Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro is keeping up its assault on civil society, this time focusing its attacks on nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and threatening to put an end to nonprofit organizations, which continuously question the actions of the regime. In mid-January, the Venezuelan National Assembly, with a pro-regime majority, approved the Law for the Control, Regularization, Performance, and Financing of Nongovernmental and Related Organizations which, civil society representatives say, seeks to “annihilate” NGOs. According to Spanish daily El País, the regime has been debating for years various legal instruments to limit or bankrupt Venezuelan NGOs, dating back to the time of Hugo Chávez. NGOs have been known to closely monitor the violations and excesses of the regime in matters such as human rights, transparency, corruption, environmental management, freedom of expression, and much more. By Nelza Oliveira. Full Text -> Diálogo

Under the law, NGOs in Venezuela would be forced to register with the new agency and reveal their beneficiaries and activities to the state. The agency would also create a fund where all international donations are held and make the decisions about which NGO activities to finance. Organizations would have six months to “adjust their forecasts and guidelines” to fit with rules created by the agency. This stipulation would potentially force them to align their activities with government policies and make them vulnerable to control, censorship, and even closure. The proposed law, dubbed the “anti-solidarity law” by critics, is part of the ruling United Socialist Party’s push to control Venezuelan civil society, which has remained a breathing space for dissent as the regime took on political parties and then mass media. If it passes—which it may later this year—the law would only make it harder for NGOs to continue their work, leaving Venezuelans even more vulnerable to the country’s humanitarian crisis. By By Tony Frangie-Mawad. Full Text -> ForeignPolicy

Traducción de cortesía -> Según la ley, las ONG en Venezuela se verían obligadas a registrarse en la nueva agencia y revelar sus beneficiarios y actividades al estado. La agencia también crearía un fondo donde se guardan todas las donaciones internacionales y toma las decisiones sobre qué actividades de ONG financiar. Las organizaciones tendrían seis meses para “ajustar sus pronósticos y pautas” para que se ajusten a las reglas creadas por la agencia. Esta estipulación los obligaría potencialmente a alinear sus actividades con las políticas gubernamentales y los haría vulnerables al control, la censura e incluso el cierre. La ley propuesta, apodada la “ley anti-solidaridad” por los críticos, es parte de la campaña del gobernante Partido Socialista Unido para controlar a la sociedad civil venezolana, que se ha mantenido como un respiro para la disidencia mientras el régimen se enfrentaba a los partidos políticos y luego a los medios de comunicación. Si se aprueba, lo que puede suceder más adelante este año, la ley solo dificultaría que las ONG continúen con su trabajo, dejando a los venezolanos aún más vulnerables a la crisis humanitaria del país.

“Durante el primer semestre de 2022 se documentó cómo el Estado venezolano avanza en la ejecución de patrones para obstaculizar, limitar y afectar las actividades de quienes se encuentran en primera línea de acción, respondiendo a la crisis de derechos humanos”, indicó la ONG en su informe. Texto Completo -> Monitoreamos

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 A Venezuelan court indicted Javier Tarazona, director of NGO FundaRedes, and two other activists for terrorism and other crimes, three days after the group held a news conference in Caracas alleging links between members of the government and illegal armed groups from Colombia, their lawyer said. FundaRedes has been the most active entity documenting and denouncing abuses by irregular Colombian armed groups in border areas and their illegal trafficking and mining activities. By Deisy Buitrago and Sarah Kinosian. Full Text -> Reuters

While all this occurs in the political sphere, the negotiation formula needs to include the third sector (civil society organizations, NGOs, foundations, academia, and so on) which is widely weakened. Besides a new CNE, the country needs to articulate a civil society that monitors, evaluates and corroborates that the population’s needs are being considered. The third sector acts as part of the checks and balances that could speak for the social sphere. By Mikhael G. Iglesias L. Full Text -> CaracasChronicles

Democracies rely on the small platoons of selfless individuals who form independent associations that uplift society, whether to ensure rule of law or to feed hungry people. Even under authoritarian regimes, people find ways to express this natural freedom of association. At times, dictators inclined to suppress such activity may tap into it. Their own failings help make the civic good of civil society stand out.. By Editorial Board. Full Text ->TheChristianScienceMonitor

Venezuela’s proposed legislation follows similar laws passed by authoritarian and repressive governments elsewhere in the world that have cut off funding for nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and independent media outlets. By John Otis. Full Text -> HavanaTimes

A new disposition by the regime would force human rights and humanitarian organizations to report the names of their beneficiaries, including people seeking protection from the State. But the NGOs fight back. By Primo Arias. Full Text -> CaracasChronicles

Maduro’s dictatorship started 2021 with an increased persecution of independent journalists and the criminalization of humanitarian aid workers and human rights activists. The reasons answer to its strategic reality, part of the script for all autocracies. By Gabriela Mesones Rojo. Full Text -> CaracasChronicles

NGOs in Venezuela are doing a Herculean effort to help the people. The director of Hearts On Venezuela explains how working for an NGO in this minefield is really like. By Gabriela Mesones Rojo and Rafael Osio Cabrices. Full Text -> CaracasChronicles