session, is underpinned by the Inter-American Principles on the Legal Regime for the Creation, Operation, Financing, and Dissolution of Civil Not-for-Profit Entities which was written in consultation with experts from across the region that examined enabling laws across the region and relevant international and regional legal standards. IAJC standards on regulating civil society organizations (CSOs) are much needed, as civil society across the Americas faces legal obstacles arising from the issues the Principles address.

This briefer, available in English and Spanish, contains the proposed Principles; one-page summaries for each principle; the problematic trends underlying the need for the principle; and illustrative excerpts of global, Inter-American, and other regional or relevant legal standards underpinning the principle. This document was designed to help stakeholders understand the Principles, advocate for their adoption, assess country laws and practices against the Principles, and convene multi-sector dialogues to discuss the country’s legal environment compared to the Principles.