The Center for the Advancement of Rights and Democracy (CARD) has announced that the government of Ethiopia has banned civil society organizations.
He said in a statement that the card, which works around the protection of human rights and democratic rights, was banned by the government body that registers and controls civil societies in the country for not being “politically independent and acting outside of its purpose”.
The Indigenous Rights and Democracy Development Center (CARD) protested that the reasons given by the authorities for the suspension were not followed and that the suspension decision did not follow proper legal procedures. In addition, the official of the civil society organizations has indicated in a statement issued by Card that he does not know anything about the necessary investigation on the issues presented as a reason for the ban, apart from notifying the decision in a letter he wrote a week ago.
they expressed their complaint stating that an investigation should have been done before the card was issued and he should have been involved in the process and should have been aware of it.
Card has denied the accusations made by the governmental regulatory agency regarding non-political neutrality and acting outside of its purpose, stating that “[Card] is not involved in any activity outside of its purpose and is neutral in political matters.”
Card, who stated that he will continue to advocate for a solution to Ethiopia’s social and political challenges in a peaceful and democratic framework, guided by the motto of “making democracy the only law of the game”, indicated that he will try to get the ban lifted.
In a statement issued by the Center for the Development of Rights and Democracy (CARD) regarding the ban, it has spoken with civil society organizations and is making efforts to lift the ban in accordance with the law, and has asked for the support of others. pointed out that in the last six years, he has provided training and conducted research to enable youth and human rights defenders to stand guard for peace, equality and human rights.
In this way, he stated that in cooperation with many national and international organizations, he has carried out works that reach hundreds of thousands of citizens. In addition, over the years, Card has conducted campaigns on peace, violence against women, freedom of the press and other human and democratic rights, individually and together with other organizations.
