Feminist/Civil Society/NGO Suppression in Multiple Countries

October 22, 2008

Women’s Learning Partnership (WLP) colleagues from the
Autonomous Women’s Movement (MAM) in Nicaragua have called our attention to the
government’s raid and seizure of documents and computers from their offices on
October 10th. The raid of MAM’s offices as well as the Centre for
Investigation and Communication (CINCO) offices are another step of  the
government’s campaign against civil society organizations, particularly feminists,
who have been outspoken critics of the Nicaragua government.

The wider government crackdown includes harassment of several civil society
organizations, journalists, and the international organization Oxfam GB, which
supports the work of local non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The
government has accused such groups of money laundering, misuse of funds, and
subversion. The government has specifically targeted feminists who have been
vocal in condemning political sexual misconduct as well as the 2007
comprehensive ban on abortion. Activists have been threatened and
persecuted for defending women’s rights, as have journalists who have been
targeted for reporting on corruption within the government.

Similar patterns of suppression of civil society have emerged in
other WLP Partner countries, beginning with the limitation and scrutiny of NGO
activity. In Iran, women’s rights activists involved in campaigns to
reform gender discriminatory laws are routinely
arrested and jailed on charges of “endangering national security”
and “spreading propaganda” against the state. Jordan has introduced a
new “Societies Law” that would give government power over how an NGO
is funded as well as its decision making processes and activities. In Egypt, recent
legislation has made it nearly impossible for NGOs to function independently.
The law places restrictions on the activities and funding of civic
organizations. The state has power to decide who sits on the board of an NGO,
how often executive committees can meet, and who can be invited to conferences.
In 2005 Uzbekistan
experienced a similar clampdown which began with measures taken by the
government against NGOs and the media. After violently suppressing a public
protest in Andijan, Uzbekistan’s government harassed local women’s groups and
human rights organizations until they eventually were forced to close
operations.