Charity law takes root in right earnest

The newly passed Charity Law balances the interests of charity organizations, donors, volunteers, beneficiaries and trustees, and is expected to protect legal rights of those taking part in charity work and promote social development.

First, by granting more charity organizations the right to collect donations from the public, it breaks the monopoly of a few organizations and promotes the cause of charity. Article 22 of the Charity Law says charities registered for more than two years can apply to get permission to directly collect donations from the public, but bars unauthorized organizations or individuals from doing so. To collect donations from the public during emergencies, unqualified organizations and individuals have to cooperate with the authorized charities, or else they will be punished according to the law.

Another highlight of the law is that it forbids the use of administrative power to demand compulsory donation, which is aimed at eliminating administrative intervention in charity work.