Access to resources shapes CSOs – and broader society

Civil society organizations’ access to resources does not only impact the existence and operations of CSOs themselves, but it also affects societies as a whole, says a briefer from the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

For example, CSOs play an indispensable role in providing humanitarian relief in conflict and disaster zones. To fulfil this role, it is critical that they have access to resources, which includes human, material and financial resources. In practice however, CSOs are increasingly facing challenges to do so, which often leads to them having to reduce their activities, relocate or shut down altogether.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association addresses this challenge in his June 2022 report “Access to Resources,” and the briefer summarizes some key of its key findings and offers recommendations for states, donors, institutions, CSOs, citizens and companies to improve access to resources and to raise awareness on the importance of civil society. RTWT