Human rights organization criticizes system for registering civic organizations

The Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union points to continuing lack of compliance with international standards in the system of registration of civic organizations in Ukraine. As reported, on Thursday the press service of the Ministry of Justice reported that they had simplified the procedure for legalization of nongovernmental organizations.

According to the Minister of Justice Oleksandr Lavrynovych the new procedure introduces single rules for the preparation and formalization of citizens’ associations. 

However the UHHRU Executive Director Volodymyr Yavorsky believes that these amendments to procedure merely standardize the registration practice over the country, but do nothing to eliminate the existing impediments to registering civic organizations. “These include the double registration by first the Ministry of Justice, and then the state registrars, the excessive number of documents, interference with charters, the period needed for registration and the fees charged. None of this is in keeping with international standards.”

Despite this, civic activity in the country is steadily on the increase. As of November this year, the Ministry of Justice had registered almost one thousand eight hundred nationwide civic organizations.