The government defends decree to control NGOs

“Decree 16 will allow social organizations to work with the state and develop its scope by legal way,” said Under Secretary of Policy Management, Patricia Sarzosa, who clarified the scope of the Regulation for the Registration of Civil Society Organizations.

“It is not mandatory for groups to enter this system, but this will be the only enabling for their work to have a backup and legal status,” said the official.

As part of the request sent by Human Rights Watch (HRW) to eliminate Decree 16 because, according to them, it limits NGOs, Sarzosa explains that the decree does not seeks to limit the work of social organizations and “in order to remove all traces of doubt, they will start with a socialization process of the Registration System.”

The process would begin on next August 21, with the different ministries in charge of registration and then with the other groups.

Jose Miguel Vivanco from HRW requested the removal of Decree 16.