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News/Event Item
Global Health Council Opposes Implementation of the Proposed Partner Vetting System
August 30, 2007
The Global Health Council attended a meeting between officials of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and development, health and humanitarian organizations on Aug. 28 where USAID announced that the proposed sweeping new system of records - the Partner Vetting System (PVS) - is operational but has not been implemented. USAID announced that implementation of PVS, also being referred to within USAID as the “Anti-terror Vetting System,” has been postponed pending further comment from affected organizations and review by USAID. The agency may initially restrict implementation of PVS to a pilot program affecting only organizations receiving USAID funds for programs in the West Bank and Gaza.
Widespread concern about PVS has been voiced by many of the nongovernmental organizations working with USAID. The Council opposes implementation of PVS as it is currently described and is encouraging its members to voice their opinions on PVS to USAID and their members of congress before the extended comment period expires on Sept. 21, 2007.
The purpose of PVS is to vet individuals, officers or other officials of nongovernmental organizations who apply for USAID contracts, grants and cooperative agreements, or who apply for registration with USAID as Private and Voluntary Organizations (PVOs), in order to ensure that USAID funds and USAID-funded activities are not inadvertently or otherwise providing support to entities or individuals associated with terrorism.
The Global Health Council opposes implementation of the proposed PVS for several reasons, including the lack of any demonstrated need or authorizing legislation from Congress for this purpose, a potential threat to privacy and due process for those required to comply with the system as described, and the high administrative burden of compliance.
Letter from Nils Daulaire, Global Health Council President to USAID | view letter
For more information, see the Federal Registry announcement http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/07-3330.htm
To see InterAction’s statement on PVS, go to http://www.interaction.org/media/PVS.html
View Council Statement on PVS.
Related article:
Plan for Terror Screening of Aid Groups Cut Drastically
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/29/AR2007082901913.html
Related article:
Foreign Aid Groups Face Terror Screens
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/22/AR2007082202847.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=new
category: News from Other Sources : Announcements
contributed by Liza Nanni on 22 August 2007
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