SAMAR FATANY Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel was an eloquent participant in the Clinton Global Initiative panel discussion moderated by Piers Morgan recently in New York. She spoke about Saudi reforms and the work of Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation as an NGO organization to influence change and facilitate reform. The Princess stressed the importance of building civil society and local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) as the two main factors that can contribute to the development of Saudi Arabia. I could not agree more with Princess Ameerah that a strong and “vibrant" civil society strengthens responsible citizenship and supports government work. NGOs today address issues in support of the public good; they perform a variety of services and humanitarian functions in order to bring public concerns to governments, monitor policy and program implementation, and encourage the participation of civil society stakeholders at the community level. NGOs deliver services such as loans, job training, educational assistance and community development to the public to support government services. Global communications have greatly influenced civil society in the Arab and Muslim world. They have inspired the average citizen to know or care enough to participate in political life. More and more citizens are becoming better informed and are shaping public choices. In the Arab world, civil society organizations, particularly nongovernmental organizations, have multiplied in the past decade. In Egypt alone there are roughly 14,000 registered NGOs, which has contributed to the empowerment of its citizens. Civil society organizations provide forums for citizens to pursue shared political and social interests, collectively and peacefully. Egyptian activists used civil society organizations to mobilize millions of citizens against the repressive regime to introduce a democratic alternative to the status quo. International human rights organizations and pro-democracy movements encouraged the formation of Arab human rights and democracy organizations, and foreign aid and support for NGOs has encouraged the growth of civil society groups. In Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries, however, many civil society organizations and associations, support the status quo, and advocate conservative reforms, or are simply apolitical. In the past few years many NGOs have been set up under government directives. Nonprofit organizations, religious organizations, business associations, societies, charity organizations, and research institutions are some of the civil society organizations that are striving to empower Gulf citizens. However, civil society can be hindered by legal structures that do not allow the formation of civil institutions and nongovernmental organizations. Currently the law requires all welfare societies to register under the central authority umbrella and procedures are imposed on the activities of civil society groups eager to address issues of social concern such as labor rights or gender equality. They are closely monitored and regulated to prevent financial and administrative abuse, yet the bureaucratic procedures and the legal and regulatory framework that governs their establishment, are sometimes detrimental to their efforts to contribute in public life. Moreover among the reasons for the inability of Saudi NGOs to have a sustainable impact has been their failure to connect with the larger sociopolitical systems and the surrounding institutional structures. In the past, civil society activities were confined in diwaniyyas, which are regular private gatherings of relatives, friends, and colleagues that serve as forums for conducting business and discussing social concerns. However, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries are finally witnessing a new era, and a vibrant civil society is emerging. Young people and social media are supporting the NGO movement by putting pressure on governments to be accountable, to implement the rule of law, and to apply international standards of good government. The rule of law helps build a healthy civil society that recognizes civil and political rights, which include freedom of expression and participation in public affairs. Civil society acts as a watchdog to safeguard the interests of the public and the government. Today Gulf citizens, whether they are rich or poor, are well aware of their right to hold their government accountable. What they need is the capacity to do so. Developing countries in the Gulf need the expertise of more advanced countries to formulate the legal and regulatory framework that can facilitate civic participation in public affairs. Building the capacity of civil society groups is essential for the sustainability of future investments. Good governance depends on the existence of both a strong state and a healthy and active civil society. In order to build a more vibrant civil society in the Gulf, we need to train and support citizens to learn how to identify their problems and develop a mechanism to serve their community. As Princess Ameerah said in New York, civil society movements represent citizens' interests and together with local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) they can make a major contribution to shaping government policy and social attitudes and play an important role in the overall development of the country. — Samar Fatany is a radio broadcaster and writer. She can be reached at [email protected]
