• Urgent Action

Urgent Action: VETO ANTI CIVIL SOCIETY BILL (Paraguay Second UA 69.24)

October 15, 2024

On October 9, 2024, the Congress approved the so-called #LeyGarrote that endangers the work for human rights in Paraguay. The bill includes overly broad and ambiguous wordings that increases the control over the work of civil society organizations and results in arbitrary restrictions. We call the President of Paraguay to immediately veto this bill in order to uphold and protect the rights to freedom of association and to defend human rights. 

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: October 21, 2024

take action:

  • Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
  • Click here to let us know the actions you took on Second Urgent Action 21.24. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help.

contact information:

Mr Santiago Peña, 

President of Paraguay

Email: [email protected]

CC: Paraguayan Embassy in the United States

Ambassador José Antonio Dos Santos

2209 Massachusetts Ave. N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20008

Email: [email protected]

sample letter:

Dear president,

I am deeply concerned by the recently approved bill “that establishes control, transparency and accountability of nonprofit organizations”. After all the progress on human rights, the work of defenders and social movements, it is alarming that your government might be associated with such a grave step back. 

Under the international human rights treaties to which Paraguay is a state party, you have the legal obligation to uphold and ensure respect to the right to freedom of association, which is also part of the Paraguayan Constitution.

This bill contains ambiguous provisions that could lead to arbitrary restrictions to civil society work, while the unjustified increase on control over their operation and imposition of sanctions without due process of law, are completely contrary to the obligation to respect the right to defend rights.

I call on you to immediately veto this bill and promote an enabling environment for all Paraguayans to fulfil their human rights. 

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: