The civil rights organisation AfriForum used its status as special advisory member of the UN’s Economic and Social Council to request the UN to offer more support to community organisations worldwide as part of the UN’s attempts to help economies recover after the damages inflicted by COVID-19 lockdowns.
AfriForum is of the opinion that community organisations play a key role in many communities. These organisations also have direct experience with the challenges that are facing their specific communities, and because of their direct involvement, they are accountable to their communities.
AfriForum’s proposals on how more support can be given to community organisation include tax exemption for citizens who rely on community organisations to render services that governments are supposed to render, but do not. The organisation also proposes that regulations should be relaxed to make it easier for communities to establish their own organisations. AfriForum also believes that the maintenance of mutual respect between different communities creates the space to preserve diverse cultures.
“The world sustained enormous damages as a result of lockdowns and creative ideas are necessary to tackle these challenges. Every community is unique and has unique requirements. Communities are therefore best placed to find ways of solving their problems. Governments must support these communities rather than trying to force down one broad solution onto different communities,” argues Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s Manager for Campaigns.