VI. Federations and Cooperation 50. Associations shall be free to create national federations with legal status through procedures substantively equivalent to those through which associations are created. Associations shall also be free to create informal (de facto) national federations. 51. Associations and national federations shall be able to join international federations, and international federations shall be able to obtain legal status in particular countries through procedures substantively equivalent to those through which international associations may obtain such status. 52. The decision to form or not to form federations shall be made freely by civil society actors. The state shall not stipulate by law the existence of particular or exclusive regional or national federations of associations.39 53. The law shall not stipulate mandatory state membership of particular federations.40 54. States and officials shall refrain from interfering in domestic and international civil society space through the creation, operation or provision of covert support for non-independent civil society organizations. 39 See Civil Liberties Organisation (in respect of the Nigerian Bar Association) v. Nigeria, Comm. No. 101/93 (1995), paras. 14-6. 40 See Civil Liberties Organisation (in respect of the Nigerian Bar Association) v. Nigeria, Comm. No. 101/93 (1995), paras. 14-6.