Sir, – Justine McCarthy’s article “Politicians demonising NGOs is fodder for extremists” (Opinion & Analysis, April 5th) provided an excellent and timely reminder of the pivotal role played by civil society in shaping, promoting, and safeguarding democratic values in inclusive ways. It also powerfully emphasised the dangers of allowing misinformation and rhetorical point-scoring to turn social justice organisations and the sector as a whole into a new political football.
Protecting spaces where citizens come together voluntarily to express their interests and engage in collective action for the betterment of society is an essential public good. From small community groups to national and international organisations, civil society encompasses a diverse range of entities that contribute significantly to the socio-political landscape.
Civil-society organisations act as committed advocates and “honest brokers” for the most marginalised in society, through advocacy campaigns, public awareness-raising, and policy analyses. They work to ensure that the voices of all citizens, but particularly those who are furthest behind, are heard at the highest levels of the decision-making processes.
In 2022, the Department of Rural and Community Development launched the values and principles for collaboration and partnership working with community and voluntary sector, which copper-fastened the relationship and partnership between Government and the community and voluntary sector.
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The values and principles are used by central and local government, as well as State bodies, as a basis for their interactions with the community and voluntary sector in pursuit of the best outcomes for all communities and provide a basis for respectful, inclusive engagement to reach our common goals. As the past several years have proved, in times of crisis, civil society organisations show up and consistently demonstrate their resilience and capacity to respond swiftly to emergencies. These recent attempts to undermine our civil society – particularly participation by organisations in legitimate advocacy processes – must be strenuously opposed. The role that civil society plays both as partner to Government in the delivery of essential health, social, and community services, and as advocate on behalf of the most marginalised in society, must be protected. Nurturing our civil society remains essential to the ongoing projects of building a more just, equitable, and sustainable world for all. – Yours, etc,
COLETTE BENNETT,
Director of Advocacy and Research,
The Wheel,
(National Association of Community and Voluntary Organisations, Charities and Social Enterprises),
Dublin 2.
Sir, – Can someone remind me what the “N” in NGO stands for? The phrase “Government-funded NGO” is an oxymoron. – Yours, etc,
MATTHEW GLOVER,
Lucan,
Co Dublin.