A circular issued on October 1 by the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Hind Kabawat, requiring nongovernmental organizations to secure prior approvals before receiving any foreign funding or joining international bodies, has stirred concern among NGOs operating in Syria.
Addressed to provincial Social Affairs directorates, the circular imposes strict constraints on NGOs, according to a joint statement by Syrian nongovernmental organizations published by the Syria Justice and Accountability Center on Wednesday, October 22.
The ministerial circular instructs organizations active in Syria to adhere to Law No. 93 of 1958, which requires associations to obtain government permission before accepting donations or external financing. The directive also extends to private institutions, relying on the same provisions applied to associations.
NGOs’ warnings
Thirty-one NGOs working in Syria signed the statement objecting to the move, arguing that enforcing the law would recreate a hostile operating environment for civil society and could obstruct their ability to deliver assistance and services to affected communities, especially in conflict areas.
The statement warned that these steps could restrict civil liberties. Reapplying Law No. 93, which was used in earlier periods to curb civic activity, contradicts Syrian constitutional principles and Syria’s international commitments.
The organizations noted that Law No. 93, issued during the period of union between Egypt and Syria (1958–1961), formed part of a military governance approach that sought to control civic work. They added that the Baathist government amended the law in 1969 to tighten state oversight of associations, granting authorities broad powers to dissolve organizations without judicial review.
Impact on international funding
One key concern raised by NGOs is the effect on organizations’ ability to access international funding. Many Syrian organizations rely on contributions from international donors or Syrians in the diaspora.
According to the statement, the measures would hamper their humanitarian work amid the country’s difficult conditions. They also run counter to international recommendations, including United Nations reporting on freedom of association, which stresses that restrictions on sources and uses of funding can be employed to suppress dissenting voices and constrain associations’ activities.
Mandating that associations report the sources and uses of their funding to the government threatens their functional independence and may serve as a pretext to silence critical or opposition voices, the statement said. It added that registered and unregistered associations alike should be able to seek, receive, and use funding and resources from individuals or entities, domestic or foreign, without prior authorization or unjustified obstacles.
Recommendations and demands
The NGOs advanced several recommendations, including:
Suspend enforcement of Law No. 93 of 1958 until a new law is issued that aligns with international standards on freedom of association.
Facilitate legal procedures for registration and activation of associations to ensure a legal environment that encourages civic work in Syria.
Abolish the prior-approval system for foreign funding and adopt transparent procedures for financial accountability and oversight instead.
Encourage cooperation between local and international organizations to enhance knowledge exchange and the effectiveness of relief work.
Signatories
The joint statement included a number of notable Syrian organizations, among them: Justice for Life, Syrians for Truth and Justice, the Syria Justice and Accountability Center, Badael, the Syrian Center for Policy Research, Huquqyat, the Access Center for Human Rights, Women Now, The Syria Campaign, and other NGOs.
Earlier assurances
At a workshop titled “Preliminary Introductions to Developing the NGO Law” on April 23, Minister Hind Kabawat said current efforts focus on building a new state in partnership with all government entities and civil society to achieve a strong, unified state. She added that dialogue remains open between the ministry and NGOs to build the free Syria that Syrians aspire to.
Representatives of NGOs in Syria took part in the workshop, which discussed types of NGO laws in several countries and addressed the absence of a complete social contract in Syria, the lack of a standardized definition of civil society, NGO operating frameworks, and criteria and controls for public benefit.
A single national umbrella
Separately, Syrian civil society organizations announced they had unified coordination and representation under a single national umbrella, the “Forum of Civil Society Organizations in Syria”, according to a joint statement published on ReliefWeb, the OCHA platform.
The new forum brings together:
The Northwest Syria NGO Forum (NWS NGO Forum)
The Northeast Syria NGO Forum (NES NGO Forum)
Damascus-based International NGOs (DINGO)
The Partnership Coordination Group (PCG)
The Syrian INGO Regional Forum (SIRF)
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