Mirali Huseynov: “It may be appropriate to separate some non-commercial organizations from the NGO category”
In some countries, approaches are applied to exclude charitable organizations and other specific non-commercial legal entities from the NGO category. This was stated by Mirali Huseynov, Chairman of the Democracy Learning Public Union, in a statement to QHT.az.
According to him, there is no unified concept regarding the scope and classification of non-commercial legal entities that fall under the NGO category. Since their organizational forms, functions, and other characteristics are often similar, it is sometimes difficult to clearly determine the boundaries between these entities.
Huseynov noted that, for example, the globally known organization Save the Children is registered as a charitable organization but also operates as an NGO. Such cases are frequently encountered in international practice, and which non-commercial organizations are considered NGOs may vary depending on the approach adopted by different countries.
In his view, in many countries there is a practice of regulating charitable organizations, professional associations, and other non-commercial entities through separate laws, alongside NGO legislation. In Kazakhstan, due to the overly broad and fragmented definition of NGOs, the new law currently being drafted proposes excluding some non-commercial organizations from this category.
Huseynov also noted that the situation in Azerbaijan is somewhat similar to that of Kazakhstan. According to the legislation, the concept of NGOs mainly covers public unions and foundations, but in practice professional associations, sports societies, and charitable organizations are also established and registered in the same organizational-legal forms.
According to him, although no serious problems have been observed in the implementation of the NGO law that has been in force since 2000, the issue could still be reconsidered for more effective regulation. In particular, separating professional associations and charitable organizations from the NGO category and regulating their activities through separate legislation may be more appropriate.
Zehra Aghayeva
