A senior source in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour told Al-Qabas: Comprehensive scrutiny of civil society organizations
Faisal Matar: The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor is continuing a comprehensive review of civil society associations as part of its ongoing assessment of their status, evaluating their adherence to the objectives for which they were established, and their capacity to deliver genuine services to their members and the broader community.
A senior source in the Ministry told Al-Qabas that the ministry is preparing to issue decisions to dissolve and liquidate the assets of approximately nine new civil society associations, following evidence of their lack of social effectiveness and their failure to provide any tangible services for several years. The review also identified violations of the provisions of Law No. 24 of 1962 concerning clubs and public benefit associations.
The source clarified that some of the associations subject to these measures have become registered “on paper only,” with no actual activity on the ground or any tangible role in serving society. This has made their continued existence a burden on civil society institutions, given that they have failed to achieve the objectives for which they were established.
He noted that the Department of Civil Society Associations completed its study of the status of the concerned associations, reviewing their bylaws and levels of actual activity, before submitting their names to the Committee for the Establishment, Evaluation, and Dissolution of Public Benefit Associations and Charities to examine their status and take the prescribed measures.
The source added that the committee approved the department’s recommendation to dissolve the associations and liquidate their assets, following proof that they had not engaged in any effective activities, failed to cooperate with the ministry, and did not respond to repeated calls and warnings issued to them to rectify their status and address recorded violations.
The source stated that the committee will submit its recommendations to the Minister of Social Affairs, Family, and Childhood, Dr. Amthal Al-Huwail, to take appropriate action against the violating associations in accordance with the legal procedures governing this file.
He pointed out that the dissolution and asset liquidation decisions taken by the ministry over the past months have resulted in the dissolution and liquidation of more than 40 associations with diverse objectives and specializations, out of a total of approximately 210 associations, as part of a comprehensive review of the performance of civil society institutions and their compliance with the law and establishment objectives.
The source emphasized that the ministry is continuing its review of the status of civil society associations and taking necessary measures to ensure the continuity of effective associations capable of serving society and achieving their establishment objectives, while not retaining associations that do not play a genuine role or fail to cooperate with regulatory authorities.
