AN approved in second discussion law to regulate NGOs

|| AP/EFE agencies

**The instrument was overwhelmingly approved and now awaits presidential promulgation**

Venezuela’s National Assembly, with an overwhelming pro-government majority, yesterday approved in its second reading a law that seeks to regulate non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the country; human rights activists consider that the law, which only needs to be promulgated by President Nicolás Maduro to come into force, is a threat to the right of association, freedom of expression and public participation.

After more than a year of delay and amid criticism from the government’s political opponents and local and foreign human rights organizations, lawmakers approved the law unanimously in its second reading.

The legal instrument, which consists of 39 articles, will come into force after it is promulgated by President Nicolás Maduro and published in the Official Gazette.

The so-called Law on Supervision, Regularization, Action and Financing of Non-Governmental Organizations and Related Organizations was approved in its first discussion in January 2023. Since then, the proposal has generated concern among local NGOs, who believe that with this law, the Maduro government and its allies seek to limit their operation in the country.

During the session, the legislature agreed to include in the text, at the request of Chavista deputy Diosdado Cabello, that NGOs be prohibited from receiving contributions to finance “terrorism” because, he said, there are organizations that receive funds and then sponsor “guarimbas” (violent protests).

“These NGOs receive funds and we see them financing riots, financing acts of terrorism in the national territory and this would serve to put a stop to that possibility,” explained the legislator.

The Venezuelan Program for Education-Action in Human Rights (Provea), one of the most prestigious NGOs in the country, denounced that one of the most controversial articles of the law on NGO financing establishes that “no donation or external financing can be used to carry out activities that alter public order in the national territory.”