Les conséquences de la guerre contre le terrorisme sur le monde des ONG

National and international NGOs working in peace, humanitarian or development matters in conflict contexts face numerous challenges, especially with regard to their position vis à vis governments. This tension was exacerbated by the war on terror as witnessed by civil society organization leaders from different African, Latin American and Asian countries during a series of workshops. The impact of counter terrorism measures on international and local NGOs vary from the politicization-securitization of development funding, to the stigmatization of organizations considered as suspicious, the strengthening of control, the arbitrary placement on so-called terrorist lists, to the use of physical as well as psychological violence against representatives of civil society organizations. The war on terror is often misused by repressive regimes to legitimize the clamping down of civil society organizations. The war on terror pursued by the United States administration under the presidency of George W. Bush fueled national security agendas and legitimized measures restricting the autonomy of NGOs. The fundamental question is whether these counter terrorism measures are compatible with the freedom of association, a cornerstone of democratic life.