Syria Today | New law to regulate NGOs

New law to regulate NGOs

A new legal framework governing NGOs in Syria is expected to be unveiled shortly, Syria’s First Lady Asma al-Assad announced on January 23.

The first lady made the announcement during the opening address of the country’s first international development conference, organised by the Syria Trust for Development with the aim of enhancing civil society.

“The government has been working together with representatives from the sector to pass new legislation and it is now in its final stages,” she said. “The new law will represent a fundamental change for the sector. It will provide a legal and regulatory framework for NGOs, enabling and governing their establishment, space and scope of function in public life.”

Held in Damascus under the title ‘The Emerging Role of Civil Society in Development’, the two-day conference focused on improving the performance of development agencies by deepening ties between all bodies, both public and private, and improving economic and social development in the country.

“Today’s event does not mark a new beginning for NGOs in Syria,” Assad said. “Rather, it crowns a milestone in a long journey the country has been travelling in this sector.”

Topics addressed at the conference included rural development, community empowerment, culture and development, institutions and development, youth, employment and entrepreneurship and ensuring sustainability in development projects.