The 8^th CIVICUS World Assembly in Glasgow was, in my view, momentous in more ways than one. Marking the 60^th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the World Assembly provided a grim reminder of the growing threats to civil society globally, whilst simultaneously highlighting the opportunity to build partnerships and alliances of unprecedented width and depth.  

The moving presence of our liberated Ethiopian comrades, Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie, reunited with their partners Jemi and Pepa, demonstrated our collective success in combating one instance of the threats we are facing. Our celebration of that victory was muted by the reminders, at every session, of colleagues across the world who continue to suffer incarceration, repression and worse for their courageous stands against authoritarian and anti-democratic regimes. The new CIVICUS Crisis Response Fund will enable us to enhance our interventions in present and future threats of these kinds.  

The UK legislation extending detention to 42 days and the deepening crisis in Zimbabwe cast long shadows over every discussion and debate. And yet, from chance encounters over coffee, to formal partnership negotiations, from intense engagement at plenaries to the rousing chants as we marched through the streets of Glasgow – we were constantly reminded of the progress civil society around the world has made in asserting its rights to a place at the tables where decisions affecting billions are made.  

The trifecta of current crises – food, energy and climate change - overlaid on the lack of progress of international negotiations on aid, trade and debt, combined with the fall-out of the so-called war on terror, present both, our gravest challenge as a sector, and our greatest opportunity to achieve solidarity across the divides of nationality, gender, class, caste, ethnicity, political allegiances, religion, physical and mental abilities, race, sector and age.  

Nowhere was this better demonstrated than in the energy of our Youth delegates as they challenged us to redefine our paradigms of power and participation. Their ability to transcend differences and challenge conventional wisdom in their engagement with each other and with their older counterparts was, for me, the greatest source of optimism in the bleak context we currently face.  

The reminder from The Elders - represented by Ela Bhatt, Jimmy Carter, Graca Machel, Mary Robinson and Archbishop Tutu - of the significance and relevance of civil society in our present context and of the sombre fact that we could not hope to get agreement today of a compact like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was both heartening and sobering.

For me personally, the Assembly was an unique opportunity to meet CIVICUS stakeholders from around the world early in my tenure and to develop an understanding of this remarkable institution, its evolution, and its potential to effect real change. The warmth, candour, and generosity of the welcome I’ve received from members, partners, board, staff and well-wishers have been truly overwhelming. I’d like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all of you, but most especially to Kumi Naidoo . His indefatigable efforts over the past decade, together with the remarkable teams at CIVICUS, and your unstinting engagement and support, have built a sustainable foundation that permits us the freedom to envision a world in which the rights and responsibilities of civil society to exist, express and engage meaningfully are not just dreams.

Achieving the next phase of CIVICUS’ evolution will not be possible without your active engagement and continued solidarity. The Assembly gave me the chance to hear from some of you what your expectations of CIVICUS are. As I work with Board and staff over the next few weeks to flesh out the new Strategic Directions we adopted at the Assembly, I hope many more of you will send me your views and suggestions on what you believe CIVICUS ought to focus on, how we might enhance our engagement with you and better achieve our collective goals. Do write to me with your comments, criticisms and inputs at ingrid.srinath@civicus.org with a copy to editor@civicus.org.

With gratitude, faith and solidarity,

Ingrid Srinath,

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For previous articles from the Secretary General, see details below: 

1. CIVICUS new Secretary General appointed. 

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