{"id":94554,"date":"2024-07-09T12:53:58","date_gmt":"2024-07-09T09:53:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/94554\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"belarus-nonprofits-kept-struggling-against-deteriorating-conditions-in-2023-research","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/94554\/","title":{"rendered":"Belarus&#8217; nonprofits kept struggling against deteriorating conditions in 2023 \u2013 research"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>July 9, <em>Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Conditions for nonprofits deteriorated in Belarus last year, found the 2023 Civil Society Organization Sustainability Index (CSOSI) compiled by Lithuania-based CSO Fusion and FHI 360 from the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) methodology, the index assesses seven parameters on a seven-point scale, with 1.0 being the highest score. Until 2022, the index was compiled for more than 70 countries; in 2022, for nine countries and in 2023, only for Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Belarusian civil society organizations (CSOs) have always been characterized by weak sustainability, Mariya Lando, head of CSO Fusion, said at a presentation in Vilnius yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Belarusian CSOs scored 6.0 CSOSI points in 2023, a record low, the same as in 2022, 2007 and 2008. The best indicator for Belarus, 5.3 points, was recorded in 2002, she noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Experts noted an adverse legal environment, assigning it the lowest possible score of 7.0 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Last year, authorities in Minsk continued a crackdown on civil society, ratcheting up pressure on family members of people involved in nonprofit activities, Lando said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More than 100 CSO members are held behind bars and many are serving lengthy prison terms, while the government continues to shut down CSOs with 23 forced closures and 133 CSOs closed down by founders under pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The number of criminal cases on extremism- or terrorism-related charges increased with more CSOs branded as extremist groups, the index noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the same time, authorities sponsored government-organized non-governmental organizations (GONGOs) to imitate civil society activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The law regulating civil society gives preferential treatment to the five largest ones, such as Bie\u0142aja Ru\u015b, the Belarusian National Youth Union, the Belarusian Union of Women, the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus and the Association of Veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These organizations are working to take over assistance to vulnerable groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The classic advocacy process, when CSOs try to influence decision-making is almost impossible in Belarus, Lando stressed, commenting on the 6.2 advocacy score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People involved in CSO activities often complain of mental health issues affecting their motivation and performance, forcing them to choose other career paths and resulting in a lack of skilled staff, especially in management, the researchers said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The few remaining CSOs that continue to operate in Belarus had to step up collaboration with authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They still have some limited opportunities to address local issues, but prefer to keep low profile and are cautious regarding partnerships even with their long-standing partners, Lando noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also read: <a href=\"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/91028\/\">Authorities move to close more non-profits<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>July 9, Pozirk. Conditions for nonprofits deteriorated in Belarus last year, found the 2023 Civil Society Organization Sustainability Index (CSOSI) compiled by Lithuania-based CSO Fusion and FHI 360 from the United States. Based on a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) methodology, the index assesses seven parameters on a seven-point scale, with 1.0 being [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":83,"featured_media":0,"template":"","rubric":[13],"class_list":["post-94554","articles","type-articles","status-publish","hentry","rubric-society"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Belarus&#039; nonprofits kept struggling against deteriorating conditions in 2023 \u2013 research | Pozirk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"July 9, Pozirk. 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