Event Summary
On 25 September 2025, eight prominent human rights organizations — including Human Rights Watch, EuroMed Rights, OMCT, CIHRS, and the Foundation for the Promotion of Rights in Algeria (FPRA) — issued a joint press release urging Algerian authorities to lift unjustified restrictions on civil society and to thoroughly revise the draft law intended to replace Law 12-06 on Associations. The draft bill, currently under review, proposes a burdensome registration regime (including requirements for bailiff certification and high thresholds for founding members), expands the discretionary powers of the Ministry of the Interior (including unrestricted inspections, control over funding, and administrative suspensions), and introduces vague clauses such as “national values” and “national unity” — terms that could be arbitrarily used to suppress civil society activities. Civil society actors argue that the draft law contradicts Article 53 of Algeria’s Constitution, which guarantees a declarative regime for associations, and violates international and regional standards, including Article 22 of the ICCPR, Article 10 of the African Charter, and the ACHPR Guidelines on Freedom of Association. This legislative development follows other restrictive measures in 2025, including revisions to the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Law on General Mobilisation, all occurring in a broader context of shrinking civic space. The signatory organizations have called for the draft law to be withdrawn or substantially revised, and for genuine consultation with civil society stakeholders. These developments signal a looming deterioration of the enabling environment for civil society in Algeria, particularly affecting freedom of association, expression, and registration, and risk further isolating civil society from democratic processes.