Reminder: Call for applications for 8 mandate holders of the HRC
REMINDER: The deadline for applications is 6th April 2022 at 12 noon Geneva Time.
CIVIL SOCIETY
The Bahamas is a stable democracy where political rights and civil liberties are generally respected in law and practice. There are few restrictions on the freedoms of association, assembly, and expression. This enables a vibrant Civil Society sector.
Civil Society organisations, a term interchangeable in The Bahamas with non-governmental organisations, and which includes community-based organisations, have been and are engaged in a wide range of matters in The Bahamas, such as the environment, health, providing human rights support, natural disaster relief and governance. The Civil Society sector regulatory framework includes the following instruments: Non-Profit Association (Validation of Licences) Act 17/1992/; Non-governmental Organizations Act, 2005, Freedom of Information Act, 2017; and Non-profit Organisation Act, 2019.
The Government of The Bahamas recognises the increasing role the Civil Society sector plays in supporting and delivering adapted, innovative and flexible solutions to overcome today’s pressing environmental, economic, political and social challenges, among others. It believes that a strong Civil Society is an important end in itself and a crucial means of delivering specific objectives, such as national development goals.
Attached below are quick links that offer information regarding Civil Society participation in multilateral bodies and international activities. These offer details on grant funding, training and partnership opportunities, access to funds to support participation in the work of multilateral organisations, resource centres and forums, and invitations to submit inputs, among others.
QUICK LINKS
(i) The Commonwealth
– The Commonwealth Foundation Homepage
(ii) The Organization of American States
– Civil Society Homepage
http://www.oas.org/en/ser/dia/civil_society/index.shtml
– Summits of the Americas. Social Actors Homepage.
http://www.summit-americas.org/cs.html
– Manual for Civil Society Participation in OAS Activities
http://www.oas.org/en/ser/dia/civil_society/docs/manual_sc_participation_en.pdf
(iii) The United Nations
– Civil Society Homepage
https://www.un.org/en/get-involved/un-and-civil-society
– Consultative Status with Economic and Social Council
http://csonet.org/?menu=34
– United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
https://en.unesco.org/creativity/criteria-steps-civil-society-participation-sessions-conventions-governing-bodies
– Association with the Department of Global Communications
https://www.un.org/en/civil-society/page/application
– The Integrated Civil Society Organizations System
https://esango.un.org/civilsociety/login.do
(iv) Human Rights Council NGO Homepage
https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/hrc/pages/ngoparticipation.aspx