Amnesty International has raised concerns over a series of legal initiatives across various countries in the Americas, warning that these measures pose significant threats to the activities of civil society organizations (CSOs) and the promotion and defense of human rights in the region. The alarming trend has been observed notably in Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela, each country moving forward with legislative actions that could severely limit the operational scope of CSOs.
In Peru, Congress has advanced bills granting the government extensive control over NGOs, particularly those funded from abroad. Additionally, a constitutional amendment aiming to dismantle the National Board of Justice, thereby transferring judicial oversight to legislators, has raised significant concerns about judicial independence and election integrity.
In Venezuela, the bill titled “Control, Regularization, Operations and Financing of Non-Governmental and Related Organizations” proposes stringent reporting requirements for NGOs with the risk of criminal prosecution for non-compliance, potentially crippling their operations. Notably, the bill had secured early-stage approval in the National Assembly.
Paraguay is also under scrutiny, with the senate considering new legislation aimed at imposing tighter controls on nonprofit organizations, restricting their access to resources, and subjecting them to severe penalties, as highlighted in a recent report.
Amnesty International stresses that similar patterns have been observed in Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico. For instance, Guatemala’s laws 5377 and 5257 put NGOs at major risk of arbitrary shutdowns and criminal sanctions. El Salvador’s “Ley de Agentes Extranjeros” heavily restricts foreign-funded NGOs.
The human rights organization emphasized that while these bills differ in methodology, they share common characteristics of imposing disproportionate and arbitrary controls under the guise of transparency, which could unjustly hinder the vital operations of civil society groups. More details on Amnesty International’s findings and concerns can be accessed here.