NEW YORK, April 25 (UPI) -- Government actions limiting the freedom of non-governmental organizations are undermining human rights, a U.N. official said Wednesday.
"Civil society, including non-government organizations, trade unions, human rights defenders, academics, journalists, bloggers and others, plays an absolutely crucial role in ensuring that human rights are protected," said U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay in a statement released Wednesday.
She highlighted cases in several countries in which government regulations are curtailing organizations' abilities to operate, noting Egypt's new draft laws, Zimbabwe's crackdown on freedom of association, Cambodia's proposed law that could close down non-governmental organizations if deemed harmful to national unity and culture, and Venezuela's new law putting such groups under permanent state surveillance.
The statement also expressed concern for funding of non-governmental organizations, many of which rely heavily on foreign support, mentioning that several in Ethiopia have closed down since a 2009 law permitting only 10 percent of their funding to be acquired from outside the country.
