This document has been provided by the
International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL).

ICNL is the leading source for information on th e legal environment for civil society and public
participation. Since 1992, ICNL has served as a resource to civil society leaders, government
officials, and the donor community in over 90 countries.

Visit ICNL’s Online Library at
https://www.icnl.org/knowledge/library/index.php
for further resources and research from countries all over the world.

Disclaimers Content. The information provided herein is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended and should not be
construed to constitute legal advice. The information contai ned herein may not be applicable in all situations and may not, after the date of
its presentation, even reflect the most current authority. Noth ing contained herein should be relied or acted upon without the benefit of legal
advice based upon the particular facts and circumstances pres ented, and nothing herein should be construed otherwise.
Translations. Translations by ICNL of any materials into other languages are intended solely as a convenience. Translation accuracy is not
guaranteed nor implied. If any questions arise related to the accuracy of a translation, please refer to the original language official version of
the document. Any discrepancies or differences created in the tr anslation are not binding and have no legal effect for compliance or
enforcement purposes.
Warranty and Limitation of Liability. Although ICNL uses reasonable efforts to include ac curate and up-to-date information herein, ICNL
makes no warranties or representations of any kind as to its a ccuracy, currency or completeness. You agree that access to and u se of this
document and the content thereof is at your own risk. ICNL discl aims all warranties of any kind, express or implied. Neither ICNL nor any
party involved in creating, producing or delivering this document shall be liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of access to, use of
or inability to use this document, or any e rrors or omissions in the content thereof.

Ladies and Gentlemen Country Representatives,
Ladies and Gentlemen Representatives of Civil Society Organizations,

Civil society organizations hoped for the best at the second conference of the Forum for
the Future which was held in Manama fr om 11 – 12 November 2005 and they were
hopeful that there would be an activation of the recommendations proposed at the
aforementioned conference. While we confirm the importance of the earlier
recommendations, we further request the a doption of the recommendations mentioned
below in order to improve the legal envir onment for civil society, one of the most
important factors of the political reform in the region.

In order to prepare for upcoming Forum for th e Future, which will be held at the Dead
Sea, Jordan on 30 November and 1 December 2006 and which will include countries
from around the world and Arab civil society organizations, experts and representatives
from fifteen countries in the Middle Ea st met in Amman from 30 – 31 October 2006,
supported by the International Center for No t-for-Profit Law in the United States of
America, and discussed how to create an en abling legal environment for civil society in
the Arab world. The participants left the meeting with the following recommendations:

1) Recognize the right of citi zens to establish non-governmental organizations and
civil society organizations, and enact laws that regulate their work in a way that
complies with international c onventions and declarations.
2) Adopt new legislation and amend current le gislation in order to facilitate the
work of civil society organizations w ithout governmental interference. Laws
should be written to guarantee the regi stration of civil society organizations
through advance notificat ion to the concerned body without requiring
authorization, and legislation should lim it the power over registration to one
body in order facilitate the registration process and prevent a multiplicity of
authorities from overseeing the process, which can lead to delays and legal
conflict.
3) Recognize the right of citizens and institutions to form coalitions and alliances
at the national, regional and international levels in order to enhance their work
and to facilitate forming lobbies to achieve their aims in serving society.
4) Give the judiciary the exclusive authority to decide cases that arise as a result of
the work or establishment of civil so ciety organizations, including the shutting
down or dissolving of institutions, rejection of registrations, and claimed
violations of the law.
5) Draft legislation and set up procedures necessary to protect civil society
organizations and their employees and to provide criminal penalties for any act
or declaration that distorts the reputati on of these institutions or people working
in them, such as accusing them of disloyalty or heresy.
6) Provide financial assistance to civil soci ety organizations and encourage them to
diversify their sources of income through incentives such as exemptions from
customs and taxes and the right to ma ke investments and undertake economic
and business activities in order to secure self-generated funds; provided that this
does not contradict the organi zations’ aims or objectives.

7) Recognize the right of civil society or ganizations to receive foreign funds
according to controls that ensure th eir commitment to the principles of
transparency and compliance with the law, and that oblige them to submit
annual reports and budgets that are publicly available.
8) Ensure the transparency and credibility of funders, especially foreign funders,
particularly in relation to the objectives an d priorities of the various civil society
organizations wishing to secure the need ed funds; provided that they implement
these programs according to their agreements.
9) Invite governments to endorse interna tional declarations and conventions
related to the right of foreign organizatio ns to register, work freely and establish
branches.
10) Allowing international civi l society organizations to establish branches and
work within the same circumstances as local civil society organizations.
11) Recognize the right of forei gners legally residing in the country to join and
establish civil society organizations.
12) Encourage the private sector to part icipate in financing civil society
organizations through deducting the value of their donations from their taxes.
13) Raise social and institutional awareness about the nature of the work of sivil
society organizations.