PUBLISHED: MARCH 5, 2009

ICNL is pleased to announce the inaugural issue of our new publication, Global Trends in NGO Law. Complementing the International Journal of Not-for-Profit Law, which comprises contributions from legal experts around the world, this quarterly publication synthesizes key developments relating to the legal and regulatory issues that affect non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

In our inaugural issue we provide an overview of five major themes that have emerged with respect to laws affecting NGOs proposed or enacted during the past two years, including:

• Restrictions on the formation, operation, and activities of NGOs in comprehensive NGO framework laws;
• Increasing restrictions on foreign funding to NGOs;
• International cooperation laws that place prohibitions on NGO exchanges of knowledge, capacity, and expertise across borders;
• Implications of government funds to support civil society;  and
• Use of tax incentives to support government policy toward civil society.