The House of Representatives finds public hearings about legislation of NGOs unreasonable

The law “On public associations”, which was adopted in first reading, wouldn’t be under public hearings.

It became clear from the answer of 25 NGOs, signed by Aksana Niachajchyk, the head of the standing commission on human rights, national relations and Mass media, Legal Transformation Centre “Lawtrend” told to the EuroBelarus Information Service.

The parliamentary notified that the Commission found it unreasonable to hold public hearings about the legislation of NGOs, as the adoption of the draft law “On public associations” in first reading on May 30 implied that its concept was approved and not subject to further semantic change.

Let us recall that 25 organizations have directed an appeal to the Belarusan parliament and government that suggests holding parliamentary hearings concerning the issue of improving the legislation about the non-governmental organizations. The reason for such an appeal is the adoption of the draft law “On introducing amendments and additions to some Belarusan laws on the issues of the work of political parties and other public associations”. As it is stated in the appeal, this draft has certain positive changes, but it doesn’t resolve the most important legislative problems that the organizations of the civil society face.

Being the organizers of the initiative, Legal Transformation Centre and the Assembly of Pro-Democratic NGOs of Belarus are grateful to those organizations, which supported the appeal, and will continue to work on introduction amendments to Belarusan legislation in accordance with the public opinion.

The House of Representatives also notified that in the second half of November it will hold parliamentary hearings on the issue of how to improve legislation in the sphere of national educational system. Within the preparatory period different conferences, round tables are likely to take place. Parliamentary hearings give public associations a great opportunity to express its opinion both about the problems in the sphere of education and about the issue of educational work in different NGOs, experts from the Legal Transformation Centre assume. The discussion is all the more important after the two years of Code of Education application.