GERMANY: New report on legal uncertainty around charity law and access to funding for CSOs

Contribution by Alliance “Legal Certainty for political advocacy” on 28 March 2022

In response to the Call for Inputs from the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association for his report to be presented at the 50th session of the Human Rights Council the Alliance “Legal Certainty for political advocacy” sent a contribution to paint a comprehensive picture of the situation in Germany at the moment.

The contribution provides an overview on state practice with its key trends, challenges and developments. The main issue highlighted concerns the legal uncertainty around the charity law in Germany. This law provides access to charitable status which is crucial in the funding of civil society organisations. Notably, the most pressing issues are the following:

  • Important public benefit purposes are missing ;
  • Clarification that influencing the policy formation does not entail a risk for the public benefit status ;
  • Democratic clause

Read the contribution below for more detailed information