Freedom of Association in the Arab World

Prospects for Reform and Development

We are glad to have been granted the opportunity to contribute to this first report to be
drafted by the “Initiative for an Arab Council on Freedom of Association” on the state
of freedom of association for political parties, trade unions and non-governmental
organizations in various countries of the Middle East and North Africa.

This publication is another direct, yet unforeseen outcome of an important three year
regional project (2007-2010) that is co-funded by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation
for Liberty (FNF) and the European Union (EU) and which aims at enhancing the
legal framework of associations in the Arab World. The project is implemented
in cooperation with Arab partner organizations and has been enjoying the most
appreciated support of the Arab League and its Secretary General.

One of the prominent achievements of the project over the past 3 years has been its
success in gathering representatives of different components of civil society to join
hands and coordinate their efforts in lobbying for a matter of mutual concern and
relevance. Traditionally, relations between the various civil society components were
known to be often characterized by rivalry instead of cooperation.

We hopes that out support for the “Initiative for an Arab Council on Freedom of
Association” will contribute to ensuring that the constructive and promising dynamics
created throughout the 3-year project persist beyond the duration of the project.

Last but not least, I want to thank the authors for their efforts and my colleague Mrs.
Ubab Murad (Project Manager, FNF-EU project on Freedom of Association) for her
dedication to realize this publication, motivated by the belief that it is “better to light
a candle than cursing the dark”.

Ralf Erbel
Resident Representative in Jordan and to Lebanon, Syria and Iraq
Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty