In cooperation between the Mahrousa Center and the Partners Foundation for Transparency

Media professionals and journalists evaluate the NGO law and submit recommendations for implementing regulations

The "Partners for Transparency" Foundation, in cooperation with the "Al-Mahrousa Center for Economic and Social Development", held a discussion session for a group of journalists and media professionals concerned with civil society issues, within the framework of the community dialogue project for an active civil society "implemented by Al-Mahrousa, on Saturday 28 October. 2017.

The meeting, in which the editors of civil society participated in several newspapers, electronic positions and television channels, aimed to get acquainted with the views of the participants in the new Civil Organizations Law 70 of 2017, and their evaluation of its impact on the role played by civil society, and their recommendations related to the executive regulations of the law and the articles that may be subject to Adjustment in the coming period.

Participants saw that any law restricting civil work will negatively affect their media performance and journalistic activities, as civil society is currently one of the most important sources for news and press and media stories, and there are many editors who have become specialists in following up on the activity of civil organizations and they will be harmed if the work space recedes Al-Ahly and civic activity in Egypt.

The participants called for the necessity to go through all steps of the dialogue with the government, parliament and the committee in charge of preparing the executive regulations to ensure that the list comes out in a way that avoids some of the legal flaws and reduces the weight of the restrictions contained therein, as well as that this dialogue could lead to amendments in the law itself in the future. Especially after the emergence of clear defects and negatives during its application, and journalists and media professionals stressed in this regard the need to initiate a request to meet the Prime Minister as he is responsible for issuing the executive regulations.

Participants stressed the need for the executive regulations to include a detailed terminology in the law in order not to be misused in intransigence towards associations that operate in certain areas, especially the human rights and defense fields, which are terms such as societal peace, public morals, national security and the priorities of the development plan. They also demanded the necessity. Reducing the fees and fees specified for registering associations and civil institutions because they are essentially voluntary work, in addition to the need to reconsider the penal philosophy contained in the law.