CSOs advocate amendment of 1990 Association Law

A group of civil society organisations, CSOs, from the 10 regions of the country has called for the amendment of law no. 90/o53 of the December 19, 1990, on freedom of associations.

The CSOs picked holes with some provisions of the law, saying they prohibit civil society organisations from getting funding from private individuals. They hold that such legal provisions limit the funding opportunities of the organisations.

The call for the amendment of the law is one of the recommendations the CSO actors made during a workshop in Yaounde recently. The Civil Society Strengthening Programme known by its French acronym as PASC, which is funded by the European Union, EU, and the Support Programme for Decentralisation and Local Development, known by its French acronym as PADDL, sponsored by the German Cooperation, GIZ, organised the workshop to jointly present two studies on the legal framework and funding systems of civil society organisations.

It was in this perspective that the civil society actors, in the presence of some state officials, called for the amendment of the law to enable civil society organisations get more funding opportunities from both public and private individuals.

According to the studies, the law does not compel administrative officials to immediately issue a receipt as soon as documents for the creation of a civil society organisation are deposited. The lack of a receipt as proof that documents have been deposited play a disadvantage to people seeking to create organisation.

Moreover, the law does not provide any remedial measures in a situation where the administrative authorities unjustly reject the creation of a civil society organisation. It was for this reason that the actors recommended that an article should be inserted into the law on freedom of associations which state clearly that civil society organisations should be considered major actors in the elaboration of public policies.

They also called on Government to amend the law to ensure that associations receive subventions from both public and private individuals just like Non-Governmental Associations, NGA.

During the workshop, a group of five civil society organisations were selected to launch an all out advocacy campaign for the amendment of the law. While commenting on the study of the legal framework, the representative of the EU, Clemence Schroeder, said the study answers a series of problematic questions. He observed that the study dwelled on the appropriateness of the legal framework, its effectiveness and the need for adjustments. The EU Official said the civil society actors need more training and sensitisation so that they can fully play their role.

For her part, the representative of the German Corporation, GIZ, Petra Zimmerman Reindhart, said it was incumbent for them to enable Cameroonian CSOs, to access international and local funding like their counterparts in Europe in other to accomplish their mission.

“In Germany, as a private person, you can donate to civil society organisations which have been registered as outfits of public interest. The conditions are that such organisations must have an open budget, ensure transparency and be accountable to the public, “she explained.

To her, the two studies propose among other things that Government should revise and amend the law to enable CSOs working on different issues to fully access funding. This, she went on, will enable organisations to have funding from a variety of sources.