Between 2009-2010, CIVICUS tracked threats to civil society in over 90 countries [Link] highlighting an in- creasing trend in threats to civil society. These threats include restrictive legislation, detention of civil society activists, harassment and, in some cases, even assassination. These threats reduce the space for civil society to assemble, associate and express, thereby decreasing its ability to affect real change towards a more just world. Throughout 2010, combatting these restrictions to civil society space remained high on the CIVICUS agenda. Activities under this theme were undertaken primarily under the auspices of the Civil Society Watch (CSW) project [Link] as well as through the Every Human Has Rights campaign, the Eurasia IDEA network and other CIVICUS projects. Key achievements In 2010 CSW continued to monitor threats to civil society and take action to address them. Key achievements include: •  Through the Early Warning System, 12 CIVICUS partners identified, monitored and regularly reported on     threats to civil society in their country which were then highlighted through a variety of awareness raising     activities. •  CSW developed an online platform [Link] to assist in monitoring threats to civil society and to promote     information sharing and collaboration in taking action on threats. An initial version was piloted in 2010,     to be formally launched early in 2011. •  In collaboration with partners, CIVICUS published press releases [Link], made submissions [Link] and     undertook other advocacy activities in response to threats to civil society. •  CSW engaged with governments, the United Nations and other international and regional human rights     bodies to highlight threats to civil society. Countries targeted included Venezuela, Uzbekistan [Link],     Kazakhstan [Link], Philippines [Link], Israel [Link] and Turkmenistan [Link]. •  The Civil Society Behind Bars [Link] campaign was revived to highlight the incarceration of civil society     activists around the world. Activists from the Philippines, Japan, Uzbekistan and Israel were featured     in 2010. In 2010, with a focus on the link between human rights and poverty, the Every Human Has Rights campaign worked to raise awareness of human rights issues around the world. Key achievements throughout the year include: •  The launch of an updated website [Link] which regularly features campaigns from Northern and Southern-     based civil society on human rights issues. •  Regularly engaging a constituency of over 7,000 through e-Communications to increase awareness of     human rights issues. •  The Barefoot Against Poverty campaign [Link] to raise awareness on poverty and human rights for     International Human Rights Day on 10 December. The campaign engaged thousands of people from South     Africa, to Venezuela, India and around the world. In 2010, the Eurasia IDEA network was active in convening civil society in the Eurasia region to strengthen collaboration to protect civil society space. Key achievements include a mission to Kyrgyzstan following the revolution in that country, advocacy activities at the UN and a parallel civil society conference [Link] just before the OSCE summit in Kazakhstan. CIVICUS, its UN Representative in Geneva and many of its partners undertook extensive lobbying in 2010 for the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Assembly and Association at the UN Human Rights Council. It was with great excitement that we were able to report the creation of this position in November 2010 [Link]. Looking Forward In 2011, threats to civil society space remain of grave concern. Through its projects and its core work CIVICUS is continuing to monitor these trends and advocate for action at the national, regional and global levels. Specific activities include engaging with the new Special Rapporteur on Freedoms of Assembly and Association, enhancement and promotion of the CSW Online Platform [Link] and strengthening of the Eurasia IDEA Network. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The [MENA] region has many challenges for CIVICUS. Civil society in the region is dogged by the struggle of the right to exist - main objective - this creates limitations: passive participation - security and repression - violations of national security - limitations - all challenges that CIVICUS faces." - CIVICUS Stakeholders --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Civil Society Watch Civil Society Watch (CSW) [Link] aims to protect the existing space for civil society and citizen participation in countries around the world by mobilising timely and effective responses to situations where civil society's rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association are threatened.  The project's activities, generally undertaken in collaboration with partners, include: monitoring and disseminating threats against civil society, targeted advocacy on policy and in response to threats and network strengthening to expand and defend the space for civil society worldwide. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "CSW is a kind of solidarity tool to express local and regional support." - CIVICUS stakeholder --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Every Human Has Rights The Every Human Has Rights campaign started in 2008 by The Elders to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The campaign was principally an awareness-raising and education campaign, catalysed and run by a small campaign team with a unique and committed partner coalition. In early 2009, CIVICUS committed to coordinating Every Human Has Rights for 2009-2011 and help it to transition into a longer term rights education programme, enabling the work inspired by The Elders to continue. For more information, visit www.everyhumanhasrights.org. About the Eurasia IDEA Network          The Eurasia International Digital Exchange and Advocacy (IDEA) network [Link] is a voluntary association of international and national NGOs and other civic groups from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan. It aims to promote a safer environment for local civil society and to widen the channels of communication between local activists in the Eurasia region and the global community.

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