Number of registered NGOs in 2013 lowest since 2005

The Ministry of Justice has summed up the results of the past year’s registration of public associations and foundations. In 2013, 70 new associations were registered (2 international, 11 national and 57 local ones), one association of NGOs, 11 foundations (1 international and 10 local). According to experts of the NGO’s Assembly and the Legal Transformation Center, the number of new NGOs in 2013 is significantly lower than in 2011 and 2012, when during the year the registration was obtained by over a hundred associations and more than 20 foundations. However, the year of 2013 saw the same trend of registering sports associations - they constitute more than half of new NGOs.

As of January 1, 2014 Belarus has 15 registered political parties and 1,057 party branches, 37 trade unions (33 national unions, 1 regional union and three trade unions in organizations) and 23,193 local offices, 2,521 public associations, including 231 international, 694 national and 1,596 local.

An annual report entitled "Freedom of Association and the Legal Status of Non-Profit Organizations in Belarus" is available from the Assembly of Pro-Democratic NGOs and the Legal Transformation Center.

Source: belngo.info