AN of 2020 unanimously approves law regulating NGOs

The National Assembly (AN) of 2020 unanimously sanctioned the Law on Supervision, Regulation, Action and Financing of Non-Governmental and Related Organizations in Venezuela.

The event was planned in the vicinity of Parliament after suspending its vacation period to discuss the bill.

“The Law on Supervision, Regularization, Action and Financing of Non-Governmental Organizations and Non-Profit Social Organizations is hereby declared sanctioned and is sent to the Executive of the Republic for the purposes of its promulgation, in accordance with article 213 of our Constitution. We invite the president of the Internal Policy Commission (Diosdado Cabello) to receive the Law already sanctioned by our National Assembly.”said the President of Parliament, Jorge Rodríguez, from the chamber.

The approval comes amid rejection in Venezuela and also by the international community to the legislation..

This week, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights He pointed out that “This law would arbitrarily restrict the right to association, freedom of expression and public participation, in a context of closing civic space. The work of human rights defenders is key to rebuilding a democratic society.”.

Meanwhile, the ruling party has complained that many NGOs are not fulfilling their function.

“There are non-governmental organizations such as the Red Cross that serve people, but there are many others that are a front for financing terrorist actions.”Rodriguez said.