The Independent Commission for Human Rights - ICHR 93 2.1.6.3 Number and geographical distribution of complaints The table below monitors the number of complaints filed to the ICHR in 2018-2021, distributed by geographical area, as well as patterns of violations and offending agencies. Table 2: Complaints filed to the ICHR by geographical area: 2018-2021 Year 2018 Number of complaints West Bank Gaza Strip 1 0 0 5 2019 0 2020 0 2021 Pattern of violation Offending agency Rejected CSO registration (security clearance condition) MoI – Ramallah 4 Rejected CSO registration or registration renewal (security clearance condition) MoI – Ramallah 1 Dissolve CSO without due process of law MoI – Gaza 2 Rejected CSO registration or registration renewal (security clearance condition) MoI – Ramallah 1 Dissolve CSO without due process of law MoI – Gaza 3 12 1 Rejected approval of CSO board MoI – Ramallah 7 Restricted exercise of CSO activities and achievement of relevant goals MoI – Gaza The table above shows that violations of the right to freedom of association continued at the same pace and pursued existing patterns of abuses over the past four years. This is evidence that the MoI in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip failed to take measures, which would have changed applicable policies and actions, empowered CSOs to carry out their activities, or reduce stereotypical impingements on CSOs. This is mainly triggered by the internal Palestinian political divide. Resulting in the suspension or failure to register or renew the registration of CSOs, the prerequisite of security clearance is the most salient pattern of violations committed by the MoI in the West Bank. By contrast, the most apparent pattern of the Gaza-based breach is the restriction of CSO activities and exclusion of certain citizens from exercising their activities at CSOs. Worth of note, the foregoing violations monitored in complaints do not reflect the number of actual abuses. According to ICHR monitoring of impingements, many CSOs signalled their unwillingness to monitor respective violations and file complaints. The ICHR is of the view that this reluctance is attributed to fear of government bodies’ reactions if a complaint is lodged. Also, the recurrence of patterns over the reporting period indicates that violations of the right to freedom of association embodies systematic policies embraced by duty bearers. These are not individual encroachments, generating from a flaw in the role played by duty bearers. Twenty Seventh Annual Report 2021