NGO law campaign

European CSOs in Advocacy, Campaigning and Policy Dialogue The case of NGO law campaign in Armenia: Lessons Learned Open Forum regional consultation for Europe Brussels, April 2011

The campaign inception • September 2009: Controversial amendments to NGO law initiative by the Ministry of Justice • October 2009: NGOs learn about the initiative from Parliament web site mobilization • November 2009: a group of NGOs voice their concern, Civil Society Initiative mobilizes 300 organizations to campaign against the draft • February 2010: OSCE issues a detailed analysis new phase • December 2010: Minister of Justice fired, Deputy Minister resigned • March 2011: the Initiative reaches an agreement with Ministry of Justice

Know your target • Governments are living institutions – human relations – decision making process: formal and non formal – needs and priorities of government agencies • Tools you create – Citizen guide to Government – Government web sites – Networks & umbrella organizations – CIVICUS: Civil Society Index

Effective Communication • information needs in policy process – data sources – analytical capacity – less options, easier to make decisions • communication channels – traditional media – new media – personal communication • relations with media (validity, gate keepers)

The Homework • framing the issue matters – data backed arguments – process arguments – are you FOR or AGAINST something • educating about your issue – CSOs, donors, government, media, public • thou protest too much – the power of the people – the monster you create

Challenges or opportunities • Negotiations: the power of the people – melting pot or a salad • Solutions, solutions, solutions – offering alternatives – expectations of the participants – i want everything and right now! • Communicating the victory – prisoner dilemma – channels of communication

Lessons • Accountability towards whom? – be carful what you wish for – who sets the policy agenda • Recognition of the role of CSOs – in policy inception phase • CSO enabling environment is the key!

European CSOs in Advocacy, Campaigning and Policy Dialogue The case of NGO law campaign in Armenia: Lessons Learned Open Forum regional consultation for Europe Brussels, April 2011