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Deending Civil Society
A Report of the World Movement for Democracy
Co-authored by International Center or Not-or-Proft Law (ICNL)and World Movement or Democracy Secretariat at theNational Endowment or Democracy (NED)
February 2008
 
The World Movement for Democracy is a global network 
of democrats, including activists, practitioners, academics, policy makers, andfunders, who have come together to cooperate in the promotion of democracy. The Washington, DC-based National Endowment for Democracy (NED) initiatedthis nongovernmental eort in February 1999 with a global Assembly in NewDelhi, India, to strengthen democracy where it is weak, to reform and invigoratedemocracy even where it is longstanding, and to bolster pro-democracy groupsin countries that have not yet entered into a process of democratic transition. Atthe conclusion of that Inaugural Assembly, participants adopted, by consensus,a Founding Statement creating the World Movement for Democracy as a“pro-active network of democrats.” Emphasizing that the World Movement isnot a new centralized organization, the statement declares that the resultingnetwork “will meet periodically to exchange ideas and experiences and to fostercollaboration among democratic forces around the world.”
Networks
 The World Movement Web site
(www.wmd.org)
provides links to variousregional and unctional networks ocused on advancing democracy.
DemocracyNews
As the electronic newsletter o the World Movement,
DemocracyNews
enablesparticipants to share inormation with their colleagues, announce events andpublications, and request assistance or collaboration in their work. To subscribe,send an e-mail message to subscribe-democracynews@lyris.ned.org.
World Movement Assemblies
Global assemblies ofer World Movement participants the opportunity to takestock o the accomplishments they have achieved and the challenges theyconront, and to build networks o mutual solidarity and support.
Steering Committee Members
Mariclaire Acosta
—
Mexico
Mahnaz Afkhami
—
Iran
Urban Ahlin
—
Sweden
Genaro Arriagada
—
Chile
Igor Blaževic
—
Bosnia
Francesca Bomboko
—
Democratic Republic o Congo
Kavi Chongkittavorn
—
Thailand 
Ivan Doherty
—
Ireland 
Han Dongfang
—
China
(Vice Chair)
Yuri Dzhibladze
—
Russia
 João Carlos Espada
—
Portugal 
Abdou Filali-Ansary
—
Morocco
David French
—
United Kingdom
Carl Gershman
—
United States
(
ex ofcio
*)
Paul Graham
—
South Arica
 Jana Hybaskova
—
Czech Republic 
Melinda Quintos de Jesús
—
The Philippines
Ivan Krastev
—
Bulgaria
Reginald Matchabe-Hove
—
 Zimbabwe
George Mathew
—
India
Roel von Meijenfeldt
—
The Netherlands
Ayo Obe
—
Nigeria
(Chair)
Can Paker
—
Turkey 
(Treasurer)
Inna Pidluska
—
Ukraine
 Jacqueline Pitanguy
—
Brazil 
Carlos Ponce
—
Venezuela
Elisabeth Ungar
—
Colombia
(Secretary)
Secretariat:
National Endowment or Democracy 
Art Kaufman
Director 
 The World Movement oers new ways to give practical help to democratswho are struggling to open closed societies, challenge dictatorships, democratizesemi-authoritarian systems, consolidate emerging democracies, and strengthenestablished democracies. It has the potential to do so in several ways…• as an
ally
o democrats in dangerous situations who need political solidarityand moral support;• as a
lobby
or the cause o democracy in international bodies and in countrieswhere democracy is under siege;• as a
facilitator
that can help link democrats rom dierent countries andregions to exchange inormation more efciently, work together, and help oneanother;• as an
innovator
that can encourage the development o new ideas andeective approaches or overcoming obstacles to democracy;• as a
big tent
that can provide a meeting place or democrats who are active indierent proessional areas, such as human rights, media, law, political partydevelopment, workers’ rights, economic reorm, research, and education;• as a
resource center
that can make basic materials on democracy available togroups around the world;• as a
monitor
that can convey the views o democratic activists on the efcacyo dierent orms o democracy support; and• as a
catalyst
to stimulate new initiatives and help shape the priorities o the broader community o institutions concerned with the promotion o democracy.
 
Table o Contents
Executive Summary
............................................................................................
3Introduction................
........................................................................................
6Legal Barriers to Civil Society Organizations
.............................................
10Government Justifcations to Legal Barriers
..............................................
21International Principles Protecting Civil Society
.....................................
26Next Steps
...........................................................................................................
41Appendix: Bibliography o Key International Instruments
....................
43
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