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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 24180, member: 2262"] Civil Society Groups Launch Compliance Study for Gambia, Sierra Leone. A new report on rules for civil society groups in The Gambia and Sierra Leone launched Wednesday at Baobab Holiday Resort. Spaces for Change partnered with the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) for this project. Key leaders met for two days to review how these rules affect West African organizations. The meetings included civil society members, regulators, and experts. African Commission representative Dr. Litha Musyimi-Ogana praised the timing of this study. She noted civil society groups lead efforts to cut poverty, protect rights, and boost democracy. "These groups face many deep challenges. Complex laws and rules create problems, especially for small organizations with limited resources," Dr. Musyimi-Ogana said. She warned about the risks of breaking these rules. Groups could face fines, legal action, or damage to their reputation. Some have shut down, leaving gaps in important services. The Commission plans new projects to help these organizations. These include checking if local laws match African guidelines on freedom of assembly. They will also create rules to protect human rights workers. ACDHRS director Hannah Forster said the training taught participants about legal requirements and safety measures. It focused on avoiding risks from money laundering and terrorism funding. "Civil society drives democracy, human rights, and growth in West Africa," Forster said. She urged groups to work together on meeting these standards. The training aimed to help organizations run better and follow the rules. ACDHRS pledged to support civil society groups and create safe conditions for their work. [/QUOTE]

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