Civil society needs freedom to develop democracy — activists

AMMAN — State control of civil society hinders the development of democracy, experts warned recently. 

At a workshop on the aims and challenges of civil society organisations, researcher Mohammad Bani Salameh said civil society organisations should be viewed as partners to the government to support necessary social reforms.  

“The purpose of these organisations is very clear: to support democracy. Usually, they are eager to achieve more to benefit society, but they will never fulfil their purpose while they are under state control,” Bani Salameh said.

Bassam Haddadin, the director of the Nissan Centre for Political and Parliamentary Development which organised the workshop, said civil society organisations are an important part of the country. 

Their role is to organise society, develop community dialogue and protect the rights of individuals and communities, Haddadin told The Jordan Times. 

Some conservatives are trying to restrict the role of these organisations, he added. 

“There is a strong attack on civil society organisations by a lobby in the government whose aim is to disrupt the role of these organisations,” Haddadin charged.

Ahmad Awad, the head of the Phenix Center for Economic and Informatics Studies, said that civil society organisations include unions, centres and human rights institutions. 

Independence from the government is a key characteristic of NGOs, Awad said, adding that the work of NGOs and unions has faced restrictions. 

Meanwhile, Mohammad Husseini, the director of the Identity Centre, said organisations that received foreign funding are viewed with suspicion, but noted that such funding is crucial to their work. 

The work of NGOs is underestimated, he added, pointing to the role of organisations in combating terrorism and extremism.   

“Volunteers give their time for free, which is valuable, but at a minimum, NGOs must provide transport, food and water, and in many cases protect activists and provide legal representation,” Husseini said.

“Thus comes the importance and need for funding,” he added.