Provisional measure to control NGOs suffers defeat in congress
Under pressure from civil society, the point at issue was heeded by rapporteur without the need to put it to the vot
The Mixed Committee for the 2019 provisional measure (CMMPV) number 870, responsible for setting out the framework for presidential and ministerial bodies, holding a deliberative meeting for appraisal of the report. The panel: the rapporteur for the CMMPV 870/2019, Senator Fernando Bezerra Coelho (MDB-PE); the president of CMMPV 870/2019, councilman João Roma (PRB-BA); coordinator of Mixed Committee in the Federal Senate, Marcos Machado Melo. Photo: Marcos Oliveira/Agência Senado
The Mixed Committee for the 2019 provisional measure (CMMPV) number 870, responsible for setting out the framework for presidential and ministerial bodies, holding a deliberative meeting for appraisal of the report. The panel: the rapporteur for the CMMPV 870/2019, Senator Fernando Bezerra Coelho (MDB-PE); the president of CMMPV 870/2019, councilman João Roma (PRB-BA); coordinator of Mixed Committee in the Federal Senate, Marcos Machado Melo. Photo: Marcos Oliveira/Agência Senado
On Thursday, 9 May, civil society achieved an important victory in congress. The Mixed Committee that is assessing Provisional Measure 870, in order to reorganise federal government, decided to take away from the Secretary of Government the power to monitor the activities of non-governmental organisations.
Following intense pressure from representatives from a number of organisations, who were in fact prevented from participating in the voting session held yesterday (8 May), the point at issue was heeded by the rapporteur Fernando Bezerra Coelho (MDB-PE) in today’s hearing, without the need to put it to the vote.
The change was made to article 5°, paragraph II, of the Provisional Measure, and it now confers the Secretary of Government the power to “coordinate dialogue between federal government and international organisations and civil society organisations, working in Brazil, to monitor their actions and the results of partnership policies between federal government and these organisations and to promote best practices for carrying out appropriate legislation.”
Before this change, the text referred to “supervising, coordinating, monitoring and accompanying the activities and actions of international bodies and non-governmental organisations within national territory.”
“This is a great victory for civil society. As it stood, the measure was flagrantly unconstitutional, as it directly infringed the autonomy of organisations that have contributed enormously to society as a whole.” Said Camila Asano, Conectas Programme Coordinator.
Funai
The government suffered another significant defeat on Thursday, regarding the demarcation process for indigenous land. This had been handed over to Incra, in the Ministry of Agriculture. The committee decided to return this responsibility to Funai (National Foundation for Indigenous People), at the Justice Ministry. They voted 15 votes to 9.
