{"id":26267,"date":"2026-08-27T11:15:46","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T11:15:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/?p=26267"},"modified":"2026-08-27T11:24:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T11:24:49","slug":"human-rights-watch-warns-bolivias-new-ngo-registry-could-threaten-civil-society-and-human-rights-defenders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/?p=26267","title":{"rendered":"Human Rights Watch Warns Bolivia\u2019s New NGO Registry Could Threaten Civil Society and Human Rights Defenders"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" data-start=\"158\" data-end=\"573\"><strong data-start=\"158\" data-end=\"185\">La Paz, Bolivia (HRNW):<\/strong> Human Rights Watch has warned that two decrees issued by Bolivia&#8217;s government in early August could seriously restrict <strong data-start=\"305\" data-end=\"388\">freedom of association and the work of human rights organizations and defenders<\/strong>. The organization published its latest warning on <strong data-start=\"439\" data-end=\"457\">26 August 2026<\/strong>, making the issue one of the newest civil-society developments in the region.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"575\" data-end=\"1006\">According to Human Rights Watch, the new measures establish additional requirements affecting the registration and operation of nongovernmental organizations. The organization says the framework could give authorities excessive power over civil-society organizations and create uncertainty for groups working on human rights, environmental protection, social justice and community development.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1008\" data-end=\"1238\">Human Rights Watch has urged the Bolivian government to ensure that any NGO registration or oversight system complies with international standards protecting <strong data-start=\"1166\" data-end=\"1237\">freedom of association, expression and peaceful civic participation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1240\" data-end=\"1479\">The organization has emphasized that independent NGOs play an essential role in documenting abuses, supporting vulnerable communities, monitoring public institutions and defending people whose rights may otherwise receive little attention.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1481\" data-end=\"1728\">The development is particularly significant for <strong data-start=\"1529\" data-end=\"1584\">human rights defenders and grassroots organizations<\/strong>, which can depend on independent registration and access to funding to carry out legal assistance, advocacy, research and community programmes.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1730\" data-end=\"2050\">Human Rights Watch&#8217;s intervention forms part of its broader global work investigating abuses, publishing findings and pressing governments to strengthen rights protections. The organization says it works in more than 100 countries and maintains independence from government funding.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2052\" data-end=\"2233\">The Bolivia case highlights a growing international debate over how governments regulate NGOs while still respecting the fundamental right of civil society to operate independently.<\/p>\n<h3 data-section-id=\"v7rry8\" data-start=\"2235\" data-end=\"2257\"><span role=\"text\"><strong data-start=\"2239\" data-end=\"2257\">Support Appeal<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2259\" data-end=\"2632\"><strong data-start=\"2259\" data-end=\"2632\">Support the World&#8217;s No.1 dedicated Human Rights News Agency to enhance its mission of promoting justice, equality, freedom of association, democracy, accountability and human dignity worldwide. Your generous contribution enables HRNW to continue independent reporting on NGOs, human-rights defenders and civil-society organizations working for justice around the world.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2634\" data-end=\"2689\"><strong data-start=\"2634\" data-end=\"2651\">Support HRNW:<\/strong> <span class=\"contents\" data-content-reference-start=\"2607\" data-content-reference-end=\"2711\"><span class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"><a class=\"decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/?page_id=1083&amp;utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Support HRNW \u2013 World&#8217;s No.1 dedicated Human Rights News Agency<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 data-section-id=\"jn3j7p\" data-start=\"2691\" data-end=\"2709\"><span role=\"text\"><strong data-start=\"2695\" data-end=\"2709\">Disclaimer<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2711\" data-end=\"3031\"><em data-start=\"2711\" data-end=\"3031\">This HRNW report summarizes concerns and recommendations publicly expressed by Human Rights Watch. References to potential restrictions or threats to civil society reflect the assessment of the cited organization and are not presented as final judicial findings by HRNW. HRNW maintains complete editorial independence.<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_26267\" class=\"pvc_stats total_only  \" data-element-id=\"26267\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>La Paz, Bolivia (HRNW): Human Rights Watch has warned that two decrees issued by Bolivia&#8217;s government in early August could seriously restrict freedom of association and the work of human rights organizations and defenders. The organization published its latest warning on 26 August 2026, making the issue one of the newest civil-society developments in the&#8230;<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_26267\" class=\"pvc_stats total_only  \" data-element-id=\"26267\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 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