Event Summary
On 1 April 2026, the deadline for the mandatory registration of non-profit organizations (NPOs) in the Integrated System for the Administration of Administrative Records (SIARA), administered by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 7363, called the “Garrote Law”, closed. This new legal instrument provides for sanctions for directors, administrators and representatives of those organizations that fail to comply with said registry. On this occasion, the high authorities of the Catholic Church expressed deep concern about the implications of this law, given its lack of adaptation to the capacity and reality of the various organizations, the onerous cost for its compliance, the duplication of controls already established in other regulations and the lack of dialogue with the actors directly affected at the time of its formulation and approval.
The letter from the Paraguayan Episcopal Conference (CEP) also expresses concern about provisions of this law that contravene fundamental rights such as privacy and freedom of association, as was already raised in the action of unconstitutionality presented by various civil society entities. Consequently, in accordance with constitutionally enshrined rights of petition and association, among others, a 12-month extension of the registration period has been requested, and that the evaluation and adjustment of said law be promoted before Congress with attention, among other measures, to the development of a process of broad and genuine consultation with the affected sector, before its full entry into force. At the end of March, the professional sector of Accounting Sciences and university graduates had also made a statement, asking the MEF to evaluate and adjust deadlines and technical implementation mechanisms. The implementation of the new regulatory framework that affects civil society is already showing its first adverse effects on the exercise of rights, particularly freedom of association, opening doors to restrictions that will hinder the contributions and performance of various organizations.