__August 2011:
Report on Global Forum on Civil Society Law held in Stockholm, Sweden

During August 2011 Ricardo Wyngaard attended The Global Forum on Civil Society 2011 which was hosted by the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) in Stockholm, Sweden. The Forum was attended by more than 200 global leaders from civil society organisations, governments, multilateral institutions, and the donor community representing over 80 countries. The Forum covered a range of diverse topics impacting on civil society law
Ricardo was, amongst other, asked to participate in a panel discussion entitled: We have got a New Law Governing CSOs, Now What? This session was aimed at considering innovative ways to deal with the real challenge of ensuring effective implementation and compliance with noble laws governing or affecting civil society organisations. It was clear from the panel discussion that well drafted laws are not a guarantee of an enabling environment. Ensuring effective implementation of legislation is equally important. Laws that are not effectively implemented can have negative implications for a country’s enabling environment. Delegates at this session came up with some innovative and concrete proposals to ensure effective implementation of legislation. Proposals included; the need for civil society to establish constructive relationships with institutions responsible for implementation; paying careful attention to the preparation of regulations to be promulgated in terms of legislation; ensuring that formal and informal mechanisms are in place to monitor the implementation of legislation; and regularly evaluating the effectiveness of such implementation.
South Africa sadly has many good laws that are poorly implemented. Civil society in South Africa will have to become more involved in ensuring that good laws are not nullified through poor implementation. The Departments responsible for implementing civil society law can clearly benefit from the above proposals that came from delegates at the Forum.
Ricardo was, amongst other, asked to participate in a panel discussion entitled: We have got a New Law Governing CSOs, Now What? This session was aimed at considering innovative ways to deal with the real challenge of ensuring effective implementation and compliance with noble laws governing or affecting civil society organisations. It was clear from the panel discussion that well drafted laws are not a guarantee of an enabling environment. Ensuring effective implementation of legislation is equally important. Laws that are not effectively implemented can have negative implications for a country’s enabling environment. Delegates at this session came up with some innovative and concrete proposals to ensure effective implementation of legislation. Proposals included; the need for civil society to establish constructive relationships with institutions responsible for implementation; paying careful attention to the preparation of regulations to be promulgated in terms of legislation; ensuring that formal and informal mechanisms are in place to monitor the implementation of legislation; and regularly evaluating the effectiveness of such implementation.
South Africa sadly has many good laws that are poorly implemented. Civil society in South Africa will have to become more involved in ensuring that good laws are not nullified through poor implementation. The Departments responsible for implementing civil society law can clearly benefit from the above proposals that came from delegates at the Forum.