Protests banned on grounds of protecting ‘public order’ and ‘security’

• Authorities have resorted to excessive force in multiple countries, including the use of pepper spray, kettling and the deployment of police dogs
• Palestinian flags and scarves also widely banned
• European and international NGOs urge the Commission to act on restrictions

The European Civic Forum, Civil Liberties Union for Europe, CIVICUS, European Network Against Racism and Solidar are calling on the European Commission to address at the highest political level the unlawful restrictions on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression imposed by member states since the dramatic escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine last year.

A new analysis, published by the European Civic Forum, shows that European governments have repeatedly cracked down on individuals and organisations expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people in marches, demonstrations and cultural activities.

Six months on from 7 October, people in Europe have continued to take to the streets to peacefully protest against the violence, to show solidarity with the victims and to call for the respect of human rights and international law.

These protests are unfolding amid an increase in hate speech and hate crimes targeting both Jewish and Muslim communities in Europe. Palestinians, people of Arab descent, and Muslim people (and those perceived as such) have been disproportionately affected by these restrictions, with racial profiling sometimes being used as justification. With tensions and polarisation in society rising, it is all the more important that authorities act responsibly and ensure that everyone’s rights are respected and that people are allowed to protest freely and peacefully.

An alarming pattern of restrictions

In at least 12 EU member states, authorities have taken disproportionate measures, including the pre-emptive banning of protests based on apparent risk to “public order” and “security”.  Such cases have been documented in Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Poland and Sweden. In several member states, the courts have overturned protest bans.

The crackdown has also included the use of excessive force in at least seven member states, including pepper spray, deployment of police dogs, physical aggression, and kettling tactics, perpetuating a climate of fear and intimidation and violating international human rights standards.

Case studies from Italy and Germany reveal some of the disproportionate measures taken by authorities to quell protests supporting Palestine. In Milan, Italian police used batons to disperse pro-Palestine demonstrators who gathered despite an official ban on protests on International Holocaust Remembrance Day on 27 January. Other incidents of excessive force have been recorded in Austria, Belgium, France, Greece and the Netherlands.

Restrictions on freedom of expression have also been imposed, targeting symbols associated with Palestine. The Palestinian flag and wearing the Keffiyeh, along with other symbols indicating support for Palestine, have reportedly been banned in countries such as Germany, Italy, and Spain, further limiting the ability of individuals to express solidarity.

Several member states, including Austria, Germany and France have conflated legitimate criticism of Israeli authorities with antisemitism and silenced the voice of Palestinian and Jewish activists, for example by cancelling events. In Germany alone, 139 cases of cultural repressions (October 7th- January 31st) were documented, including instances where access to venues was withdrawn or events were cancelled, smear campaigns, and threats of defunding were made for expressing views on Palestine.

Restrictions have been documented in the UK,[1] where the government has repeatedly smeared protesters and put pressure on the police to further restrict protests. Recently, the home secretary James Cleverly  proposed to further limit protest rights by increasing the minimum notice period of six days to support police with large-scale protests. Last year, then-home secretary Suella Braverman wrote to police chiefs, encouraging them to “consider” whether using the chant “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” could be considered a racially aggravated offence. In addition, she labelled the demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinians as “hate marches”. More recently, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, delivered an address in which he appeared to echo Braverman’s sentiments, later summoning police chiefs to Downing Street to criticise their handling of protests.

“In the context of the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the plausibility of genocide and the new tragic developments on the ground in Gaza and across Israel/Palestine, people continue to protest and to urgently call for accountability and justice.

“However, our monitoring shows that rather than listening to the people, European governments are repeatedly opting to limit civic space and to silence individuals and organisations expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people,” said Aarti Narsee, Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer at the European Civic Forum.

In light of our monitoring, we strongly urge European governments to adhere to their international legal obligations and safeguard the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. It is imperative that authorities refrain from resorting to excessive force and instead prioritise the preservation of democratic principles and space.

We call on the European Commission to address these restrictions on peaceful assembly and expression in the Annual Rule of Law Cycle and make recommendations to member states to respect the right to peaceful assembly at all times, as per international law.

You can read the full analysis here.[2]

[1] These examples do not appear in the full analysis, which focuses on EU member states.

[2] This analysis forms part of the European Civic Forum’s submission to the European Commission’s Rule of Law consultation.

Signatories:
CIVICUS
Civil Liberties Union for Europe
European Civic Forum
European Network Against Racism
Solidar

Arabic

In November 2023, Majority World actors and community-based organisations published a letter to international partners outlining five principles to make convenings on locally-led development more inclusive. The letter calls for organisers and sponsors of convenings on locally-led development to:

CIVICUS, a global alliance of civil society organisations and the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) are concerned about the failure of the Bangladesh government in accepting key recommendations related to civic space as part of its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the UN Human Rights Council. This decision highlights the government’s lack of commitment to adhere to its international human rights obligations and its unwillingness to undertake the necessary reforms to improve fundamental freedoms in the country.

(20 March 2024) We, the undersigned civil society organisations, call for the immediate and unconditional release of Kashmiri journalist and human rights defender Irfan Mehraj. While on a professional assignment on 20 March 2023, Mehraj was summoned for questioning and arbitrarily detained by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Srinagar under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Mehraj is a well-regarded Srinagar-based independent journalist. He is the founding editor of Wande Magazine and a senior editor at TwoCircles.net.  He was a frequent contributor to leading news publications in Kashmir, India and internationally (including Deutsche Welle and TRT World).  Mehraj also previously worked as a researcher at the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), an internationally recognized leading civil society organisation in Indian-administered Kashmir that has done ground-breaking and extensive human rights documentation work in the region.

Mehraj is facing multiple politically motivated charges including ‘sedition’ and ‘funding terror activities’ along with internationally renowned human rights defender Khurram Parvez,[1] the Program Coordinator for JKCCS.  Parvez has been arbitrarily detained for over two and a half years. The NIA targeted Mehraj for being ‘a close associate of Khurram Parvez.’ Both Mehraj and Parvez are presently in pre-trial detention in the maximum-security Rohini prison in New Delhi, India.

In June 2023, United Nations experts expressed serious concerns regarding the charges against and arrest of Mehraj and Parvez, stating that their continued detention is ‘designed to delegitimize their human rights work and obstruct monitoring of the human rights situation in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.’ On 7 March 2024, UN experts sounded the alarm on the “harassment and prolonged detention of human rights defenders and journalists” in the country. The cases against Mehraj and Parvez seek to criminalize human rights work in Indian-administered Kashmir and the support for any such work under the guise of countering financing of ‘terrorism.’

The UAPA is a counter-terrorism law often used against human rights defenders by the Indian authorities to target, harass, intimidate, and detain them on bogus and politically motivated charges. In May 2020, UN experts expressed concerns over the non-conformity of various UAPA provisions with international human rights standards. In October 2023, they reiterated their concerns, stating that the pre-trial detention period of 180 days–which can subsequently be increased–is beyond reasonable. They called for a review of the UAPA in line with international human rights standards and with recommendations made by the Financial Action Task Force.

Irfan Mehraj’s detention is part of a growing crackdown against journalists and human rights defenders in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Since August 2019, when Jammu and Kashmir’s special status was arbitrarily revoked, there has been increasing harassment against the media. Journalists have been arrested, media outlets shut down, and self-censorship has become pervasive. In another emblematic case, on 29 February 2024, journalist Asif Sultan was re-arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir police shortly after being released and having spent five years in detention under the UAPA and the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act. Kashmiri journalists also face travel bans and revocation of their passports by Indian authorities. Consequently, information flow from Kashmir–especially on human rights violations–has been severely restricted. 

Mehraj’s continuing arbitrary detention is emblematic of the Indian authorities’ escalating crackdown on human rights including the rights to freedom of expression and association in Indian-administered Kashmir. The detention of Mehraj and Parvez creates a chilling effect among other human rights defenders and journalists, thereby allowing grave and systemic human rights violations to continue with impunity and minimal transparency.

Our organisations, therefore, call for the immediate release of Irfan Mehraj and Khurram Parvez and for an end to all reprisals against Kashmiri human rights defenders and journalists. We urge Indian authorities to repeal or amend the UAPA and to bring it in conformity with international human rights standards. End the criminalisation of human rights defenders, journalists, and their invaluable work.

We also call upon Indian authorities to comply with their international human rights obligations by respecting, protecting, promoting, and fulfilling the human rights of everyone as well as by allowing civil society and the media to freely operate in Indian-administered Kashmir and India.

In addition, the authorities must cease their longstanding targeting, harassment, and forced closure of international civil society. Likewise, the authorities must refrain from attacking inter-governmental organisations, including UN Special Rapporteurs and other human rights mechanisms. These entities should have unfettered access to Indian-administered Kashmir and Kashmiri detainees.

Signed: 

Amnesty International
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD)
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
Front Line Defenders
FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
Human Rights Watch
International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
Kashmir Law and Justice Project
Martin Ennals Foundation
World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders

[1] Khurram Parvez is the Deputy Secretary-General of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Chairperson of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) and recipient of the 2022 Martin Ennals Award.

Today, we pay tribute to Cao Shunli, and all human rights defenders targeted by the Chinese government for their commitment to uphold the promise of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

Cao Shunli (曹顺利) was a brave Chinese woman human rights defender and lawyer. Working with fellow activists, Cao documented abuses, including the now-abolished ‘Re-education through Labour’ extrajudicial detention system, which she was also subjected to as a result of her human rights work. She campaigned for independent civil society to be meaningfully consulted and to be able to contribute to the Chinese government’s national reports to its first and second Universal Periodic Reviews (UPR). In an attempt to speak with government officials about the UPR, Cao courageously organised peaceful sit-ins with other concerned citizens outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs despite great risks. She also submitted information on extralegal detention and torture in China to the UN and expressed the hope that ‘if we could get even 100 words’ into a UN report, ‘many of our problems could start to get addressed.’

On 14 September 2013, Chinese authorities detained Cao at the Beijing Capital International Airport as she was traveling to Geneva to participate in a human rights training, one month before China’s second UPR. Cao was forcibly disappeared for five weeks, until she resurfaced in criminal detention and was charged with ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’. By October 2013, it was clear that Cao Shunli was experiencing serious medical issues while in detention. After months of denial of adequate medical treatment, rejected appeals by her lawyers for bail on humanitarian grounds, and despite multiple calls from the international community for her urgent release, Cao died of multiple organ failure on 14 March 2014 in a hospital under heavy police guard to keep out her lawyers and friends.

Cao was one of the 2014 finalists of the prestigious Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders.

To this day, there has been no accountability for Cao Shunli’s death. The Chinese government refuses to admit wrongdoing, despite repeated calls in2014 and 2019 by UN Special Procedures experts for a full investigation into this ‘deadly reprisal’. 

Her case is one of the longest-standing unresolved cases in the UN Secretary-General’s annual reports on reprisals against civil society actors for engaging with the United Nations. China is one of the most consistent perpetrators of reprisals over time, and one of the most egregious perpetrators in terms of the sheer number of individuals targeted. 

Cao is not alone: her courage, but also the abuses she endured, are unfortunately those of other human rights defenders who paid a high cost for cooperating with the UN. Her close colleague, Chen Jianfang was forcibly disappeared under Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location (RSDL) from 19-20 March 2019 after paying tribute to Cao Shunli on the 5th anniversary of her death. Chen was sentenced to four years and six months in jail for ‘inciting subversion of State power’ and left prison on 21 October 2023, after which authorities subjected her to strict surveillance. UN experts have raised with the Chinese government acts of reprisals against Chen Jianfang, but also Jiang Tianyong, Li Qiaochu, Dolkun Isa, Li Wenzu and Wang Qiaoling, among others. The recent instances of intimidation and harassment against NGO participants in China’s 4th UPR in January 2024 further highlight the gravity of the situation.

Li Qiaochu, Xu Zhiyong, Ding Jiaxi, Yu Wensheng, Xu Yan, Huang Xueqin, Li Yuhan, Chang Weiping: many other Chinese human rights defenders are today detained, disappeared, and at grave risk, for upholding the promise of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

These documented acts do not account for the even greater self-censorship and refusal to engage with the United Nation as a result of a generalised climate of fear. 

14 March 2024 will mark the 10-year anniversary of Cao Shunli’s death. Ten years ago, when ISHR and many other human rights groups sought to observe a moment of silence at the Human Rights Council in her memory, the Chinese delegation, together with other delegations, disrupted the session for an hour and half.

Cao Shunli is a paradigmatic case of reprisals, not only because of her prominence, but also due to the array of severe human rights violations against her, committed in total impunity. These range from Chinese authorities blocking her exit from her own country, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, lack of due process, torture or ill-treatment and denial of adequate medical care, to subsequent death in custody, and the lack of accountability for these abuses. The lack of any progress in achieving accountability underscores the urgent need for continued international attention and pressure on the Chinese government to ensure justice for Cao and all human rights defenders who face persecution for their work.

Cao Shunli said before her death: ‘Our impact may be large, may be small, and may be nothing. But we must try. It is our duty to the dispossessed and it is the right of civil society.’

Today, we pay tribute to Cao Shunli’s legacy, one that has inspired countless human rights defenders in China and abroad. We urge UN Member States to call for a full, independent, impartial investigation into her death. We reaffirm that no perpetrator of reprisals, no matter how powerful, is above scrutiny, and that reprisals are fundamentally incompatible with the values of the United Nations and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

Signatories: 

1. Art for Human Rights
2. ARTICLE 19
3. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
4. Asian Lawyers Network (ALN)
5. Campaign for Uyghurs
6. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
7. CSW (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)
8. Front Line Defenders
9. HK Labour Rights Monitor
10. Hong Kong Centre for Human Rights
11. Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC)
12. Hong Kong Watch
13. Human Rights in China
14. Humanitarian China
15. Humanitarian China
16. International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI)
17. International Campaign for Tibet
18. International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
19. International Service for Human Rights
20. International Tibet Network
21. Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada
22. Martin Ennals Foundation
23. Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD)
24. PEN International
25. Safeguard Defenders
26. The 29 Principles
27. The Rights Practice
28. Tibet Justice Center
29. Uyghur Human Rights Project
30. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
31. World Uyghur Congress

View full report here. For interviews contact .

JOHANNESBURG - Global progress on gender rights slowed to nearly a halt in 2023 due to a severe backlash against decades of steady gains for feminist and LGBTQI+ movements, the global civil society alliance CIVICUS announced in a new report Thursday.

The 13th annual State of Civil Society Report finds that 2023 saw backsliding on gender rights all over the map, from Russia’s crackdown on LGBTQI+ activism, to a harsh new anti-gay law in Uganda, to anti-trans hysteria in the US, to the Taliban’s imposition of gender apartheid against women, to record levels of femicide in Latin America.

The overall lack of movement toward gender equality in 2023 contrasts previous years, when activists scored more victories in struggles for women’s and LGBTQI+ rights. Emblematic of this shift was the Caribbean, where several states decriminalised same-sex relations in 2022, but saw little to no progress in 2023 as governments pushed back on recent gains.

“There’s no way to avoid it: 2023 was not a good year for gender rights struggles,” said report co-author Ines Pousadela, who led CIVICUS research on gender rights. “The backlash in 2023 is especially alarming because any delay in the march toward gender equality puts women and LGBTQI+ people at further risk of violence and human rights violations.”


The State of Civil Society Report assesses activism around the world in 2023 and analyses the year’s events from a civil society perspective. The report is based on over 250 interviews and articles published by CIVICUS covering over 100 countries and territories.

Besides its findings on gender rights, the report details civil society’s role in responding to conflict, reforming the global governance system, addressing climate change and protecting democracy.

“Throughout 2023, civil society offered workable, people-centered solutions to the world’s most pressing problems,” said Mandeep Tiwana, CIVICUS Chief Officer of Evidence and Engagement. “But time and again, global institutions and leaders preferred to sideline activists rather than work with them to achieve positive change. If humanity is to overcome today’s multiple overlapping crises, civil society must have a seat at the table.”

For gender rights, the global slowdown on progress is largely the result of advances by a well-funded and connected conservative movement targeting women's rights and LGBTQI+ people, the report says.

But gender activists across the world still found new ways to resist oppression. In Afghanistan and Iran, women activists circumvented restrictions by holding clandestine demonstrations and building international solidarity. Amid rising femicides, feminists from Italy to Kenya to Bulgaria led major protests demanding policy action to end to violence against women.

“The backsliding on gender rights does not mean gender activists are on the backfoot,” said Pousadela. “On the contrary, they are redoubling their efforts to not only protect their rights, but to continue expanding them.”

Indeed, the report shows that civil society still scored numerous victories for gender rights in 2023. Thanks to dedicated and sustained civil society activism, Mexico legalised abortion, Mauritius defied the anti-LGBTQI+ trend in Africa by decriminalising same-sex relations and Estonia became the first ex-Soviet nation to legalise gay marriage.

Further, while abortion rights in the USA are at their worst in 50 years following the 2022 overturning of the landmark Supreme Court decision in Roe v Wade, in 2023 the pro-choice movement regrouped. They assisted women lacking access to reproductive health services, increased legal protections and erected barriers against further loss of rights. Poland, which banned abortion in 2021, elected a new government which promised to restore women's right to choose.

“These victories show that the fight is on for gender rights,” said Pousadela. “Even if there are short-term setbacks, sustained activism can make progress toward rights unstoppable in the long run. Civil society will keep struggling until there’s freedom and equality for all.”

For interviews, contact

^{United Nations (UN) Security Council meeting on the conflict in Middle East at the UN headquarters in New York City on October 24, 2023. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)}

JOHANNESBURG – Hypocrisy by powerful countries undermined the rules-based international order in 2023, making it harder to promote human rights and resolve the world’s most devastating wars, global civil society alliance CIVICUS announced in a new report Thursday. 

In its 13th annual State of Civil Society Report, Johannesburg-based CIVICUS details how powerful states selectively chose to respect international laws, shielding allies but castigating enemies. The most blatant examples are countries that rushed to Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s invasion but backed Israel’s assaults on civilians in Gaza, and vice versa.  

“Armies, rebels and militia around the world committed horrific human rights abuses in 2023 because they knew they could get away with it thanks to a flailing international system full of double standards,” said Mandeep Tiwana, CIVICUS Chief Officer of Evidence and Engagement. “Starting with the UN Security Council, we need global governance reform that puts people at the centre of decision making.” 

The State of Civil Society Report assesses activism around the world in the past year and analyses the year’s events from a civil society perspective. The report is based on over 250 interviews and articles published by CIVICUS covering over 100 countries and territories. 

Besides its findings on global governance and conflict, the new report details civil society’s role in addressing climate change, protecting democracy and expanding gender rights. 

The report shows that with powerful states repeatedly blocking international action, grassroots civil society organisations were central to responding to major crises in 2023. 

In Ukraine, volunteers documented human rights violations and helped with reconstruction of devastated cities, while Sudanese youth groups delivered humanitarian aid in the worst-hit conflict zones and offered solutions to achieve accountable civilian governance. In Myanmar, civil society led the way with ideas to restore democracy alongside peace. Local Palestinian journalists were the world’s key lifeline to first-hand information about the war in Gaza. 

But instead of protecting such members of civil society, fighters and their state backers routinely undermined or even attacked them over the last year. In Gaza, for instance, Israel’s military killed record numbers of journalists. Meanwhile, states criminalised activists who supported migrants and refugees fleeing conflict. 

“Attacks on civil society were the norm in 2023, even from governments that claim allegiance to democratic values,” said Tiwana. “The prevalence of such abuses proves the international system desperately needs reform. We are facing an acute crisis of moral leadership on the international stage.” 

War zones were not the only places where the powerful tried to silence civil society. The report shows that authoritarian governments repressed activists at major meetings from the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai to the G20 meeting in New Delhi. Even at the UN General Assembly and Sustainable Development Goals summit in New York, bureaucratic blockages resulted in exclusion of many civil society representatives from decision-making spaces. 

The report urges global governance reform at September’s International Summit of the Future at the UN headquarters in New York, including new rules to moderate or reduce veto powers at the Security Council. 

Civil society has proposed numerous avenues for reform to increase people’s participation in global governance systems. These include calls for the creation of a UN Civil Society Envoy to better foster people’s participation at the world body as well as a UN Citizen’s Initiative to enable people to bring matters before the UN for resolution. Civil Society also calls for a UN Parliamentary Assembly to give directly-elected people’s representatives a say in UN decision-making. All of these suggestions would increase people’s oversight and contribution to global governance.

“Throughout 2023, civil society offered workable, people-centered solutions to the world’s most pressing problems,” said Tiwana. “But time and again, global institutions and leaders preferred to sideline activists rather than work with them to achieve positive change. If humanity is to overcome today’s multiple overlapping crises, civil society must have a seat at the table.” 

For interviews, contact

View full report here. For interviews contact media@civicus>.org.

JOHANNESBURG – Governments and big polluters have shifted their tactics from denying climate science to repressing climate activism, with industrialised global north countries escalating clampdowns on climate protesters in 2023, the global civil society alliance CIVICUS announced in a new report Thursday.

In its 13th annual State of Civil Society Report, CIVICUS shows that the targeting of climate activism was a global phenomenon in 2023, from a Europe-wide crackdown on climate activists to Emirati authorities restricting civil society during COP28 to Uganda’s arrests of protesters against the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline.

“Our research over the last year shows that when it comes to climate, repression is the new denial,” said Andrew Firmin, who co-authored the report and leads CIVICUS research into climate activism. “With time running out to prevent the worst impacts of climate change, governments and big polluters should work with climate activists rather than trying to silence them.”

The State of Civil Society Report assesses activism around the world in 2023 and analyses the year’s events from a civil society perspective. The report is based on over 250 interviews and articles published by CIVICUS covering over 100 countries and territories. 

Besides its findings on climate activism, the report details civil society’s role in responding to conflict, reforming the global governance system, protecting democracy and expanding gender rights.

“Throughout 2023, civil society offered workable, people-centered solutions to the world’s most pressing problems,” said Mandeep Tiwana, CIVICUS Chief Officer of Evidence and Engagement. “But time and again, global institutions and leaders preferred to sideline activists rather than work with them to achieve positive change. If humanity is to overcome today’s multiple overlapping crises, civil society must have a seat at the table.”

Regarding climate, one of the most alarming trends in the report is the growing repression of climate activists in global north countries that are home to vibrant protest movements.

In the USA, police in Atlanta shot and killed activist “Tortuguita” who was resisting the planned destruction of a vital forest to make way for a police-training facility.

In Europe, German authorities used anti-organised crime laws to target the Last Generation direct action movement, including surveilling communications, raiding homes, seizing laptops and freezing bank accounts. Police also violently evicted protesters against a coalmine expansion.

In the Netherlands, police fired water cannon and detained around 2,400 people during a protest against fossil fuel subsidies. Italian activists complained about increasing pressure from the new far-right government, which introduced legislation targeting civil disobedience climate protests.

Meanwhile, UK police used new laws restricting protest rights to jail demonstrators demanding an end to fossil fuel use. Numerous Australian states also passed anti-protest laws to target and jail peaceful climate activists.

“The crackdown on climate movements in industrialised countries must stop,” said Firmin. “It is a dangerous obstacle to addressing the climate crisis. It also threatens long-cherished rights of expression, assembly and association.”

Despite the repression, climate activists scored numerous wins in 2023 thanks to persistent and creative action from blocking roads to disrupting high-profile events. At COP28, intense civil society pressure throughout the year resulted in states acknowledging the need to cut fossil fuel emissions.

Legal action also emerged in 2023 as a successful front for climate action, with court victories in Belgium, Germany, and the US state of Montana, where young activists won a suit alleging government support of fossil fuels violated their right to a healthy environment. 

“Repression is intensifying, but civil society isn't giving up, and without it, the climate situation would be a lot worse,” said Firmin. “Activists must keep growing their movements and pushing leaders to act now given the scale of the climate crisis.”

For interviews, contact

Hypocrisy by powerful countries undermined the rules-based international order and repressions against human rights and climate activists stalled or reversed progress around the world, says the State of Civil Society Report by CIVICUS. 

The annual report by the global civil society alliance assesses activism around the world in 2023 and analyses the year’s events from a civil society perspective. The report is based on over 250 interviews and articles published by CIVICUS covering over 100 countries and territories.

The report underlines that global governance failures are making it harder to promote human rights and resolve the world’s most devastating wars, global civil society alliance CIVICUS announced in a new report.

“Armies, rebels and militia around the world committed horrific human rights abuses in 2023 because they knew they could get away with it thanks to a flailing international system full of double standards,” said Mandeep Tiwana, CIVICUS Chief Officer of Evidence and Engagement. “Starting with the UN Security Council, we need global governance reform that puts people at the centre of decision making.”

War zones were not the only places where the powerful tried to silence civil society. The report shows that authoritarian governments repressed activists at major meetings from the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai to the G20 meeting in New Delhi. Even at the UN General Assembly and Sustainable Development Goals summit in New York, bureaucratic blockages resulted in exclusion of many civil society representatives from decision-making spaces.

Governments and big polluters have shifted their tactics from denying climate science to repressing climate activism. The growing oppression of climate activists in global north countries that are home to vibrant protest movements is particularly alarming. In the USA, police in Atlanta shot and killed activist “Tortuguita” who was resisting the planned destruction of a vital forest to make way for a police-training facility.

Despite the repression, climate activists scored significant wins in 2023 thanks to persistent and creative action from blocking roads to disrupting high-profile events. At COP28, intense civil society pressure throughout the year resulted in states acknowledging the need to cut fossil fuel emissions.

Legal action also emerged in 2023 as a successful front for climate action, with court victories in Belgium, Germany, and the US state of Montana, where young activists won a suit alleging government support of fossil fuels violated their right to a healthy environment. 

“Throughout 2023, civil society offered workable, people-centered solutions to the world’s most pressing problems,” said Tiwana. “But time and again, global institutions and leaders preferred to sideline activists rather than work with them to achieve positive change. If humanity is to overcome today’s multiple overlapping crises, civil society must have a seat at the table.”

A severe backlash against decades of steady gains for feminist and LGBTQI+ movements in 2023 resulted in backsliding on gender rights all over the map, from Russia’s crackdown on LGBTQI+ activism, to a harsh new anti-gay law in Uganda, to anti-trans hysteria in the US, to the Taliban’s imposition of gender apartheid against women, to record levels of femicide in Latin America.

But gender activists across the world still found new ways to resist oppression. In Afghanistan and Iran, women activists circumvented restrictions by holding clandestine demonstrations and building international solidarity. Amid rising femicides, feminists from Italy to Kenya to Bulgaria led major protests demanding policy action to end to violence against women.

“Attacks on civil society were the norm in 2023, even from governments that claim allegiance to democratic values,” said Tiwana. “The prevalence of such abuses proves the international system desperately needs reform. We are facing an acute crisis of moral leadership on the international stage.”

On International Women’s Day, the undersigned organisations renew their call on Saudi Arabian authorities to release all women human rights defenders (WHRDs), women’s rights activists and their supporters who are detained in contravention of international human rights standards. The organisations further call on Saudi authorities to lift travel bans imposed on WHRDs and their relatives, and to abolish the male guardianship system.

CIVICUS calls on the authorities in Equatorial Guinea to immediately release Anacleto Micha Ndong Nlang. The lawyer, human rights activist, and member of the civic platform Guinea Ecuatorial También Es Nuestra (Equatorial Guinea is Also Ours) has been unjustly arrested since 26^th January.  

He is falsely charged with being linked to an explosion and ensuing fires that gutted many properties in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The government of Equatorial Guinea has been silencing independent and critical voices of dissent committed to defending human rights.

“The security forces brutally grabbed Anacleto Micha Ndong Nlang in the middle of the night. This is another dark moment for the country. The government needs to end its decades-long track record of attacking fundamental rights and freedoms, including freedom of association, expression, and assembly,” said Paul Mulindwa, Advocacy and Policy Officer for CIVICUS.

Anacleto had also been previously targeted with trumped-up charges. He was arrested in September 2022 during a siege by government security forces and the military and imprisoned for 271 days. He was accused of being a part of an opposition political party after he provided food to the party members. He was again arrested in December 2023.

The repression in Equatorial Guinea is fueled using violence against human rights defenders, militarisation of the state and politics, high levels of impunity enjoyed by perpetrators of human rights violations and use of restrictive legislation. An example is law No 1/1999 on the Regime of NGOs to restrict operations of civil society organisations.

“The detention of Anacleto yet again shows the ugliness of President Obiang's regime of reckless disregard for human rights and international law. It demonstrates the absolute impunity that characterizes one of the words most corrupt dictatorships.”  Said Tutu Alicante, Director of EG Justice.

The CIVICUS Monitor, an online platform that tracks threats to civil society in countries across the globe, rates the space for civil society in Equatorial Guinea as closed.

CIVICUS calls on the government of Equatorial Guinea to:

1. Immediately release Anacleto Micha Ndong Nlang, unconditionally drop all charges, and stop targeting him with further illegal harassment.
2. Respect and protect fundamental freedoms and rights of citizens, particularly freedoms of expression, association and assembly.
3. Create a free and open space for citizens and civil society by removing restrictions, threats and fear of reprisals.

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and CIVICUS are deeply concerned over the intensifying regression of Thailand’s civic space. We are calling on the Thai Government to do more in upholding fundamental freedoms including freedom of expression, press freedom, and freedom of peaceful assembly.

CIVICUS, Global civil society alliance, welcomes Burundi President’s decision to review restrictions on media freedoms and journalists’ rights. The decrees in review, including abolition of prison sentences, and other measures for an open and free media space must be enacted immediately. Those unjustly imprisoned must be freed immediately. 

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and CIVICUS call on the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to dismiss the politically motivated defamation lawsuit against Soeng Senkaruna, deputy head of the Human Rights and Land Rights Section and Senior Human Rights Investigator of the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), a member organisation of FORUM-ASIA. 

The complaint was brought by Hun Sen–former Cambodian Prime Minister and current leader of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP)–following the publication of an article on the Cambodia Daily Khmer which quoted Senkaruna as saying that the CPP has often used the country’s judiciary to intimidate the political opposition and that political disputes should be resolved politically rather than through courts. 

Hun Sen accused Senkaruna of dishonouring the CPP, stressing how his comments could incite hatred against the party ahead of the upcoming senate elections. CPP lawyers have demanded two billion riels (USD 500,000) for compensation. 

Senkaruna’s quote was based on his interview with Radio France International regarding a lawsuit against Son Chhay, vice president of the opposition Candlelight Party. Chhay was convicted of defamation based on a complaint by the CPP and the National Election Committee in relation to his allegations of irregularities and vote rigging against the latter two in the 2022 commune council election. 

^{Photo credit: LICADHO – Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights} 

However, Senkaruna claims that the newspaper misquoted him, clarifying that he did not mean to attack any political party. His remarks, Senkaruna stressed, were focused on strengthening respect for human rights, law, social justice, and democracy. Giving credence to Senkaruna’s claim is the fact that the Cambodia Daily Khmer published a correction, acknowledging its mistake.

Through Facebook, Hun Sen expressed that the CPP would take anyone who insults the party to court. 

Deteriorating Civic Space

Under Hun Sen the regime was known for deploying judicial harassment, threats, and online harassment against political opponents, non-governmental organisations and dissenting voices. These include the conviction against members of the opposition Candlelight Party; the conviction of labour union leaders and activists from the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld; and the forced closure of Voice of Democracy  Cambodia, which was among the country’s few remaining independent media outlets. 

Instead of complying with Meta’s Oversight Board’s decision to suspend Hun Sen’s Facebook account for threatening political opponents, the former prime minister barred the Oversight Board from entering Cambodia. 

Now, his son Prime Minister Hun Manet is following in his footsteps as the authoritarian regime seeks to exert its influence beyond its borders. Recently, three Cambodian activists–Lem Sokha, Phan Phana, and Kung Raiya–were arrested by local authorities at the Thai border. They fled Cambodia to escape political persecution; however, they are now at risk of deportation.

The lawsuit against Senkaruna is just among the many cases which strongly reaffirm Cambodia’s deteriorating human rights situation. 

Call to Action

FORUM-ASIA and CIVICUS stand in solidarity with Senkaruna alongside other human rights defenders and anyone freely expressing their opinions in relation to Cambodia’s political situation. 

We call on the Cambodian Government to cease the practice of launching strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) through defamation, false charges, politically motivated lawsuits, and other repressive laws against those expressing political opinions. As a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Cambodia is bound by an obligation to uphold people’s freedom of expression and right to information. 

‘The Phnom Penh Municipal Court must immediately dismiss the defamation lawsuit against Soeng Senkaruna. The Cambodian Government must ensure that its people can safely and freely express their political opinions without fear of reprisals. The lawsuit is clearly politically motivated and has no bearing on the pursuit of justice,’ said Mary Aileen Diez-Bacalso, Executive Director of FORUM-ASIA.

‘Hun Manet seems to be picking up where his father left off by targeting those critical of the regime, including those from civil society. These actions are inconsistent with Cambodia’s international human rights obligations. The international community must speak out and stand with Soeng Senkaruna and others which the regime is seeking to target and silence,” said Josef Benedict, Asia-Pacific researcher for CIVICUS.

**

About FORUM-ASIA:

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is a network of 85 member organisations across 23 countries, mainly in Asia. Founded in 1991, FORUM-ASIA works to strengthen movements for human rights and sustainable development through research, advocacy, capacity development and solidarity actions in Asia and beyond. It has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and consultative relationship with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. The FORUM-ASIA Secretariat is based in Bangkok, with offices in Jakarta, Geneva and Kathmandu. www.forum-asia.org

About CIVICUS:

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is a global alliance dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society around the world with 8,500 members in more than 175 countries. Based out of Johannesburg, CIVICUS has offices in New York and Geneva. www.civicus.org

For media inquiries, please contact:

• Communication and Media Programme, FORUM-ASIA,

CIVICUS speaks about the progress being made toward legalising same-sex marriage in Thailand with Mookdapa Yangyuenpradorn, an LGBTQI+ activist and Human Rights Associate at Fortify Rights.

Founded in 2013, Fortify Rights is a human rights civil society organisation (CSO) working to bring laws, policies and practices in line with human rights standards through evidence-based research, strategic truth-telling and empowerment.

Why are there currently four different bills in parliament aimed at legalising same-sex marriage?

LGBTQI+ marriage is such a significant issue in Thailand today that bills to legalise it have been submitted to parliament simultaneously by the government and other political groups. It is unusual and encouraging to see political parties competing to propose changes that would benefit LGBTQI+ people.

Out of the four bills up for consideration, one was submitted by the government, two were submitted by political parties, the Move Forward Party and Democratic Party, and another was submitted by civil society. The one submitted by the cabinet and approved by the prime minister takes precedence over the rest.

The civil society bill was initiated by the Rainbow Coalition for Marriage Equality, which brings together numerous CSOs. It was developed at the grassroots level and drafted and submitted on behalf of Thailand’s LGBTQI+ people. It successfully made its way into parliament, with its authors securing seats in the readings as discussions progressed. It is uncommon for a bill proposed by civil society to enter parliament, so this is a very positive development.

The civil society bill is also more progressive than the other three because it ensures parental rights for LGBTQI+ people and proposes a transitional procedure to allow LGBTQI+ couples to register their marriages and enjoy spousal rights while other relevant laws are still being revised and amended, rather than make them wait until all of the process is finished.

Still, the primary objective is consistent across all four bills: they all seek to amend the civil and commercial code, which now defines marriage as a union between man and woman and grants them the status of ‘husband and wife’, by replacing these gendered words with the gender-neutral expressions ‘individuals’ and ‘spouses’. This simple change will enable LGBTQI+ people to register their marriages.

How have LGBTQI+ activists advocated for the bill?

The constitution establishes that if a bill is proposed by a group of citizens or civil society groups, representatives from the initiating group should be involved with the parliamentary committee working on the bill. This provided space for LGBTQI+ activists to participate in the legislative process and advance their agenda. The Rainbow Coalition for Marriage Equality has played a crucial role in presenting a unified and consolidated stance on marriage equality in parliament. The activists currently engaged in discussions have been advocating for this bill for over a decade.

As an advisor to the committee drafting the marriage equality bill, I provide expert opinions from the perspective of human rights law and international standards. For instance, I make sure the bill aligns with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, among other international conventions and treaties, and incorporates good practices and advanced protections found in the laws of countries with marriage equality.

What are the prospects of the same-sex marriage bill being passed?

The bill will likely be passed, although it will take some time. The legislative process in Thailand involves three readings in the House of Representatives, the elected 500-member lower house of the National Assembly, followed by three readings in the Senate, the appointed upper house. Proposed legislation then undergoes scrutiny by the Constitutional Court and is ultimately signed into law by the king, then published in the Royal Gazette.

The marriage equality bill is currently in its initial stage in the lower house. It successfully passed its first reading in December 2023 and is now undergoing its second reading. All four bills are now being examined and consolidated into a single version. The second reading is expected to finish by early March, after which the final bill will proceed to the third reading in the lower house before advancing to the Senate.

The bill’s adoption seems highly likely because civil society’s decade-long public campaigning has succeeded in getting marriage equality included on Thailand’s main political agenda. Despite some challenges, prospects for adoption have gradually and steadily increased. The prime minister and cabinet have expressed their support and opposition to the bill has decreased. I believe it is just a matter of time until the bill becomes law and comes into force.

What impact would the passage of this law have for LGBTQI+ struggles?

Marriage equality is a lot more than a mere administrative process of signing papers. It’s about securing the rights of LGBTQI+ couples to adopt children together and be recognised as legal parents. It’s also a matter of life and death if an LGBTQI+ person is in an accident and their partner must give permission for them to undergo surgery or other medical procedures. Ultimately, the fight for marriage equality is about enabling LGBTQI+ people to live normal lives and form families. This is the true meaning of marriage equality that we are fighting for and the message we strive to convey to society.

The legalisation of LGBTQI+ marriage would further raise awareness about LGBTQI+ issues in society, setting a solid stage for advancing other LGBTQI+ rights. It would be a firm first step towards full legal recognition of the rights of LGBTQI+ people, including parenting and inheritance rights, as well as equal social rights and other benefits currently enjoyed only by heterosexual couples. Moreover, a gender recognition bill is in line for parliamentary consideration.

I also hope that the achievement of marriage equality in Thailand will inspire change in other Asian countries. We learned a lot from the experience of Taiwanese LGBTQI+ activists, who were the first to achieve legalisation of same-sex marriage in Asia, and I hope others will be able to learn from us too.

Do you expect conservative backlash to happen?

During the previous government led by the military junta, the regime attempted to project an image of Thailand as open to LGBTQI+ people, but reality told otherwise, as it disregarded LGBTQI+ rights and treated LGBTQI+ people as a deviant group with special needs. A 2021 constitutional court ruling even referred to LGBTQI+ people as a ‘special species’ that needs to be singled out and studied. This reflected the state’s views of LGBTQI+ people. Similar attitudes are occasionally present among the public, particularly among older generations, who still need to understand and get used to society becoming more inclusive and open.

Islamic parties are likely to pose the biggest threat of conservative backlash. They have so far either abstained or voted against the marriage equality bill in parliament, but their current representation is low. However, in southern Thailand, where Islamic beliefs have significant political and cultural influence, there is potential for unequal implementation of the bill once it is passed.

On a positive note, public attitudes toward LGBTQI+ people have improved over the past few years and discussions about LGBTQI+ rights, gender equality and social inclusion have become common on social media platforms. This positive shift can be attributed to the continuous efforts of LGBTQI+ activists in running public awareness campaigns.

What international support do you need to further advance LGBTQI+ rights in Thailand?

Based on my experience of organising protests on the ground, access to resources is key to advancing our cause, since these are scarce at the grassroots level of LGBTQI+ activism. Local activists, often students and young people who are not affiliated with renowned human rights organisations, play a crucial role as change-makers. However, limited funds hinder many young activists from becoming full-time human rights defenders, threatening the sustainability of the LGBTQI+ movement. I believe that for the movement to move forward sustainably, it is crucial to establish connections with international donors and explore ways to form a coalition of Thai LGBTQI+ activists to amplify our voices on the international stage.

We are all passionate about claiming our rights, but passion alone is not enough. LGBTQI+ activism needs resources and support to continue to mobilise and sustain the movement.

Civic space in Thailand is rated ‘repressed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor.

Get in touch with Fortify Rights through its website or Facebook page, and follow @FortifyRights and @mdpyy on Twitter.

CIVICUS speaks with Sarah Tak, General Coordinator of Klimaatzaak (‘Climate Case’), about a recent ruling by the Brussels court of appeal mandating drastic cuts in greenhouse gas emissions in Belgium by 2030.

Klimaatzaak is a civil society group founded in 2014 by 11 concerned citizens who wanted to take action against Belgium’s inadequate climate policy.

What’s the significance of the court ruling ordering the government to take more decisive action to cut greenhouse gas emissions?

Governments have been aware of the climate crisis for decades and committed to work together to stabilise greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the situation becoming truly dangerous. They have signed United Nations treaties on climate change to that end, yet unfortunately very little has been achieved. Scientists have been long telling us we must halve emissions by 2030 if we are to have a chance of limiting global warming to below 1.5 degrees compared to pre-industrial times. That is the danger threshold governments said they would strive not to cross when they signed the Paris Agreement in 2015, and they reaffirmed this commitment in 2021 at the COP26 climate summit. Yet they fail to translate these promises into domestic action and global emissions continue to rise, even to this day.

What this shows is that politicians are not able – or willing – to act on the climate crisis in the decisive way needed. Meanwhile the situation is becoming increasingly alarming, which is why judges are asked to step in, often by citizens or civil society groups who see their most fundamental rights threatened by climate change.

The verdict issued by the Brussels Court of Appeal on 30 November 2023 is truly historic because it was only the second time worldwide that judges have imposed a binding obligation on governments to reach a defined emission reduction target. The first victory was achieved by the Urgenda Foundation in the Netherlands in 2015. Our verdict found the climate policy of the Belgian federal, Brussels and Flemish regional governments to be negligent to the extent that it constitutes a breach of the human rights of all 58,586 individual co-plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

What was Klimaatzaak’s role in the court case?

We are a movement of concerned citizens that decided to start court actions to force governments to act on climate. Initially we were just 11 people, but we grew to a grassroots movement of 58,586 citizens. This number makes the Belgian climate case the largest worldwide, which is why it considers itself to be a lawsuit by and for citizens.

We started the legal case in 2014, by sending a formal notice to the four parts of Belgian government that have competence for climate policy – the federal government, plus those of the Flemish, Brussels-Capital and Walloon regions. After disputes about the procedural language, the proceedings on the merits of the case started in 2019.

Legally we built the case on two pillars, where we argued that the inadequate climate policy pursued by the Belgian authorities was a violation of both the tort provision of the Belgian civil code (the ‘duty of care’) and of articles 2 and 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights. Given the importance and urgency of the matter, we requested a penalty payment of €1 million (approx. US$1.07 million) for every month’s delay in executing the judgment.

When oral proceedings started in March 2021, people mobilised in more than 100 municipalities and cities across Belgium. An estimated 7,000 citizen climate advocates took to the streets dressed as lawyers to show their support. The Court of First Instance of Brussels issued its decision in June 2021, confirming that the Belgian climate policy was so substandard that it violated the legal duty of care and human rights, but it did not impose any specific reduction target.

Since it soon became clear that the competent ministers had no intention of abiding by the judgment and changing their policy course, we decided to start the appeal procedure in order to complement the first instance verdict with binding reduction targets. And this time everything went much faster because the Brussels Court of Appeal decided to prioritise our case. Submissions from the federal and regional governments were received and we then filed ours throughout 2022 and 2023. Four intense weeks of oral pleadings took place in September and October 2023, and the historic verdict was out before the end of November.

It was the backing of our countless supporters that helped sustain our work for so long. They kept us upright financially and morally. If anything, this was a victory of civil society and the public.

Do you expect this ruling to set a precedent for others to follow?

Our case is part of a wider trend and sets an important legal precedent that is already today being used in other jurisdictions to try to impose similar climate targets. Steep national emission reduction targets are urgently needed for climate policies to have a chance of being effective.

We are now seeing a lot of civil society groups, individual citizens and even government authorities turning to courts to push for climate action. There are more than 2,000 climate cases worldwide, initiated by a wide array of claimants. In the USA, the state of California is suing major oil corporations over claims they misled the public for decades and seeking the creation of a special fund to pay for recovery. Organisations such as Milieudefensie in the Netherlands already won a pioneering climate case against the oil major Shell and recently initiated a new climate case against IGN Bank.

To stop the climate crisis, we need systemic transformation: we need governments, carbon majors and banking and insurance companies to drastically change course. In the coming years we can surely expect a lot more litigation against not only governments but also other powerful actors. We simply need to hold them accountable if we want to see the transition that is needed before 2030.

Our case is already being consulted and referenced by civil society in other countries. We were contacted by several groups seeking similar rulings in their countries who were trying to understand the reasoning of the judges and use their arguments in their own proceedings.

What are the next steps in your advocacy work?

Elections will take place in Belgium in June 2024, so we are working to keep the verdict alive in public debate. After the election we will continue to monitor compliance with the ruling. The judges set up a follow-up mechanism so we can go back to them in 2025 if climate policy continues to be unsatisfactory. The judges will then decide on penalty payments if need be. A good mix of advocacy and legal work awaits us in the coming months and years.

Civic space in Belgium is rated ‘narrowed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor.

Get in touch with Klimaatzaak through its website or Facebook page, and follow @Klimaatzaak on Twitter and Instagram.

CIVICUS speaks with Nafissatou Maiga, coordinator of the Association of Young People for the Development of Sangarebougou/Women and Initiatives for Development (AJDS/FID-MALI), about the state of civic space in Mali since the 2021 military coup.

AJDS/FID-MALI brings together two Malian civil society organisations (CSOs) committed to the defence of human rights and freedom of expression, with a specific focus on women and young people.

To what extent have civic freedoms been respected since the 2021 military coup?

Following the 2021 military coup, at least in theory freedoms of association, expression and peaceful assembly were not formally banned by the authorities. In practice, however, there has been an atmosphere of fear and repression that discourages many people from expressing themselves freely.

Although associations are not officially banned, fear of reprisals and repression has led many people to hesitate over joining or becoming actively involved in CSOs or political groups. Members of these associations may fear being monitored or targeted by the authorities.

Although freedom of expression is guaranteed by law, the reality on the ground is often very different. People are often afraid to express themselves openly, particularly on social media, for fear of reprisals. The often-abusive application of the cybercrime law, which criminalises some types of online speech, has helped to reinforce this culture of fear.

Even though peaceful demonstrations and gatherings are not explicitly banned, the authorities often use states of emergency or other pretexts to restrict or deter gatherings.

Overall, although civil liberties are not officially restricted, fear of reprisals and real or perceived repression have created a climate of self-censorship among people, thus compromising the exercise of these fundamental rights.

What’s the situation for the media and journalists?

Conditions for the media and journalists have deteriorated sharply, particularly for those who express opinions that differ from those of the authorities. Although there are no precise figures, several journalists and commentators have been imprisoned for expressing opinions considered to be offences against the state. A striking example is that of well-known commentator Mohamed Youssouf Bathily, who was placed in preventive detention and remains in prison to this day. This crackdown on dissenting voices creates a climate of fear and insecurity for independent journalists and seriously compromises press freedom.

In a recent development, the High Authority for Communications suspended numerous media outlets, including international media such as RFI and France 24. In addition, national media such as Djoliba TV have been temporarily suspended. As a result, access to information and diversity of opinion have been restricted.

At a time when the media and journalists most need to organise and work together to protect themselves, it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to do so. The restrictions imposed by the authorities make coordination difficult. Pressure on dissenting voices and threats of repression limit their ability to come together and act collectively to defend their rights.

The withdrawal of funding intended to support civil society by countries such as France also weakens the ability of media and journalists to benefit from external financial and technical support. This limits their ability to carry out advocacy and awareness-raising activities, and to build their capacity to deal with repression.

Lack of adequate international support, both financial and diplomatic, further isolates Malian media and journalists in their fight for press freedom and the protection of human rights. Lack of international solidarity can also reinforce the authorities’ sense of impunity and worsen the situation of the media and journalists.

What needs to be done to restore civic and democratic freedoms?

Faced with the challenges described, it is crucial that the international community step up its efforts to support Mali’s independent media and journalists in difficulty, providing them with financial, technical and diplomatic support to strengthen their resilience and ability to defend press freedoms and human rights.

International organisations must also increase their financial and technical support to CSOs defending freedom of expression and human rights in Mali. This support will strengthen their capacity to document human rights violations, provide legal assistance to victims and advocate for democratic reforms.

Do you think that the promised democratic transition will take place in 2024?

As far as the promised transition is concerned, recent events, in particular the absence of any mention of the organisation of elections in the Finance Bill and discussions on Mali’s exit from the Economic Community of West African States, the regional political and economic organisation, raise concerns about the authorities’ willingness to honour their democratic commitments. This is why I am pessimistic about the possibility of democratic elections being held in 2024.

In this context, it is essential that the international community remains vigilant and continues to exert diplomatic pressure to ensure that Malian authorities respect their commitment to restoring democracy and human rights.

Civic space in Mali is rated ‘repressed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor.

Get in touch with AJDS/FID-MALI on Facebook and follow @Ajdsang on Twitter.

Fås også på engelsk

Danmark må styrke indsatsen for at befri Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja på årsdagen for de pro-demokratiske demonstrationer i Bahrain

KØBENHAVN/LONDON/JOHANNESBURG - #FreeAl-Khawaja-kampagnen, SALAM DHR og den globale civilsamfundsalliance CIVICUS opfordrer Danmark til at gøre mere for at sikre løsladelsen af den fængslede dansk-bahrainske menneskerettighedsforkæmper Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja forud for årsdagen for de pro-demokratiske demonstrationer i Bahrain i 2011.

"Efter næsten 13 år er Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja desværre ikke blevet løsladt," udtaler Asma Darwish, CIVICUS Campaigns Officer og MENA Advocacy Lead. "Det er på tide, at den danske regering gennemgår og fornyer sin strategi for at sikre hans løsladelse."

Al-Khawaja er Bahrains førende menneskerettighedsforkæmper og vinder af Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders. Hans årtier lange menneskerettighedsarbejde har inspireret en generation af aktivister, der kæmper for civile og politiske frihedsrettigheder. I 2020 føjede CIVICUS Al-Khawaja til deres “Stand As My Witness-kampagne”, der opfordrer til løsladelse af fængslede menneskerettighedsforkæmpere, aktivister, journalister og dissidenter over hele verden.

Efter massive pro-demokratiske demonstrationer mod Bahrains regime startede den 14. februar 2011 arresterede sikkerhedsstyrker Al-Khawaja for at opfordre til civile og politiske rettigheder. Bahrain dømte senere Al-Khawaja til livstid på falske anklager. Bahrains myndigheder har gentagne gange tortureret Al-Khawaja i det berygtede Jau-fængsel, og han har været på sultestrejke adskillige gange for at kræve retfærdighed.

På trods af Al-Khawajas internationale anerkendelse og den vilkårlige og uretfærdige fængsling, som han har været udsat for, har Bahrain nægtet at løslade Al-Khawaja og har flere gange forhindret familiemedlemmer i at besøge ham. I lyset af de alvorlige omstændigheder mener #FreeAl-Khawaja-kampagnen, Salam DHR og CIVICUS, at Danmark bør og må gøre mere for at sikre hans løsladelse.

"Vores anmodninger er enkle: Danmark bør arbejde tæt sammen med Al-Khawajas familie om at udvikle en ny strategi, afholde private besøg hos Al-Khawaja i fængslet og presse EU til at beskytte hans rettigheder som EU-borger," siger Salam DHR's formand Jawad Fairooz. "I betragtning af den danske regerings menneskerettighedsengagement bør den hurtigt følge op på dette."

Danmarks regering bør især gøre mere for at presse på for Al-Khawajas øjeblikkelige og betingelsesløse løsladelse, siger de tre organisationer. Desuden bør Danmark direkte opfordre Bahrains regering til at tage konkrete skridt til at beskytte hans menneskerettigheder, som ultimativt kan føre til hans løsladelse, tilføjede de tre organisationer.

Derudover opfordres Danmarks regering til at engagere EU i at presse Bahrains regering til at løslade Al-Khawaja, især EU's højtstående repræsentant for udenrigsanliggender og sikkerhedspolitik Josep Borrell, de relevante teams i EU’s udenrigstjeneste (EEAS) og kontoret for formanden for Det Europæiske Råd Charles Michel. Al-Khawajas juridiske og helbredsmæssige status bør være genstand for bilaterale udvekslinger mellem EEAS og Bahrains regering med henblik på at sikre hans øjeblikkelige og betingelsesløse løsladelse.

Den 14. februar 2024 forventes EEAS at give feedback på sin seneste runde af drøftelser med Bahrains regering.

Siden 2011 har den danske regering brugt sin platform i EU til at støtte resolutioner, der fordømmer Bahrains menneskerettighedskrænkelser i 2014 og 2017. I 2022 intervenerede Danmark i FN's Menneskerettighedsråd for at opfordre til Al-Khawajas løsladelse.

"Vi anerkender den danske regerings arbejde for løsladelsen af Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, men vi er kede af at sige, at det ikke har været godt nok, og der skal gøres mere," siger Oskar Stevens, Advocacy Lead for #FreeAl-Khawaja-kampagnen. "Nu hvor Al-Khawaja nærmer sig 13 år bag tremmer, er det tid til fornyet, kreativ handling og engagement for at sikre hans løsladelse."

Hvis du vil vide mere om Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, kan du finde en interaktiv kronologi over hans liv her.

For interviews: , ,

The #FreeAlKhawaja Campaign is an international campaign advocating for the release of prominent human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja. Al-Khawaja, a dual Danish-Bahraini citizen, was arbitrarily detained and tortured in 2011 in Bahrain for his role in the peaceful Bahraini uprising calling for fundamental freedoms in the country. Al-Khawaja remains wrongfully in prison until this day. 

CIVICUS is the global alliance of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action throughout the world. Established in 1993 and since 2002 proudly headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa with additional hubs across the globe, CIVICUS has more than 15,000 members in more than 175 countries.

Founded in 2012, Salam for Democracy & Human Rights (Salam DHR) is a human rights NGO registered in France, the United Kingdom (UK) & Switzerland. We undertake research & advocacy, mainly in relation to Bahrain, but also the Gulf, the Middle East & North Africa region & in relation to thematic issues, notably statelessness. We engage with other NGOs, notably partners and frequently act in coalition with others to achieve specific targets or outcomes. We engage with intergovernmental organisations and states in order to bring about socio-political reform and ever-improving adherence by states to international human rights standards & practices. The organisation is not, in effect, allowed to register in Bahrain. Salam DHR is mainly crowd funded, notably by philanthropically-minded people & firms in Bahrain & the Gulf. At the time of writing, it has a small portfolio of project-related funding. Salam DHR is independent of all governments.

Also available in Danish

COPENHAGEN/LONDON/JOHANNESBURG – The #FreeAl-Khawaja Campaign, SALAM DHR and the global civil society alliance CIVICUS call on Denmark to do more to secure the release of jailed Danish-Bahraini human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja ahead of the anniversary of Bahrain’s Arab Spring uprising.

“Nearly thirteen years of collective efforts have failed to free Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja,” said Asma Darwish, CIVICUS Campaigns Officer and MENA Advocacy Lead. “It is time for the Danish government to review and revamp its approach to securing his release.”

Al-Khawaja is Bahrain’s leading human rights defender and a winner of the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders. His decades of work have inspired a generation of activists calling for civil and political freedoms. In 2020, CIVICUS added him to its Stand As My Witness campaign calling for the release of jailed human rights defenders, activists, journalists and dissidents around the world.

Following the outbreak of mass gatherings against the regime on February 14, 2011, Bahrain’s security forces arrested Al-Khawaja for calling for civil and political rights. They later convicted him on trumped-up charges in a flawed trial. Bahraini authorities have repeatedly tortured him in the notorious Jau prison, and he has staged numerous hunger strikes.

Despite his international recognition and the arbitrary and unjust nature of his imprisonment, Bahrain has refused to release Al-Khawaja and has prevented family members from visiting him. Given the dire situation, #FreeAl-Khawaja Campaign, Salam DHR and CIVICUS believe Denmark must take more action to secure his release.

“Our requests are simple: Denmark should work closely with Al-Khawaja’s family to develop a new strategy, hold private visits with him in prison and push the European Union to take action to protect his rights as an EU citizen,” said Salam DHR chairman Jawad Fairooz. “Given the Denmark government's commitments to human rights, we believe it can quickly follow through.”

Denmark’s government can particularly do more to press for Al-Khawaja's immediate and unconditional release, the three organisations said. Denmark should directly call for Bahrain’s government to take tangible action to protect his human rights leading to his release, they added.

In addition, the groups call on Denmark’s government to engage the European Union to press Bahrain’s government to free Al-Khawaja, in particular the office of the EU’s High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, the relevant teams in the EEAS and the office of the President of the European Council Charles Michel. Al-Khawaja’s legal and health status must be the subject of EEAS-Government of Bahrain bilateral exchanges with a view to securing his immediate and unconditional release.

On 14 February 2024, the EEAS is expected to provide feedback on its latest round of discussions with the Government of Bahrain.

Since 2011, Denmark’s government has used its platform in the European Union to support resolutions denouncing Bahrain’s human rights abuses in 2014 and 2017. In 2022, Denmark intervened in the UN Human Rights Council to call for al-Khawaja’s release. 

“We acknowledge the Government of Denmark’s advocacy on behalf of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, but we are sorry to say that it has not been enough and more must be done,” said Oskar Stevens, Advocacy Lead of the #FreeAl-Khawaja Campaign. “With Al-Khawaja nearing thirteen years behind bars, now is the time for renewed, creative action and engagement to secure his release.”

For more on Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, an interactive chronology of his life can be found here. 

For interviews: , ,

The #FreeAlKhawaja Campaign is an international campaign advocating for the release of prominent human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja. Al-Khawaja, a dual Danish-Bahraini citizen, was arbitrarily detained and tortured in 2011 in Bahrain for his role in the peaceful Bahraini uprising calling for fundamental freedoms in the country. Al-Khawaja remains wrongfully in prison until this day. 

CIVICUS is the global alliance of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action throughout the world. Established in 1993 and since 2002 proudly headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa with additional hubs across the globe, CIVICUS has more than 15,000 members in more than 175 countries.

Founded in 2012, Salam for Democracy & Human Rights (Salam DHR) is a human rights NGO registered in France, the United Kingdom (UK) & Switzerland. We undertake research & advocacy, mainly in relation to Bahrain, but also the Gulf, the Middle East & North Africa region & in relation to thematic issues, notably statelessness. We engage with other NGOs, notably partners and frequently act in coalition with others to achieve specific targets or outcomes. We engage with intergovernmental organisations and states in order to bring about socio-political reform and ever-improving adherence by states to international human rights standards & practices. The organisation is not, in effect, allowed to register in Bahrain. Salam DHR is mainly crowd funded, notably by philanthropically-minded people & firms in Bahrain & the Gulf. At the time of writing, it has a small portfolio of project-related funding. Salam DHR is independent of all governments.

French | Kirundi  | Swahili

JOHANNESBURG - Global civil society alliance CIVICUS announced on Thursday that it has added jailed Burundian journalist Floriane Irangabiye to its Stand As My Witness campaign, which advocates for the immediate release of wrongly imprisoned journalists, activists, dissidents and human rights defenders around the world.

Irangabiye joins 19 other jailed individuals featured in the campaign, including Iran’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning women’s rights activist Narges Mohammadi, leading Hong Kong activist Chow Hang-Tung and prominent Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez. So far, 25 people featured in the campaign from Nicaragua to Algeria to the Philippines have been released thanks to collective efforts by activists around the globe.

CIVICUS launched Stand As My Witness in 2020 to honor the legacy of South Africa’s former political prisoner Nelson Mandela.

“Our decision to add Florian Irangabiye to Stand As My Witness underscores the tragic and unjust nature of her imprisonment,” said Asma Darwish, CIVICUS Campaigns Officer in charge of Stand As My Witness. “We hope that bringing more attention to her case will hasten her release so she is free to be with her family and continue her life.”

SOS Torture Burundi, a Burundian human rights organisation based in Brussels, joins CIVICUS in calling on Burundi’s authorities to unconditionally free Irangabiye.

“Floriane Irangabiye’s imprisonment does not serve Burundians nor the nation of Burundi, where the authorities must guarantee freedom of the press,” said Gervais Nibigira, Managing Director of SOS Torture Burundi. “We call upon the authorities in Burundi to take a positive step and release Floriane.”

In 2019, Irangabiye co-founded "IGICANIRO," a Rwanda-based online radio station critical of Burundi’s government. On 30 August 2022, Burundi intelligence personnel arrested Irangabiye while she was in Burundi for a relative’s funeral. Authorities falsely charged her with endangering the integrity of the nation.

During her trial, the prosecutor presented no credible evidence, and the court later admitted that her initial interrogation violated proper procedures. Even so, a court convicted her on 2 January 2023 and ordered a ten year sentence, upheld on first appeal. Now, Irangabaye sits in a cell in Bubanza Prison, where her health, already compromised by a longstanding medical condition, has deteriorated further. 

On 11 January 2024, Irangabiye appeared before the Supreme Court’s Appeals Chamber, where her lawyers raised the irregularities in her case. This appeal is currently under advisement.

“Burundi’s authorities should show the world that they respect principles of justice by freeing Floriane Irangabiye,” said Paul Mulindwa, Africa Advocacy Lead at CIVICUS. “We look forward to either the Supreme Court ordering her release or the President of Burundi issuing a pardon so we can all celebrate Floriane’s freedom together.”

For interviews, contact: or  

CIVICUS is the global alliance of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society throughout the world. Established in 1993, CIVICUS has been proudly headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa since 2002 , with additional hubs across the globe. CIVICUS is a membership alliance with more than 15,000 members in more than 175 countries. 

SOS Torture Burundi is an organisation committed to the fight against torture and other human rights violations, the fight against impunity, and the promotion of the rule of law in Burundi since 2015 and  is headquartered in Belgium .  It is a member of the SOS Torture Network of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT).

CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance and the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) are extremely concerned about demonstrations this week aimed at intimidating two human rights organisations in Indonesia for their human rights work. We urge the authorities to guarantee their protection and call upon  presidential candidates and political parties  send  a strong message that such actions will not be tolerated.

Restrictions on free expression and the use of violence against protesters following Senegal’s President Macky Sall’s decision to postpone the February 25 elections are against the government’s human rights obligations, global civil society alliance CIVICUS said today.

Photo credit:  Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR)

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, and Asia Democracy Network (ADN) strongly condemn the conviction of Mongkorn ‘BusBas’ Thirakot, a 30-year-old activist and online clothing retailer from Chiang Rai. 

BusBas has been sentenced to an unprecedented 50 years in prison–the longest in Thailand’s history–for his remarks on the monarchy. This marks the most severe sentence ever issued under Thailand's draconian lèse-majesté (royal defamation)  law, surpassing the previous record set in 2021 when a woman received a 43-year sentence. 

Civic space in Thailand was rated as ‘repressed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor.

Our organisations  express solidarity with BusBas and all pro-democracy defenders in Thailand. We call upon the Thai authorities to release activists, to repeal the lèse-majesté law, and to refrain from further undermining people’s fundamental rights and freedoms.

Suppressing Freedom of Expression

Arrested in April 2021, Bas was initially sentenced to 28 years in January for 14 counts of royal defamation for Facebook posts he made three years ago. On 18 January 2024, the Appeals Court affirmed the original conviction and added 11 more violations to his charges. For each violation, a 3-year imprisonment term was imposed. Considering the defendant's cooperation, a one-third reduction was granted, culminating in a total of 22 years in prison under Article 112 of Thailand's criminal code over his 27 Facebook posts. When combined with the initial 28-year sentence from the Court of First Instance, the overall sentence stands at 50 years of imprisonment.

Lèse-majesté, also known as the offence of injury to royalty, is stipulated in Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Code. This statute specifies that making defamatory, insulting, or threatening remarks about the king, queen, or regent can result in a maximum penalty of 15 years for each alleged violation.

According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, at least 262 individuals have faced charges related to lèse-majesté since 2020. This surge in legal actions coincided with unprecedented youth-led street protests wherein protest leaders openly criticised the monarchy.

‘Thailand as a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) must respect and protect fundamental freedoms for all individuals. We reiterate our call to repeal Article 112 and all other laws used to curtail free speech. Likewise, we demand an immediate and unconditional release of all detainees held in prison under this act. The Thai Government must ensure a secure and supportive environment for all human rights defenders to exercise their basic freedoms as outlined in the ICCPR,’ the organisations stressed.

Overturn the Conviction

FORUM-ASIA, CIVICUS, and ADN are urging the Thai Government to overturn BusBas' conviction. We demand the immediate release of BusBas, pro-democracy activist Arnon Nampa, and all other human rights defenders in Thailand. 

In addition, we endorse the call for the abolition of the lèse-majesté law as its contents and enforcement are in conflict with international human rights standards.

In the first place, individuals exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly should never be criminalised and silenced. Laws that unfairly shield public figures from criticisms and suppress political dissent have no place in  a vibrant civic space. 

We call on the Government of Thailand to fulfil its international obligations by upholding the people's right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

For media inquiries, please contact:

• Communication and Media Programme, FORUM-ASIA,

ARABIC

JOHANNESBURG / PRAGUE – The Egyptian Front for Human Rights (EFHR) and global civil society alliance CIVICUS call on Egypt to immediately free human rights lawyer Hoda Abdel Moneim from prison ahead of her 65th birthday on Sunday January 28.

Abdel Moneim has spent the last five years behind bars following a 2018 arrest on false charges. She was due for release in November 2023, but authorities added new charges against her instead.

“Human rights lawyer Hoda Abdel Moneim is an innocent, elderly woman suffering severe health conditions,” said Ahmed Attalla, the Executive Director of EFHR. “As her 65th birthday approaches, Egyptian authorities should show compassion and release her to her family. Her continued detention after the completion of her prison term is clear evidence of the Egyptian authorities' hostility towards the human rights movement.”

Abdel Moneim served on Egypt's National Council for Human Rights, and has held several other positions, including spokesperson for the Women's Revolutionary Coalition of Egypt, an Islamist group that opposed the removal of former President Mohamed Morsi. CIVICUS profiles Hoda Abdel Moneim as part of the Stand As My Witness campaign, which advocates for the release of jailed activists and human rights defenders worldwide.

Security agents arrested Abdel Moneim on November 1, 2018. They burst into her home at 1:30am, ransacked the house, blindfolded her, and put her in their vehicle before holding her incommunicado for three weeks. They gave no warrant or reason for her arrest.

The Supreme State Security Prosecution eventually charged Hoda Abdel Moneim with joining and funding a terrorist organization and incitement to harm the national economy and other alleged offences under Egypt's anti-terrorism law and penal code.

After an unfair trial full of irregularities, a court convicted Abdel Moneim of most charges. It sentenced her to five years in prison plus another five years of supervised parole where she would spend every night at the police station. But authorities continued detaining her under a new case after the prison term ended.

“The Egyptian authorities already imprisoned Hoda for five years for a crime she did not commit. It’s time to let her walk free,” said Asma Darwish, CIVICUS Campaigns Officer and MENA Advocacy Lead. “She is being persecuted for her human rights activities and should never have been sent to jail in the first place.”

Abdel Moneim’s arrest is illustrative of a system built to crack down on critical voices. In the last ten years, referred to as Egypt’s “worst decade” on human rights, Egyptian authorities have unjustly arrested tens of thousands of people including human rights defenders, members and leading figures of peaceful political opposition, journalists and artists, and online content creators.

The CIVICUS Monitor, which assesses civic space worldwide, rates Egypt as ‘closed,’ its worst ranking.

“Sadly, there are many innocent people like Hoda Abdel Moneim stuck behind bars in Egypt today,” said Darwish. “While we demand her release before her 65th birthday, we call on Egypt to release everyone wrongly imprisoned with her.”

For interviews, contact: or   

Egyptian Front for Human Rights (EFHR) is an independent European organization established in Czech Republic in 2017. The Front works to improve the human rights situation in Egypt through research, advocacy and legal work, specifically in criminal justice. 

CIVICUS is the global alliance of civil society organizations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society throughout the world. A worldwide community of informed, inspired, committed citizens engaged in confronting the challenges facing humanity. We were established in 1993 and since 2002 have been proudly headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with additional hubs across the globe. We are a membership alliance with more than 15,000 members in more than 175 countries. 

Arabic

The Egyptian authorities must immediately release Badr Mohamed, who was unjustly convicted in January 2023 in connection to protests and sentenced to five years in prison after a grossly unfair trial, said the undersigned civil society organizations.

Badr Mohamed was first arrested on 16 August 2013, when he was just 17 years old, during the Ramsis Square protests in Cairo; where security forces used unlawful lethal force to disperse  protesters leading to at least 97 deaths. While he was released on bail after three months, he was later convicted and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment in absentia in August 2017 in connection to the Ramsis Square protests on charges of participation in an illegal gathering and engaging in violence. He was re-arrested in May 2020, and retried on the same charges.  

On 12 January 2023, Badr Mohamed was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison following grossly unfair retrial in front of a terrorism circuit of the Cairo Criminal Court. He was denied the rights to adequate defence, to equality of arms, and to cross-examine witnesses against him and to call witnesses on his behalf. During the trial hearings, Badr Mohamed was kept inside a glass cage where he could not fully observe, hear, or speak during proceedings. He was banned from communicating with his lawyer privately through the pre-trial and trial phases.

Badr Mohamed missed the birth of his daughter Amina who has turned three on 16 January 2024. In a letter written to his daughter from prison in July 2022, he expresses his frustration at not being able to watch her grow: “Mama…Baba (father in Arabic), how beautiful are these words. How sweet is your smile Amina, and how hard it is for your Baba to watch you grow out of a cage! How hard it is, and for how long my heart can take it? The few minutes we spend together are so short my daughter, and every time you say goodbye, I feel like something so special is stolen from me”.

Badr Mohamed is detained in Badr 1 prison, known for its cruel and inhumane detention conditions which violate international law. He is only allowed short family visits once a month which is far from enough to spend time with his daughter. Prison guards often deny or delay written correspondence between him and his loved ones and ban any phone calls. He is held in a small, poorly ventilated cell, which lacks any natural light, together with another 20 detainees. Prisoners are subjected to camera surveillance and fluorescent lights round the clock, which causes severe pain and suffering and violates the absolute prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment. Badr Mohamed also complained about the failure of prison authorities to provide him and other prisoners with sufficient and nutritious food and potable water. Prison authorities also ban books, paper, pens, and climate appropriate clothes, with prisoners complaining of bitter cold in the winter months. These prison conditions have had a detrimental impact on his physical and mental health with his family reporting that he lost significant weight since his detention. Badr Mohamed has also complained about his vision worsening, toothaches, and inability to sleep. Despite this, he has not had access to any healthcare.

Badr Mohamed was first sentenced to five years in prison in August 2017 in absentia on charges of murder of police officers, attempted murder, “destroying public property”, “protesting without authorization”, “attacking the security forces” and “hindering the work of national institutions”, during the Ramsis Square protests of 16 August 2013. He was tried in a grossly unfair mass trial that included 494 defendants, 43 of whom were sentenced to life imprisonment, while 399 were sentenced to between five and 15 years in prison, including eight children. The verdict, examined by Amnesty International, heavily relied on investigations and eyewitness accounts by security forces and other government officials.

After his rearrest in May 2020, he was referred to retrial, as per Egyptian law, before a terrorism circuit of the Cairo Criminal Court in July 2020. Similarly, to the original verdict issued in August 2017, the presiding judge in the retrial relied on secret reports by security forces, to which defendants and their lawyers were denied access, including supposed witness testimonies from police and other security or government officials. Lawyers raised concerns that no material evidence was presented in relation to Badr Mohamed’s alleged participation in protests or violent acts. Amnesty International learned from Badr Mohamed’s lawyers that the court dismissed statements by defence witnesses that he did not take part in the protests. Badr Mohamed has repeatedly maintained that he was in the vicinity of Ramsis Square when violence erupted, and that he ran to the nearby Al-Fath mosque for safety. The security forces then raided the mosque, where tens of protesters and bystanders were trapped, including many who were injured, and arrested Badr and many others.

Badr Mohamed’s trial and retrial took place before dedicated judicial chambers, named terrorism circuits, established in 2014 to try individuals involved in anti-government protests. These chambers have sentenced hundreds of individuals to death, life imprisonment and prolonged prison terms after grossly unfair mass trials. The establishment of these chambers was one of the measures taken by the Egyptian authorities since 2013 to undermine the independence of the judiciary, in effect transforming courts into tools of repression against actual or perceived critics of the government.

Badr Mohamed is among the thousands of individuals arbitrarily detained in Egypt solely for exercising their human rights or following proceedings violating fair trial rights or without legal basis. Those held include human rights defenders, political activists, members of opposition parties, trade unionists, workers, peaceful protesters, journalists, lawyers, social media influencers, members of religious minorities, and medical professionals.

Signatories:

• Amnesty International
• Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE)
• CIVICUS
• Committee For Justice (CFJ)
• Egyptian Front for Human Rights (EFHR)
• Egyptian Human Rights Forum (EHRF)
• Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)
• EgyptWide For Human Rights
• HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement
• International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
• International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
• Middle East Democracy Center (MEDC)

CIVICUS, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), and SUARAM call upon states to use the upcoming human rights review of Malaysia at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to call out its ongoing failure to fully implement previous recommendations related to civic freedoms. 

CIVICUS, a global human rights alliance and the Asia Democracy Network (ADN) call on states to use the upcoming human rights review of China at the UN Human Rights Council to call out its ongoing failure to fully implement previous recommendations related to civic freedoms. This lack of action raises questions on how serious the government is about upholding its international human rights obligations.

Azerbaijan’s ongoing brutal crackdown of journalists must immediately stop and those illegitimately arrested must be freed, said CIVICUS global civil society alliance today. In the lead up to next month's elections and in two months, 15 journalists have been arrested accused of bogus charges. 

The acquittal of prominent human rights defenders Fatia Maulidiyanti and Haris Azhar by the East Jakarta District Court for defamation is a positive development and triumph of justice over repression said CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance today. They should have never been charged in the first place.

“The acquittal of Fatia and Haris, following two years of judicial harassment, is a victory for freedom of expression and for activists in Indonesia who have been speaking up against injustice. The charges brought against the two activists was a clear form of reprisal for their human rights work,” said Josef Benedict, Asia Pacific researcher for CIVICUS.

The defamation charges are in response to a YouTube talk show discussing a civil society investigative report alleging links of Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment and several other authorities to gold mining activities in the Blok Wabu area in Intan Jaya district of Papua. In August 2021, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the minister filed a police report against Fatia and Haris.  

Fatia is the former coordinator of Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (Kontras) and Haris is the Executive Director of Lokataru Foundation. Both are human rights organisations.

In March 2022, after multiple instances of questioning, the Jakarta Police formally indicted Fatia and Haris as suspects in the defamation case under Article 27(3) in conjunction with Article 45 of the Electronic Information and Transaction Law (EIT Law) and Article 310(1) and 311 of the Penal Code.

Since then, they have had to face at least 31 hearings. In November 2023, the public prosecutor called on the court to sentence Fatia to three years and six months in prison, and Haris to four years in prison along with fines.

On 8 January 2024, the East Jakarta District Court found that their actions did not amount to defamation and acquitted them of all charges.

The judicial harassment they faced over the last two years is inconsistent with Indonesia’s Constitution and international human rights commitments, especially under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The EIT Law has been systematically used to harass and intimidate human rights defenders, journalists and critics and restrict their freedom of speech.

The prosecution against them points to another effort to silence critics of human rights violations in Papua. For years, Papuan human rights and pro-independence activists and protestors are often criminalised for treason (makar). Some have been tortured, ill-treated, or killed with impunity.  

“The Indonesian government must stop using restrictive legislation such as the Electronic Information and Transaction Law to target activists, journalists and critics. It must review and repeal all provisions inconsistent with international human rights laws and standards. The government must also end reprisals against human rights defenders and allow human rights defenders and civil society organisations to operate freely and safely,” said Benedict.

15 December 2023: On the 11-year anniversary of the enforced disappearance of Lao civil society leader Sombath Somphone, we, the undersigned civil society organizations and individuals, strongly condemn the Lao government’s continued failure to provide necessary information as to his fate and whereabouts and reiterate our calls to the authorities to deliver truth, justice and reparations to his family.

Arabic

For interviews, please contact: or  

JOHANNESBURG/LONDON - Global civil society alliance CIVICUS and Bahraini organisation Salam for Democracy & Human Rights (Salam DHR) call on Bahrain’s government to immediately release 62-year-old jailed human rights activist Abdul-Hadi al-Khawaja as a goodwill gesture ahead of the country’s 16 December National Day.

al-Khawaja, who is also a Danish citizen, has unjustly spent more than twelve years behind bars, part of a life sentence for a baseless conviction. He now suffers from ill health.

“Abdul-Hadi al-Khawaja’s lengthy, wrongful imprisonment is a stain on Bahrain’s reputation,” said Salam DHR chairman Jawad Fairooz. “If the Bahraini authorities want to improve their international image, they should free him before Bahrain’s National Day. The Danish government must also do much more to free their imprisoned citizen.” 

al-Khawaja has peacefully resisted authoritarianism for decades. He co-founded the Bahrain Center for Human Rights and the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, and his writings and poetry have inspired a generation of activists.

In 2011, Bahraini security forces arrested al-Khawaja as one of the “Bahrain 13” during Arab Spring protests. Prison guards tortured him, and prosecutors accused him without evidence of managing a terrorist organisation and attempting to overthrow the government by force. During his trial, held in a military court, the judges repeatedly silenced him when he spoke about torture. The rest of his co-defendants received sentences of between one year and life in prison, all for convictions on fabricated charges. 

al-Khawaja has undertaken hunger strikes to protest ill treatment of prisoners. Authorities have force-fed him which amounts to torture, prevented family calls and denied medical care. During an August 2023 hunger strike, guards admitted him to a military hospital’s intensive care unit due to heart irregularities. Following treatment and the reported stabilising of his condition, the authorities returned him to Jau Prison where he resumed his strike. 

“The treatment of al-Khawaja and the Bahrain 13 does not serve justice, fairness or human rights. We know this, and the world knows this.” said CIVICUS campaigns officer and MENA Advocacy Lead Asma Darwish. “As we demand al-Khawaja’s release, we also demand the release of all prisoners of conscience in Bahrain to end this dark chapter in the country’s history.”

In 2022, al-Khawaja received the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders. CIVICUS features him in its #StandAsMyWitness Campaign to release jailed activists around the world. 

CIVICUS and Salam DHR further call on the Danish government to work with Bahrain’s authorities to release al-Khawaja. Denmark must demand his freedom and conduct consular visits to ensure his health and safety. Denmark should also raise the issue with top European Union officials and bodies. 

“The Danish government has given some attention to al-Khawaja’s case, but clearly it is not enough,” said Fairooz. “Denmark and the European Union have a responsibility to protect their citizens from torture. They must use every diplomatic and legal tool available to end al-Khawaja’s imprisonment.” 

For interviews, please contact: or  

CIVICUS is the global alliance of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society throughout the world. A worldwide community of informed, inspired, committed citizens engaged in confronting the challenges facing humanity. We were established in 1993 and since 2002 have been proudly headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with additional hubs across the globe. We are a membership alliance with more than 15,000 members in more than 175 countries.

Founded in 2012, Salam for Democracy & Human Rights (Salam DHR) is a human rights NGO. It is registered in France, the United Kingdom (UK) & Switzerland. We undertake research & advocacy, mainly in relation to Bahrain, but also the Gulf, the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region & in relation to thematic issues, notably statelessness. We engage with other NGOs, notably partners and frequently act in coalition with others to achieve specific targets or outcomes. We engage with intergovernmental organisations and states in order to bring about socio-political reform and ever-improving adherence by states to international human rights standards & practices. The organisation is not, in effect, allowed to register in Bahrain. Salam DHR is mainly crowd funded, notably by philanthropically-minded people & firms in Bahrain & the Gulf. At the time of writing, it has a small portfolio of project-related funding. Salam DHR is independent of all governments.

A year on from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim being sworn in as the 10th Prime Minister and forming a unity government, ARTICLE 19 and CIVICUS believe there has been a  lack of progress in undertaking reforms to ensure better human rights protection. At the same time, authorities have continued to restrict fundamental freedoms.

While we note some positive steps, such as the legal reforms passed in April 2023 to remove the mandatory death penalty and reduce the number of offences punishable by death, commitments from Azalina Othman, the minister in the Prime Minister Department (Law and Institutional Reform), in July 2023 to review several existing laws linked to race, religion and royalty (known as 3R issues), as well as the Prime Minister’s announcement in September 2023 that the government has agreed in principle to enact the freedom of information act, the government still needs to do more to ensure human rights reforms in the country.

As with previous governments, the current government does not appear to tolerate criticism, scrutiny, accountability, or dissenting opinions. In the past year, the government has repeatedly suppressed freedom of expression and assembly. This has included targeting human rights defenders, filmmakers, LGBTQI communities, and other minorities that seek to promote and protect human rights, prosecuting them under Malaysia’s many repressive laws. People’s attempts to peacefully assemble have faced restrictions, while the media have faced challenges in undertaking work, including having their content blocked.

As a member of the UN Human Rights Council, the government’s actions to stifle freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are inconsistent with the country’s international human rights obligations and commitments made to the international community. We urge the government to halt the ongoing clampdown on civic space and take steps to reform laws and policies used to stifle dissent.

Use of restrictive laws to stifle freedom of expression.

Since it was adopted in 1998, the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) has emerged as one of the greatest threats to freedom of expression in Malaysia; in the past year, authorities have repeatedly used Section 233 of the law to target online expression, often in conjunction with other laws, such as the Sedition Act, but also at times as a standalone offence. It was reported in early 2023 that 444 cases had been opened for investigation under Section 233 of the CMA between 2020 and 23 January 2023. Approximately 38 cases were prosecuted, 31 cases include convictions, and seven more cases are still under trial.

The colonial-era Sedition Act is routinely abused by authorities, with the Anwar Ibrahim government no exception, to suppress dissent and silence opponents. The law has also been used to stifle discourse concerning racial and ethnic groups, religion, and Malaysian royalty. Furthermore, Sections 298 and 298A of the Penal Code criminalise alleged blasphemy and are often used to restrict expression permitted under international human rights law.

These laws have been used to investigate, arrest, charge, and convict individuals who have criticised government officials, institutions, or Malaysian royalty or shared opinions about sensitive issues such as race or religion. It is common for authorities to use multiple laws to investigate individuals but for the investigation to result in charges under only one (if any) law. Alleging criminality under multiple different laws is a frequent intimidation tactic used by the Malaysian authorities, creating a threatening environment that chills freedom of expression.

Numerous cases were documented in 2023 about the use of these restrictive laws to silence dissent. Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act and Section 233 of the CMA were used not long after the elections in December to arrest and remand a man for three days for allegedly insulting the king on Facebook.

In January 2023, the film makers and artists behind the movie Mentega Terbang (Butter-fly) have faced a distressing witch hunt and threats carried out by both the State and non-state  actors, and by people using social media to target them. In March 2023, the actors and filmmakers were investigated under the under Section 298A of the Penal Code for causing disharmony, Section 505(b) of the Penal Code for statements that lead to public alarm and distress, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998 for improper use of network facilities. In early September 2023, the Minister of Home Affairs banned the  film from screening in Malaysia under Section 26 of the Film Censorship Act (2002). The order was gazetted as Film Censorship (Prohibition) Order 2023 on 1 September 2023.

In July 2023, in the run up to six state elections, the government, through the Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil, sent constant reminders to the public and politicians that any posts or comments on 3R issues will not be tolerated. He also said the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will monitor that speech and expression on social media.  In the same month, Muhammad Sanusi Md Noor, then Caretaker Kedah Chief Minister, was arrested and charged under the Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act. He faced two charges for allegedly expressing seditious statements against the Selangor royal institution on the appointment of the Selangor state Chief Minister.

On 24 November 2023, Razali Idris, Information Chief of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (Bersatu), Terengganu executive councillor and Kijal assemblyman from an opposition political party was charged under the Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act for allegedly making seditious remarks about the court decision against MP Syed Saddiq and another politician who was granted a discharge not amounting to acquittal. He alleged that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and judges were under the control of the current Prime Minister.

The Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA) has been used to suppress political opposition, ban books that may be critical of the government or considered blasphemous to Islam, and curtail freedom of expression in general. Section 7 of the law grants the Home Minister ‘absolute discretion' to ban or censor ‘undesirable publications’ based on vaguely worded criteria.

In May 2023, Malaysian authorities raided 11 nationwide outlets belonging to the Swiss watchmaker Swatch and seized over 100 colourful watches from their ‘Pride Collection’, created to celebrate the Pride movement and promote LGBTQ+ rights ahead of Pride Month in June. The Home Minister also allegedly issued warning notices to five other stores. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has specified that the raids were due to the product line’s association with the LGBTQ+ community, reaffirming the arbitrary and discriminatory nature of the action. The raids and watch seizures were carried out under the PPPA.  The raids are a clear warning to intimidate LGBTQ+ persons into hiding from a government that is threatened by the notion of pride in diverse genders, identities, and sexual orientations. The raids have once again contributed to the ongoing hostility and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, who already feel unsafe and at risk of reprisal for expressing themselves.

In August 2023, Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) officials raided the bookstore Toko Buku Rakyat in Kuala Lumpur and seized two book titles, Marx Sang Pendidik Revolusioner (Marx, the Revolutionary Educator) by Robin Smalls and Koleksi Puisi Masturbasi (the Masturbation Poetry Collection) by Benz Ali, who is also the owner of the bookstore. The confiscation was conducted under the PPPA.

In September 2023, Malaysia’s Court of Appeal ruling to reinstate the nationwide ban on the book ‘Gay is Okay: A Christian Perspective’ represents an alarming continuation in the suppression of freedom of expression in the country. This case traces back to a ban imposed in November 2020 by the Minister of Home Affairs under Section 7 of the PPPA. The ban cited concerns about the book’s content being prejudicial to public order, morality, and public interest. In February 2022, the Kuala Lumpur High Court lifted the ban, emphasizing the lack of evidence supporting the ban’s justification and the violation of procedural fairness. On 23 November, eight Chinese language books published by the Gerakbudaya local bookstore were confiscated by the Ministry of Home Affairs because they allegedly contained ‘communist elements’. According to Gerakbudaya, none of the books were on the Home Affairs's list of publications banned under the PPPA.

Restrictions on media freedom

Our groups continue to document restrictions to media freedom. Under this current government, multiple websites have been restricted by different internet service providers without notice or warning. Many official media outlets, as well as blogs that are critical of the government, have also faced this issue.

On 27 June, MalaysiaNow, an online news platform, was reportedly inaccessible, but only to people who use Celcom and Maxis service providers. Two websites that publish current events and critical political commentary faced a similar issue. On 3 July, Malaysia Today was observed to be blocked from users of the same telecommunications providers. A blog run by a former member of parliament, Wee Choo Keong, was  blocked on 24 July. Choo Keong has threatened legal action against the MCMC a regulatory agency supervised by the Ministry of Communications and Digital if they do not lift the ban on his website.

On 7 August, the government blocked access to the news website UtusanTV.com to at least some internet users. In response to UtusanTV’s inaccessibility, on 10 August communications minister Fahmi Fadzil stated that he did not give any instructions to block the websites.

On 18 August, news website TV Pertiwi claimed that the MCMC, had blocked it. The company received no notice of the alleged block. The MCMC also ordered the media to remove six pieces of content from its website on vague grounds that it allegedly incited ‘hatred towards the royal institution as well as ethnicity and religion, which could potentially disrupt public peace and harmony within the country’, but the TV Pertiwi staff refused to comply with this injunction. Its TikTok account was also banned.

The absence of transparency and explanation underscores the need for a sensitive and sensible balance between regulation and Internet liberties. Under the pretext of preventing misinformation, blocking news portals and critical voices in Malaysia resembles an opaque veil, concealing intentions and disregarding due process.

Restrictions on and harassment of protesters

The Anwar Ibrahim government has yet to address any of the restrictive provisions in the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA). The law contains onerous requirements, such as the need to provide detailed information about the planned event and its organisers, that falls short of international standards. Furthermore, anyone who organises an assembly without giving the required notice can be charged with a criminal offence carrying a fine of up to RM10,000 (USD 2,152). Section 9(5) of PAA requires organisers to notify the police five days before a protest but still lacks an exception to the notice requirement for spontaneous assemblies where it is not practicable to give advance notice. The law also makes it a criminal offence for people under 21 years old to organise an assembly and for children to attend an assembly. Further, non-citizens are also denied the right to organise or participate in protests, which is clearly discriminatory.

In addition, this government has continued to harass protesters for organising and participating in peaceful protests. In February 2023, police recorded statements from 10 individuals and opened two investigation papers under Section 9(5) of the PAA in connection with protest gatherings over Quran burning at two embassies in the capital, Kuala Lumpur. The following month, the police announced it had opened an investigation into seven individuals, including organisers, speakers and participants, under Section 9(5) of the PAA and Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1995 after about 300 people, including human rights defenders and civil society groups, took to the streets in Kuala Lumpur to commemorate International Women’s Day.

Also in March 2023, police opened an investigation into a peaceful gathering held in support of opposition leader and BERSATU party president Muhyiddin Yassin, who was called in by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in Putrajaya. In May 2023, police opened investigation papers under Section 9 (5) of the PAA after at least 400 individuals, including from civil society, participated in a peaceful march for the annual International Labour Day in the centre of Kuala Lumpur. In August 2023, the police said they were investigating a hunger strike outside the Sungai Buloh prison by relatives of those detained under the draconian Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA).

In September 2023, police attempted to block a group of around 50 farmers from the state of Perak – supported by Lawan Lapar, a movement aimed at ensuring food security, and members of the Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM) – from handing over a memorandum at parliament to protest against land eviction measures that were affecting their livelihood. Despite the attempt to block them, they persevered and met representatives from the government as well as parliamentarians outside parliament. Following this, police opened up investigations into the protest under Section 186 of the Penal Code for ‘obstructing civil servants from performing their duties’. On 18 September, three PSM leaders were called in for police questioning.

Separately, police also tried to block the ‘Save Malaysia’ protest organised by opposition groups on 16 September against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) in a corruption case. The police repeatedly demanded publicly that the organisers ‘apply for permit’ despite the law only requiring the organisers to give notice. Following the peaceful protest – in which around 800 people participated – police said they were going to question at least 25 people under the PAA. 

Human rights defenders at risk

Human rights defenders remain at risk in Malaysia and there is a lack of mechanisms to protect them in law and practice.

Sisters in Islam (SIS), a women's rights organisation that promotes the advancement of Muslim women's rights, has been fighting a legal battle for nine years against a Selangor fatwa that labelled them as a deviant group. In March 2023, the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal against the fatwa by SIS.

In July 2023, Myanmar refugee activist Thuzar Maung and her family were abducted by unidentified men from their residence in Ampang Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, based on reports from witnesses and CCTV footage, and have not been seen since. Thuzar Maung is an outspoken supporter of Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement. Their whereabouts remain unknown and questions have been raised about how seriously the police are investigating the case.

In the same month, there was an attempt on the life of lawyer and human rights defender Siti Kasim after an improvised explosive device (IED) was found under her car. The object – plastic bottles with wires inside – was found attached to the undercarriage of her vehicle after she had sent it for servicing at a workshop in Kuala Lumpur. The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, on 9 August 2023 called on the government to ‘effectively investigate the attack & ensure her safety’. However, no one has been brought to justice for the crime.

In October 2023, Wong Yan Ke, a former student activist who works at Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), a leading human rights organisation., was found guilty under Section 504 of Malaysia’s Penal Code. This followed his actions during the university’s convocation ceremony in October 2019, when he raised a placard and shouted slogans accusing the Vice Chancellor of the university of making ‘racist’ remarks during the Malay Dignity Congress and calling for the official’s resignation. He was subsequently fined RM5,000 (approx. USD 1,200). The court ordered that he spend three months in jail should he fail to pay the fine.

In the same month, three land rights defenders were arrested for trying to block a forced eviction by the Perak state government. One of them was shoved by an officer from the Land and Minerals Office and suffered injuries to her nose and mouth, as well as wounds on her legs and hands, and has required medical treatment.

On a positive note, in November 2023, Chang Lih Kang, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, acknowledged the role of human rights defenders in advocating for the rights and concerns of marginalised communities. The minister said that ‘they act as watchdogs, exposing injustices, discrimination, and human rights violations that might otherwise go unnoticed’.

Human rights obligations

The Unity government’s actions are inconsistent with Malaysia’s human rights obligations to respect and protect fundamental freedoms, as well as constitutional guarantees under Article 10 of the Malaysian Constitution for freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. Furthermore, during Malaysia’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in 2018, the government made commitments to repeal the draconian Sedition Act, Peaceful Assembly Act and other laws that restrict fundamental freedoms. However, nearly four years on, no progress has been made on these commitments.

On 14 October 2021, the UN General Assembly elected Malaysia to join the UN Human Rights Council from 2022 to 2024. In line with pledges made in its efforts to win the seat, the Malaysian government committed to human rights protections in Malaysia. However, there has been a continued deterioration in the state of human rights and fundamental freedoms under the previous and the current government. At the upcoming Universal Periodic Session at the Human Rights Council in Geneva in January 2024, the government has another opportunity to renew its commitments to human rights protection. 

Recommendations:

• Sign and ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and all other major international human rights treaties;
• Issue a standing invitation to all Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council, and prioritise arranging visits for the Special Rapporteurs on freedom of opinion and expression, on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, on human rights defenders, and on freedom of religion or belief;
• Bring national laws into compliance with international human rights law, including the right to freedom of opinion and expression, by repealing or reforming the Sedition Act 1948, the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA) in line with international freedom of expression standards, including repealing Section 233(1)(a);
• Reform the Penal Code to protect the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including by repealing Sections 504 and 505(b), 298 and 298A (1) of the Penal Code;
• Cease the judicial harassment of persons, in particular journalists, social media users, human rights defenders, artists, and cultural performers, for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, and freedom of religion or belief, drop all pending criminal charges for such acts, and release all those detained for the exercise of these rights;
• Develop, with the full and effective participation of civil society, a national action plan to promote inclusion, diversity and pluralism, including by implementing Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18 and the Rabat Plan of Action;
• Amend the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 to guarantee fully the right to freedom of peaceful assembly as provided in international law and standards. In particular, repeal provisions that prevent children and non-citizens from organising and participating in protests. Further, provide an exception to the notice requirement for spontaneous assemblies where it is not practicable to give advance notice, and remove excessive fines currently imposed on protests and organisers;
• Halt the systematic questioning, harassment and arrest of protesters under the Peaceful Assembly Act and other laws for exercising their right to freedom of peaceful assembly;
• Provide human rights defenders (HRDs) with a safe and secure environment in which to carry out their work, conduct impartial, thorough and effective investigations into all cases of enforced disappearances, attacks, harassment and intimidation against them and bring the perpetrators of such offences to justice;
• Establish mechanisms that protect HRDs, including by working with civil society to adopt a specific law on the protection of HRDs;
• Ensure that any processes to review and reform legislation are fully transparent and ensure the full and effective participation of all concerned stakeholders, including civil society.

For further inquiries please contact:

1. Nalini Elumalai, Senior Malaysia Program Officer at ARTICLE 19, .
2. Josef Benedict, CIVICUS Asia Pacific Researcher, .

We the undersigned are writing to you to raise concern regarding the decision by several European governments to suspend or review their funding to several Palestinian and Israeli civil society organizations. We are deeply concerned by these developments and call on your government to reverse any decision to halt such crucial funding. A reduction in funds to these groups and organizations erodes human rights protections across Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and call into question your ability to credibly promote and protect universal human rights values across the Middle East and North Africa.

The undersigned organisations, human rights groups, and defenders are calling for the Indonesian Government to end its judicial harassment against prominent human rights defenders, Fatia Maulidiyanti and Haris Azhar as well as to further protect all human rights defenders in the country.

Fatia and Haris’ Indictment
Fatia is the former coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) from 2020 to 2023; meanwhile, Haris is the co-founder of Lokataru Foundation. They are both facing a defamation charge under Article 27 paragraph (3) in conjunction with Article 45 paragraph (3) of the Electronic and Information Transaction (EIT) Law.

Fatia and Haris have experienced 28 hearings since 3 April 2023. During the indictment reading on the 28th hearing on 12 November, the lead prosecutor advised the Court to sentence Fatia to three years and six months in prison alongside a fine of 500,000 rupiah (USD32), and Haris to four years in prison alongside a fine of one million rupiah (USD65). The latter is the maximum punishment set under the (EIT) law.

The case was brought by Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs, after the duo appeared on Haris’ YouTube channel to discuss a report alleging the involvement of several national and multinational companies in mining operations in Intan Jaya, Papua. The allegations included those affiliated with political figures such as Panjaitan.

‘We are extremely concerned about the indictment of Fatia and Haris as this reveals just how dangerous it is to be a human rights defender in Indonesia. For merely speaking truth to power, seeking justice and accountability, and expressing evidence-based criticisms against the government, the likes of Fatia and Harris are being silenced. Such judicial harassment would have never happened in a healthy democratic context. Fatia and Harris’ ordeal reveals the deterioration of Indonesia’s civic and democratic space,’ the groups said collectively.

Breaching international obligation
The ongoing criminalisation of Fatia and Haris is in contravention with several of Indonesia’s international commitments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Instead of upholding people’s right to freedom of expression, the government chose to deploy defamation charges against Fatia and Harris. Indonesia has also breached its pledge–made upon its reelection as a member of the United Nations Human
Rights Council from 2024 to 2026–to preserve the fundamental civil and political rights of all persons.

Call for Action
The criminalisation of Fatia and Haris for simply criticising a government official is a breach of Indonesia’s obligation to uphold people’s fundamental freedoms–especially free expression– under the ICCPR. Such criminalisation not only undermines the work of human rights defenders, but also creates a chilling effect on free speech and dissenting voices. Therefore, leading to the verdict, scheduled to be given on the 18th December, it is imperative for all stakeholders–including the international community and general public–to urge the Court to acquit Fatia and Haris of all charges and for the government to immediately end judicial harassment against the defenders.

‘We are in solidarity with Fatia and Haris. We cannot remain silent. The work of human rights defenders is and will always be essential to upholding democracy and human rights for all. We call on the Indonesian Government to stop its criminalisation of defenders and to refrain from enacting further harm against them,’ the groups voiced together.

Signatories:
1. Agora International Human Rights Group
2. Ain o Slaish Kendra (ASK)
3. Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (AJI)
4. ALTSEAN-Burma
5. Amnesty International Indonesia
6. ANTI
7. Anti Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN)
8. ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship
9. ASEAN SOGIE Caucus
10. ASEAN Youth Forum
11. Asia Alliance Against Torture (A3T)
12. Asia Democracy Network
13. Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR)
14. Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD)
15. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
16. Asosiasaun HAK (Timor-Leste)
17. AWAM Pakistan
18. AwazCDS-Pakistan
19. Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) India
20. Bir Duino
21. Bytes for All, Pakistan (B4A)
22. Canadian Civil Liberties Association
23. Capital Punishment Justice Project (CPJP)
24. Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD)
25. Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS)
26. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
27. Civil Society and Human Rights network (CSHRN)
28. Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS)
29. Community Resource Centre (CRC)
30. Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCf) Thailand
31. DAKILA
32. Defence of Human Rights Pakistan
33. DeJusticia Colombia
34. Dignity-Kadyr-kassiyet (KK)
35. Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
36. ELSAM
37. Ensemble contre la peine de mort (ECPM)
38. FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
39. Franscisans International
40. Frontline Defenders
41. Harm Reduction International
42. Human Rights and Development Foudation (HRDF) Thailand
43. Human Rights Defenders’ Alert – India (HRDA)
44. Human Rights Hub (HRH)
45. Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC) Australia
46. Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) India
47. Human Rights Lawyers Association Thailand
48. Human Rights Watch
49. Human Rights Working Group (HRWG)
50. Humanis
51. Imparsial
52. Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI)
53. INFORM Human Rights Documentation Centre
54. Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID)
55. International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations (INCLO)
56. Judicial System Monitoring Program (JSMP)
57. Karapatan Alliance Philippines (KARAPATAN)
58. La'o Hamutuk
59. Law and Society Trust (LST)
60. League for the Defence of Human Rights in Iran (LDDHI)
61. Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI)
62. Legal Resource Centre (LRC)
63. Liberty — United Kingdom
64. Madaripur Legal Aid Association (MLAA)
65. Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN)
66. Manushya Foundation
67. Medical Action Group (MAG) Philippines
68. Milk Tea Alliance Indonesia (ID Milk Tea)
69. Milktea Alliance - Friends of Myanmar
70. MUSAWI Pakistan
71. National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP)
72. New Naratif
73. Odhikar Bangladesh
74. People’s Watch – India
75. People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy(PSPD)
76. Philippine Alliance for Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)
77. Programme Against Custodial Torture and Impunity (PACTI)
78. Progressive Voice
79. PurpleCode Collective
80. Pusat KOMAS
81. Pusat Studi Hukum dan Kebijakan (PSHK)
82. Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU)
83. RRR Collective
84. Safety and Risk Mitigation Organization (SRMO)
85. SHAPE-SEA
86. South Asia Youth Network (SAYN)
87. Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SafeNet)
88. Sri Lanka Democracy Network (SLDN)
89. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
90. Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)
91. The Asia Alliance Against Torture (A3T)
92. The Awakening – A Society for Social & Cultural Development
93. The Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI)
94. The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union
95. The Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI)
96. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL)
97. Think Centre
98. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
99. YAPPIKA

For media inquiries, please contact:
• Communication and Media Programme, FORUM-ASIA,

We, the undersigned organisations, call for the immediate and unconditional release of human rights defenders Khurram Parvez and Irfan Mehraj, who are currently being detained in Rohini jail in India. Khurram has been in pre-trial detention for two years now, on politically motivated charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), an Indian counter-terror law that violates international human rights standards.

CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance, calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to immediately and unconditionally drop charges against youth activist and stand-up comedian Nathasha Edirisooriya. The government must stop using judicial harassment to silence free speech.

Arabic

With the start of COP28 in Dubai in a month,  346 civil society organisations call on the Emirati authorities, UN and State Parties to guarantee an inclusive COP and release jailed human rights defenders in the UAE. The letter stresses the imperative for the organisers to put ordinary citizens, including excluded communities, at the centre of the conference as more 70,000 people gather from 30 November to 12 December 2023 for COP28.

CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) are gravely concerned about the use of disproportionate force during demonstrations led by the main opposition party in Dhaka on 28 October 2023. Our organisations call for an independent and impartial investigation into the violations and for the authorities to respect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly.

CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance, calls on Hong Kong authorities to immediately end the repeated use of solitary confinement and free lawyer and activist Chow Hang-Tung. Chow has faced solitary confinement six times in the last four months and has been unjustly targeted for exercising her freedom of expression.

CIVICUS statement at the 77th Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights   

Agenda Item 3 (Human rights situation in Africa)

Statement on the situation of environmental human rights defenders in Africa

Delivered by Paul Mulindwa 

Global civil society alliance CIVICUS and partners under Environmental Rights Legal Framework Coalition congratulate the Chair, on your re-election for the 2^nd mandate as the chair of the Commission, and we commit to a continued collaboration. We welcome this opportunity to address the African Commission on the situation of environmental human rights defenders in Africa.

Honourable Chairperson, the situation of environmental human rights defenders across Africa in 2023 continues to be dire, in the face of ever-increasing environmental degradation, natural disasters caused by the effects of climate change, and abuses against vulnerable communities for profit or so-called progress. Increased armed conflicts and insecurity have left communities in extractive areas particularly vulnerable to abuses without safe access to courts or remedy.

Between January 2015 – March 2023, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre tracked more than 4,700 global attacks against human rights defenders raising concerns about harmful business practices, with 75% of these attacks being against environmental human rights defenders. 431 of the attacks documented were against defenders in Africa, including 68 attacks in 2022 and 2023.

Despite the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and subsequent instruments recognising most of the rights affected by climate change, many vulnerable communities including Indigenous Peoples  are adversely affected. Yet, in 2023, many African governments still face significant challenges in the implementation and enforcement of such frameworks.

The closing of civic space through restrictive legislation, judicial harassment, intimidation and attacks against indigenous peoples, civil society organisations, media actors, and environmental and land defenders create real barriers for progress. Increases in attacks against human rights defenders and communities has been exacerbated by harmful business practices across the continent.

The lack of regulation and accountability for violations of environmental rights and environmental degradation, and against environmental defenders, particularly by the business sector, jeopardises Africa’s vision 2063 for prosperous sustainable development in a continent-wide free trade area.

CIVICUS also commends the Commission for passing its Resolution on Business and Human Rights in Africa (ACHPR/Res.550 (LXXIV) 2023) as a critical first step in regional implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and advancing the business and human rights agenda and notes the urgent need for the establishment of a regional instrument for accountability for corporate entities for environmental abuses.

Honourable Chairperson, we therefore urge the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to:

1. Adopt a resolution for the drafting of a regional instrument for the protection of  Environmental Rights in Africa.

2. Expedite the process of the drafting of an African Regional Instrument to Regulate the Activities of Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises, towards ensuring accountability and access to remedy for business-related human rights violations in Africa, with particular focus on marginalized and vulnerable populations, in accordance with Resolution on Business and Human Rights in Africa (ACHPR/Res.550 (LXXIV) 2023).

3. Adopt a resolution for a moratorium on resource extraction activities in conflict and fragile state in Africa.

^{Credit: Parti Sosialis Malaysia}

ARTICLE 19 and CIVICUS are concerned by the arrests of three land rights defenders and a farmer for trying to block a forced eviction by the Perak state government on 24 October.  Our organisations are also disturbed by the way the authorities conducted the eviction and the use of force against a human rights defender.

We, the undersigned digital and human rights organizations, join the open call for an immediate ceasefire to end the ongoing bloodshed in Gaza, to halt a humanitarian catastrophe, and to prevent further loss of innocent lives in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, and beyond. We further call on governments, international institutions, tech companies, and other international stakeholders to take responsibility for their actions which have enabled and abetted Israel’s unrestrained and indiscriminate attacks on civilians in Gaza, and to now take the necessary steps to help achieve an immediate ceasefire and more lasting peace. This includes upholding a "digital ceasefire" to bring an immediate end to online attacks targeting Palestinians around the world. 

More than 4,200 people are reported killed and thousands more injured, missing, or trapped beneath rubble. A further 1.1 million Palestinians have been ordered by the Israeli military to evacuate from northern Gaza with no safe shelters which, according to the UN, would amount to a forcible transfer of civilians — a crime against humanity. The ongoing atrocities, including the repeated attacks against health facilities and personnel, have led to unfathomable destruction, trauma, and loss of civilian life. This continuous escalation of violence comes on top of an illegal and inhumane blockade on Gaza depriving millions of people of basic needs, including food, water, medicine, and electricity.

The people of Gaza — who have lived under military occupation,and injustice for 56 years in what is now understood as a system of apartheid — are also experiencing a near-complete communications blackout. Information has become scarce and capacity to document atrocities perpetrated on the ground is severely hindered. The disruption of internet access and targeting of telecommunications infrastructure is helping fuel the dissemination of disinformation campaigns and war propaganda on social media platforms and across mainstream media, as it becomes harder to access and verify first-hand information or conduct independent investigations into atrocities committed on the ground.

Globally, Palestinian voices and those who support their cause have been muffled and silenced through a wide campaign of digital repression, including disinformation, censorship, online harassment, doxxing, and shadowbanning. Governments who regularly call for strong protection of human rights are emboldening Israel’s indiscriminate attacks by cracking down on free expression and peaceful assembly, online and offline. Likewise, social media companies have so far failed to address the alarming levels of disinformation and misinformation on their platforms, which are contributing to offline violence, dehumanization, and justifying attacks against civilians. Paired with inequitable, biased over-enforcement of content moderation policies, this is resulting in the silencing and deplatforming of Palestinians.

Further to the humanitarian blockade enforced by Israel on the ground, the flow of humanitarian aid has also been disrupted due to targeted cyberattacks affecting relief groups, including Medical Aid for Palestine (MAP). Websites, news agencies, and collectives providing resources and coverage have faced periodic DDoS attacks, causing their websites to go down. Meanwhile, Israel’s attorney general has approved shutting down Al Jazeera’s office, one of the few international media outlets with correspondents on the ground providing 24/7 live coverage from Gaza, further hindering press freedom and access to information in Gaza.

Despite these barriers, human rights defenders and journalists have documented evidence of multiple international humanitarian law violations since the start of this phase of the conflict, both by Hamas in its October 7 attacks on civilians in Israel and by Israeli authorities in the course of their ongoing military offensive in Gaza. Such violations include Israel's use of white phosphorus ammunition in densely populated areas, which can be considered an unlawful indiscriminate attack on civilians; the targeting of journalists, with at least 21 killed since the start of the war; and the blocking of aid from reaching Gaza. Civilian medical facilities have also repeatedly come under attack, with 51 attacks against healthcare facilities resulting in 15 health workers killed and 27 injured, including the recent explosion at the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital on Tuesday, October 17.

The international community has an obligation to ensure an immediate ceasefire comes into effect. An end to the continued loss of life must be the utmost priority, and governments, companies, and other stakeholders alike must each uphold their duty to respect and protect human rights by joining the call to end hostilities. 

All parties to the conflict must:

• Immediately cease the indiscriminate targeting of civilian infrastructure, including medical, energy, and telecommunications infrastructure, and, more broadly, halt the use of explosive weapons in urban areas; 
• Take all feasible precautions to protect civilians and refrain from indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks;
• Protect the physical and digital safety, dignity, and integrity of anyone deprived of liberty and under their control –including protection from public curiosity on social media and other communication channels– and refrain from using disinformation campaigns;
• Ensure that all persons deprived of liberty without due process are allowed to return safely to their families – including through the assistance of neutral intermediaries such as the ICRC, who have been offering their support through traditional channels and publicly on social media; and
• Uphold and demonstrate through actions their adherence to international humanitarian law.

In particular, Israeli authorities must:

• Immediately and unconditionally allow free, unhindered, and safe humanitarian access to Gaza and its population and facilitate the delivery of lifesaving assistance. This includes restoring freedom of movement for individuals and goods in besieged areas, as well as the electricity and water supply – noting, however, that the restoration of access to these services is necessary but insufficient, and does not supercede the call for a total and immediate ceasefire; 
• Ensure that the civilian population has access to free, reliable, stable, open, and secure telecommunications infrastructure, enabling them to receive early warnings, communicate with humanitarian services and their loved ones, and otherwise exercise their fundamental human rights;
• Ensure the protection of health providers, humanitarian personnel, journalists, and other specially protected actors. This also includes addressing the spread of coordinated disinformation campaigns that undermine the neutrality of their work and increase their vulnerability;
• Rescind orders for civilians to evacuate northern Gaza; and
• End its illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip and its ongoing military occupation of the Palestinian territories. 

Private sector actors must:

• Adhere and uphold their responsibilities to respect human rights and mitigate any risks or negative impacts of their policies, actions, and services, as per the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and publicly and consistently communicate steps taken to ensure continued respect for human rights; 
• Expand and include in their heightened due diligence efforts all potential areas of their business, including, for example, reviewing customers’ purchasing of targeted advertising services in the region and elsewhere for propaganda purposes;
• Take measures to further protect the accounts and data of users from hacking, surveillance, censorship, and other threats, and to strengthen infrastructure against unlawful access;
• Ensure complete transparency of received government requests — both on the basis of the law or the terms and conditions — submitted by the Israeli public authorities, including the Cyber Unit. At a minimum, disclose the type of content enforcement; and data regarding the amount of content removed in Arabic, and compliance rate with government requests, including legal basis for restrictions; 
• Clearly communicate to users any limitations, restrictions, or changes to service they may experience;
• Provide transparency with respect to where machine learning systems are being used to moderate content related to Palestine and Israel, including indicators of the accuracy, the possible rate of error, and machine learning classifiers;
• Provide information about parameters used by content recommender systems with explanations for why certain information is shown to individuals, including the most important criteria for determining what information will be shown to whom; 
• Fully investigate any cyber attacks that undermine human rights, and limit the reach of state and non-state sponsored propaganda actors and the spread of disinformation with any restriction being in compliance with the rule of law and the principles legality, legitimacy, necessity, and proportionality;
• Preserve and be prepared to openly share, where possible, documentation of violence, for potential future efforts to hold people accountable for violating humanitarian law and human rights violations and ensure victims’ access to remedy; and
• For investors and financial institutions linked to businesses operating in the region, hold these businesses accountable for full transparency on their business conduct and the above requirements. 

Global leaders must:

• Use all available channels to urge parties to the conflict, as well as businesses, to immediately implement the actions outlined above;
• Demand an end to the blockade in defense of access to essential goods and services, as governments including the US have done in other recent conflicts; 
• Call for the full and transparent investigation of war crimes and crimes against humanity, also through the financial and political support of the investigation capacities of the International Criminal Court, and the exploration of alternative options for an independent international tribunal or a hybrid court, as the European Union proposed after the Russian invasion of Ukraine;
• The European Union and United States must call for the Israeli government to strictly abide by international humanitarian law; and
• The European Union and United States must end their endorsement of the Israeli government’s response to avoid any complicity with the ongoing perpetration of war crimes and crimes against humanity. 

Signatories:

Organizations

1. 7amleh - The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media
2. Access Now
3. Accountability Counsel
4. Advocacy for Principled Action in Government
5. AlgoRace
6. ALQST
7. Alternatif Bilisim (AIA-Alternative Informatics Association)
8. Alternative Press Syndicate - Lebanon
9. Annir Initiative
10. Arab Center for Cyberspace Research.ACCR
11. Asociación Conexión Segura y Libre
12. Aspiration
13. Association Droits, Justice et Accueil des Migrants d’Afrique et d’Ailleurs (DJAMAA)
14. Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE)
15. Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
16. AsyLex
17. Bloggers of Zambia (BloggersZM)
18. Business and Human Rights Resource Centre 
19. Barracón Digital
20. CARD Ethiopia
21. Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)
22. Centre for Peace Studies, Croatia
23. Citizen D - Državljan D
24. CIVICUS
25. Coding Rights
26. Comision Legal Sol 
27. Common Cause Zambia
28. comun.al, Digital Resilience Lab
29. Convocation Research + Design
30. Código Sur
31. CyberPeace Institute
32. DAIR (Distributed AI Research Institute)
33. DIG/SEC Initiative
34. Digital Rights Foundation (DRF)
35. Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)
36. Equinox Initiative for Racial Justice
37. Eurasian Digital Foundation
38. European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN)
39. European Legal Support Center (ELSC)
40. European Network of People of African descent (ENPAD)
41. European Sex Workers Rights Alliance (ESWA)
42. FairSquare
43. Fight for the Future
44. Foundation for Media Alternatives
45. Fundacion InternetBolivia.org
46. Fundacion Karisma
47. Global Voices
48. Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR)
49. Hand in Hand Against Racism
50. Hijas de Internet
51. INSM Foundation for Digital Rights
52. INSPIRIT Creatives NGO
53. Instituto de Asuntos Culturales, España (IACE)
54. International Network of Liberal Women (INLW)
55. International Press Centre (IPC)
56. International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
57. Intersection Association for Rights and Freedoms – Tunisia
58. Irish Council for Civil Liberties
59. Jordan Open Source Association (JOSA)
60. Kandoo
61. KISA - Action for Equality, Support, Antiracism (Cyprus)
62. LaLibre.net Tecnologías Comunitarias
63. Libya Crimes Watch (LCW)
64. Libyan American Alliance
65. Lucy Parsons Labs
66. Majal.org
67. Masaar-Technology and Law Community
68. May First Movement Technology
69. MENA Rights Group
70. Next Billion Network
71. NOVACT Institute for Nonviolence
72. Nubian Rights Forum
73. Numun Fund
74. Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI)
75. Petites Singularités
76. Privacy Network
77. Purposeful
78. Red Line for Gulf
79. Refugee Wellbeing & Integration Initiative, Netherlands
80. RosKomSvoboda
81. SMEX
82. Solidarité Laïque Méditerranée
83. SUDS - Associació Internacional de Solidaritat i Cooperació
84. Sukaar Welfare Organization
85. Sukuamis | Saberes y Sanacion 
86. Sursiendo
87. Statewatch
88. Surveillance Resistance Lab
89. The Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM)
90. Taiwan Association for Human Rights (TAHR)
91. Taraaz
92. Techies for Reproductive Justice
93. The Tor Project
94. Transgress Digital Collective
95. Tunisian United Network
96. Waterford Integration Services, IRELAND

Individuals (organizational affiliation for identification purposes only)

1. Adam Shapiro, DAWN
2. Adel Abdel-Sadek, Writer and CEO of ACCR
3. Afsaneh Rigot, Director and Founder, De|Center
4. Ahmed Galai, human rights activist, Tunisia
5. Alex Argüelles, technologist
6. Amanda Bennett, IT & cybersecurity professional
7. Ana Elvira García López, Coordinator of the Circle U.Think and Do Tank on the Future of Higher Education, Master MiM alumni
8. Apirak Nanthaseree, Lawyer, Rising Sun Law
9. Arpita Appannagari, reproductive freedom advocate
10. Asli Telli, Digital Rights Researcher and Activist
11. Azamaare S., Technologist and community organizer
12. Chatmanee Taisonthi, Lawyer, Rising Sun Law
13. Cyrus Sayah
14. Dalia Impiglia, master student, Global Campus of Human Rights
15. Dr. Mirjam Twigt
16. Ekaterine Kolesnikova, Master MiM alumni
17. Hajira Maryam, Media Manager, journalist
18. Jillian C. York, writer
19. Judith Membrives i Llorens, Digital Rights Activist - Algorights
20. Kinan Alajak, Director, Refugee Wellbeing and Integration Initiative / Assistant researcher, Utrecht University
21. Koen Leurs, associate professor, Utrecht University
22. Lassane Ouedraogo, Former Chairperson & Board of Directors, Africa Solidarity Centre Ireland
23. Lena Richter, Master MiM alumni; PhD researcher
24. Luca Stevenson, ESWAdR
25. Luke Olynyk, human rights advocate
26. Mahsa Alimardani, researcher and advocate
27. Matt Mahmoudi, Affiliate Lecturer, University of Cambridge
28. Meera Ghani, human rights defender
29. Mher Hakobyan, human rights advocate
30. Nancy Awad, human rights lawyer
31. Nada Baher, Master MiM alumni
32. Nicole Lopez, Director of Technology, reproductive freedom organizer
33. Nissaf Slama, human rights activist
34. Novita Pratiwi, workers
35. Øyvind Hanssen, board member, EFN
36. Raphael Tsavkko Garcia, Journalist
37. Rebecca Ballard, ESG
38. Rebecca Williams, ACLU
39. Safiya Umoja Noble, Author, Algorithms of Oppression 
40. Saloua Abdou Elaniou, Master MiM Alumni
41. Sofia Enault, Master MiM alumni
42. Tuuli Sauren, Art Director, Humanrights activist
43. Vladimir Cortés, master student, Global Campus of Human Rights
44. Yigit Aydin, ESWA

ARABIC

JOHANNESBURG – Global civil society alliance CIVICUS calls on the United Arab Emirates to immediately release human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor ahead of his 54^th birthday on 22 October. Mansoor has spent the last six years in prison as the last activist in the UAE to speak publicly against abuses by the Emirati government.

“Ahmed Mansoor should not spend another birthday behind bars,” said CIVICUS Advocacy and Campaigns lead David Kode. “There is no justification for his imprisonment. The UAE authorities should release him immediately.”

Authorities arrested Mansoor in 2017 in the dead of night at his home in front of his wife and four young sons. Over a year later, they handed him a ten-year prison sentence after unjustly convicting him of “publishing false reports on social media” and “insulting the prestige of the UAE.” The convictions are clearly retaliation for Mansoor’s peaceful human rights work, including his attempts to publicise the flawed trials of other UAE human rights defenders. For the majority of the last six years, prison officials have kept Mansoor in solitary confinement without even a bed or running water.

“Mansoor’s imprisonment has nothing to do with the rule of law and everything to do with UAE’s fear of peaceful dissent and free speech,” said Kode. “The harsh treatment he has endured amounts to torture and must stop now.”

Mansoor is a member of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights Advisory Board and the Advisory Committee of Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North Africa Division. In 2015, he won the prestigious Martin Ennals Award for his courage defending human rights in the UAE. CIVICUS recognizes Ahmed Mansoor as part of the Stand As My Witness campaign, which advocates for the release of jailed activists and human rights defenders worldwide.

The UAE, due to host the UN COP28 climate conference this year in Dubai, is one of the most restrictive countries for human rights defenders, activists and journalists. The CIVICUS Monitor, which assesses civic space worldwide, rates the country as “closed,” its worst ranking. Dozens of human rights defenders, academics and bloggers are in prison in the UAE on bogus convictions, including many held beyond their sentences. Others have fled to exile to avoid reprisals.

“The UAE is using COP28 to whitewash the fact that it treats human rights defenders like criminals,” said Kode. “For this year’s COP meeting in Dubai to have any legitimacy, Emirati leaders should free Ahmed Mansoor and all other activists behind bars.”

For interviews, contact:

 CIVICUS is the global alliance of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society throughout the world. A worldwide community of informed, inspired, committed citizens engaged in confronting the challenges facing humanity. We were established in 1993 and since 2002 have been proudly headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with additional hubs across the globe. We are a membership alliance with more than 15,000 members in more than 175 countries.

JOHANNESBURG – Ahead of the third anniversary of the arrest of Mexican human rights defender Kenia Ines Hernandez, global civil society alliance CIVICUS calls on the country’s authorities to release her without delay. Police first arrested Hernandez on 18 October 2020. She is an internationally recognized defender of women survivors of male violence, as well as indigenous communities and their lands.

“As with many human rights defenders in Mexico, authorities have persecuted Kenia Hernandez for her work supporting marginalised people, rather than for any legal reason,” said David Kode, Advocacy and Campaigns Lead at CIVICUS. “She has been in jail for far too long on a false conviction and should be released immediately to her family.”

Herndandez was convicted in March 2022 on charges of “aggravated robbery” and sentenced to 11 years and 3 months in prison after a highly flawed trial that failed to meet international standards. Authorities repeatedly prevented Hernandez from accessing her legal representatives and participating in-person in some parts of her case.

Hernandez, who turned 34 this September, is the coordinator of El Colectivo Libertario Zapata Vive (The Zapata Vive Libertarian Collective) and co-founder and member of the Movement for the Freedom of Political Prisoners of the State of Guerrero. CIVICUS recognises Hernandez as part of the Stand As My Witness campaign, which advocates for the release of jailed activists and human rights defenders worldwide.

“Hernandez’ continued imprisonment is a strategy by the authorities to prevent her from doing her legitimate work defending the rights of women and indigenous communities,” said Kode. “There is no evidence she committed any crime.”

Since her arrest, Hernandez’ health has deteriorated due to unsanitary prison conditions, and in 2021, she went on a hunger strike to protest her unjust detention and subpar treatment. Her experience is symptomatic of how Mexico targets indigenous rights defenders and restricts civic space. The CIVICUS Monitor, which assesses civic space worldwide, rates Mexico as “repressed,” one step above its worst ranking “closed.”

For interviews, contact:

CIVICUS is the global alliance of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society throughout the world. A worldwide community of informed, inspired, committed citizens engaged in confronting the challenges facing humanity. We were established in 1993 and since 2002 have been proudly headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with additional hubs across the globe. We are a membership alliance with more than 15,000 members in more than 175 countries.

Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS expressly condemns the continued bombardment of civilians in the ongoing conflict in Gaza and calls on all parties to stop the violence to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe. 

We are appalled by the immense loss of life in the conflict and incalculable suffering being imposed on civilians. Warning by the Israeli military to more than 1.1 million Palestinians in northern Gaza to evacuate southwards amounts to forcible displacement and will have dire consequences and lead to an unprecedented loss of lives and destruction of homes. Disruption of basic necessities such as electricity, food, water supply and fuel are causing immense suffering and must stop. Imposition of collective punishment on civilians by bombarding them and their homes amounts to war crimes. 

CIVICUS stands against all human rights abuses and war crimes. We firmly believe that preventing future outbreaks of violence necessitates respect for human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel. We support access to justice for victims of violence and occupation. 

CIVICUS mourns the loss of precious lives in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We underscore the essential role of civil society organisations to help communities access their rights and pursue social cohesion and equality. Civic space and civil society participation are fundamental to ensuring accountability for human rights violations in accordance with due process because there can be no real peace or security without justice.

CIVICUS remains concerned about the spread of disinformation which spawns hatred and violence. Finally, we urge the international community to urgently take steps to address the root causes of the conflict as a pathway to enduring peace. We urge the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security which incorporates gender perspectives.

CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance, calls on the Indian authorities to end the crackdown against NewsClick and release its editor and staff held under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The UAPA, a draconian anti-terror law that has been increasingly used against human rights activists is now being used to target journalists and independent media. 

On 3 October 2023, Delhi Police conducted simultaneous raids in nearly 40 locations including the office of NewsClick and homes of its journalists, staff and contributors including activists. Later, the police arrested and detained the founder and editor of NewsClick Prabir Purkayastha and head of Human Resources Amit Chakraborthy under charges of terrorism and criminal conspiracy. 

Today, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case against NewsClick for alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act - a law that has been used to impose discriminatory restrictions on civil society.

NewsClick has been targeted by the Indian authorities since 2021, when the Enforcement Directorate in February 2021 searched their office to investigate an alleged money-laundering probe. Later in September 2021, the Income Tax Department conducted ‘surveys’, at the office of NewsClick. 

In August 2023, the New York Times published an investigative article that alleged NewsClick has received funds from a US businessman, and it had “sprinkled its coverage with Chinese government talking points”. Days after this article was published, the Delhi police registered a case based on this article against NewsClick and carried out these raids.

During the raids, journalists were forced to hand over their laptops and mobile phones without any due process. This action raises concerns because of the reports of  ‘incriminating evidence’ been planted onto UAPA case implicated activists’ devices. After a day long search, the office of NewsClick was sealed by the police. At least 46 journalists associated with NewsClick were reportedly questioned with some being asked if they hand covered the protests against discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act and Farm laws. 

“This is a complete assault on press freedom in India and an act of reprisal against the critical and independent journalism of NewsClick. Charging a news outlet under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, is a brazen attempt to silence and harass independent media, activists and citizens. We call for the immediate release of Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakraborthy. All charges against NewsClick must be dropped,” said David Kode, Advocacy and Campaigns Lead at CIVICUS. 

The First Information Report (FIR) registered against NewsClick, levels a range of accusations  including conspiring “to disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India” by accepting illegal foreign funds over five years, actively spreading false information to discredit the government, 'causing disaffection against India', providing legal defence for Chinese companies and peddling “paid news” to criticise domestic policies and development project.

NewsClick has refuted all these accusations outrightly and said that it doesn’t publish any news or information “at the behest of any Chinese entity or authority, directly or indirectly”. It says all funding is received legitimately and reported to relevant authorities as per the legal requirements. 

The CIVICUS Monitor has documented how India’s UAPA law has been used to target activists and stifle dissent. Over the years, it has been invoked against human rights activists as an act of reprisal for their human rights work.  UN experts have raised concerns about UAPA’s negative impact on India’s international human rights obligations and called for its review. During India’s Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council in November 2022, several states also raised concerns about the use of UAPA against activists. 

“This crackdown against independent media is further testimony of the deterioration of civic space in India. The authorities stop misusing repressive laws like the UAPA against activists, civil society and journalists. They must comply with India’s obligations under international human rights laws and standards”, added Kode.

 Civic space in India is rated as "repressed" by the CIVICUS Monitor

President of the Republic of Guatemala
Alejandro Giammattei
Guatemala City
Guatemala

From the International NGO Forum in Guatemala FONGI, composed of more than 30 organisations and the CIVICUS alliance, a global alliance of more than 10,000 civil society organisations (CSOs) and activists from 175 countries around the world, we write to express our deep concern about the escalating repression of peaceful protests and to ask you to act urgently.

JOHANNESBURG – Global civil society alliance CIVICUS urges the immediate release of journalist and human rights defender Samira Sabou who unidentified men arrested unlawfully from her home on 30 September. Nigerien authorities have not acknowledged her arrest, Samou’s whereabouts remain unknown and her family has been in the dark.

Russian

Johannesburg/Brussels - As the eighth anniversary of the unjust detention of Tajikistan human rights lawyer Buzurgmehr Yorov approaches, global civil society alliance CIVICUS and the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) call on the country’s authorities to immediately release him and unconditionally drop all charges. Buzurgmehr has sat in prison since 28 September 2015 and faces decades more behind bars following unjust convictions on false charges.

ARTICLE 19 and CIVICUS are concerned by recent attempts by the police to harass protesters and restrict peaceful protests. Such actions are inconsistent with the constitution and Malaysia’s international human rights obligation to respect and protect the right to freedom of expression and assembly. It also makes a mockery of Malaysia’s membership at the UN Human Rights Council and the commitments it has made to ensure fundamental freedoms.

On 12 September 2023, a group of around 50 farmers from the state of Perak - supported by Lawan Lapar, a movement aimed at ensuring food security and members of the Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM) - gathered close to parliament to protest against land eviction measures that were affecting their livelihood. They had planned to handover a memorandum but were blocked by the police. Despite this, they continued and met representatives from the government as well as parliamentarians outside parliament.

Following this, police opened up investigations into the protest under Section 186 of the Penal Code for ‘obstructing civil servants from performing their duties’. On 18 September, three PSM leaders were hauled up for police questioning including PSM deputy chairperson S. Arutchelvan, treasurer Soh Sook Hwa and youth member Ayman Hareez. According to reports after, the questions asked had nothing to do with what the three were accused of.

Separately, police also tried to block the ‘Save Malaysia’ protest by opposition groups on 16 September against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA), in his corruption case. The police kept demanding publicly that the organisers ‘apply for permit’ despite the law only requiring the organisers to give notice. Following the peaceful protest – in which around 800 people participated – police said they were going to question at least 25 people under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 (PAA).

Previously, protesters were also called up by the police concerning peaceful protest marches around International Women’s Rights day and Labour Day.

“There is no basis for the police to haul up peaceful protesters for questioning. This is a clear form of harassment and creates a chilling effect for those who want to organise protests. Further, the police must stop demanding that protesters require permission from them to undertake a protest, when all that is required is a notification. Such scare tactics call into question the reformist credentials of the Anwar Ibrahim government and its commitment to respect the right to peaceful assembly” said Josef Benedict, CIVICUS Asia Pacific Researcher.

Our organisations remain concerned that the PAA falls short of international human rights law and standards. The law imposes onerous requirements such as the need to provide detailed information about the planned event and its organisers.  Further, anyone who organises an assembly without giving the required notice can be charged with a criminal offence carrying a fine of up to RM10,000 ($2,134 USD).

The PAA also lacks an exception to the notice requirement for spontaneous assemblies where it is not practicable to give advance notice. It also makes it a criminal offence for people under 21-years-old to organise an assembly and for children to attend an assembly. Further, non-citizens are also denied the right to organise or participate in protests, which is clearly discriminatory.

In 2024, Malaysia’s human rights record will be reviewed by states at the UN Human Rights Council. During its last Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in 2019, the government accepted recommendations to ‘amend existing provisions that limit the freedom of expression including the Peaceful Assembly Act’.

“The police force should stop any further harassment against protest organizers and participants. The government must take steps to revise the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 to ensure it is consistent with international law and standards. This includes allowing space for spontaneous protests and removing discriminatory provisions in the law. Ahead of Malaysia’s review at the Human Rights Council in 2024, this would signal that the government is committed to respecting and protecting the right to protest”, said Nalini Elumalai, Senior Malaysia Program officer at ARTICLE 19.

 Civic space in Malaysia is rated as 'Obstruted' by the CIVICUS Monitor