protests
-
Sri Lanka: Economic Meltdown Sparks Mass Protests
By Andrew Firmin, Editor-in-Chief at CIVICUS
Economic crisis has provoked a great wave of protests in Sri Lanka. People are demanding the resignation of the president, blamed for high-handed and unaccountable decision making, exemplified by his introduction of an agricultural fertiliser ban in 2021 that has resulted in a food crisis. People don’t just want the president’s removal: they want a change in the political balance of power so that future presidents are subjected to proper checks and balances. Hope comes from the wide-reaching and diverse protest movement that has put aside past differences to demand change. Recent weeks in Sri Lanka have seen anger and protests alongside struggles to secure the basics of life – but also hope that change is coming. An economic meltdown has brought normal life to a halt. People are living with lengthy power cuts, almost no access to fuel and soaring prices that have made essential foods unaffordable, forcing many to cut down on their daily meals.
Read on Inter Press Service News
-
Sri Lanka: Lift restrictions on fundamental freedoms and investigate violations
CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance, is alarmed by the declaration of a state of emergency in Sri Lanka, the excessive use of force by the Sri Lankan security forces against protesters and restrictions on internet access following widespread demonstrations in the country.
There have been anti-government protests since early March 2022 as the country suffers its worst economic crisis in decades. Demonstrators accuse the government of mismanaging the economy and creating a foreign exchange crisis that has led to shortages of essentials such as fuel, cooking gas, milk powder and medicine.
Hundreds of protesters marched outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private residence on 31 March 2022. The peaceful protests turned violent when security forces deployed tear gas and water cannons leaving at least 50 injured. Dozens of protesters were arrested and some ill-treated. Eight journalists who were covering the protests were allegedly assaulted by security forces.
On 1 April 2022, a state of emergency was declared by the president in an effort to quell the protests. It allows authorities to arrest and detain suspects without warrants, and this severely restricts fundamental rights such as the freedoms of expression and assembly. Under the state of emergency, the authorities imposed a nation-wide 36-hour curfew. Despite this, thousands of protesters, including students, continued to take to the streets. According to reports at least 600 protesters were arbitrarily arrested on 2 and 3 April.
“Sri Lanka’s clampdown on civic space with the imposition of a state of emergency is extremely worrying. We urge the government to refrain from deploying violence against protesters and instead respect and protect peoples’ rights to peaceful protest. All those detained arbitrarily must be released and all abuses by security forces must be investigated and punished,” said Josef Benedict, Asia Pacific Researcher of CIVICUS.
The government has restricted internet access and social media platform for nearly 15 hours under the pretext of maintaining public and social order. On 2 April 2022, Thisara Anuruddha Bandara, a youth activist who actively promoted the #GoHomeGota social media campaign to oust the president - used widely during the protest - was arrested for allegedly ‘exciting disaffection’ against the president under Section 120 of the Penal Code. He was granted bail a day after.
“The government must halt any restrictions on internet access, including to social media platforms, which is a clear violation of the right to freedom of expression and information guaranteed by the constitution and under international human rights law. The authorities must also drop the charges against youth activist Thisara Anuruddha Bandara immediately,” added Josef Benedict.
CIVICUS has documented how the Rajapaksa administration has led an assault on civic space and fundamental freedoms since the President assumed power more than two years ago. There have been ongoing attempts to prevent and disrupt protests. This included imposing a ban on all protests under the pretext of COVID-19, arbitrary arrests of peaceful protesters and activists using the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as criminalising dissenters. In March, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, similarly reported to the Human Rights Council that ‘the Government’s response to criticism has constricted democratic and civic space’.
As the party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Sri Lankan government has the duty to respect, protect and fulfil fundamental freedoms enshrined under the treaty. This includes the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Any use of force must only be the minimum amount necessary, targeted at specific individuals, and proportionate to the threat posed.
The protests and escalating economic crisis has led to the resignations of 26 ministers in the current cabinet leaving only the president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and his brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa, the prime minister.
Civic space in Sri Lanka is rated as obstructed by the CIVICUS Monitor.
-
Sri Lanka: State of emergency must not be used to curtail fundamental freedoms
CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance, is concerned with the declaration of a state of emergency by the prime minister’s office in Sri Lanka on 13 July and again by the Acting President on 18 July. Our organisation urges the Sri Lankan authorities to refrain from using the state of emergency to stifle dissent and respect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced on 9 July 2022 that he would step down on 13 July to ensure a ‘peaceful transition of power’ after about 100,000 protesters gathered outside the president’s official residence, amid the worst economic crisis in decades. He then fled Sri Lanka and appointed prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe to be acting president. This led to thousands of anti-government protesters storming Wickremesinghe's office on 13 July calling for him to step down as police and troops fired tear gas and water cannons. Protesters also broke into the main state television station and briefly took over broadcasts.
In response, the authorities announced a state of emergency, the third since the anti-government protests began in March 2022, under the pretext of safeguarding national security. Police imposed an indefinite curfew across the Western Province, which includes Colombo, "to contain the situation". Wickremesinghe also announced that a committee consisting of the chief of defense staff, army, navy, and air force commanders, and the inspector general of police had been appointed to ‘restore order’ and called the protesters ‘fascists’.
Another state of emergency was declared across the island on 18 July ‘in the interests of public security, the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community’. The Sri Lankan parliament is scheduled to deliberate to elect a new president on 20 July.
During previous states of emergency in April and May 2022 to quell the protests, human rights groups documented various abuses by security forces including the arbitrary arrests of protesters, use of excessive and lethal force, the targeting of activists, violence against journalists who were reporting on the situation, and restrictions on access to social media.
“It is alarming that the authorities have once again resorted to using emergency regulations to stifle protests in the name of national security. During previous states of emergency, we witnessed the arbitrary arrests of hundreds, excessive force against protesters and even incidents of torture or ill-treatment in detention. The authorities must lift the state of emergency immediately, end all restrictions on fundamental freedoms and stop the vilification of protesters,” said Cornelius Hanung, Asia Advocacy and Campaigns Officer of CIVICUS.
The violations against protesters are part of a broader trend of attacks on civic space under the Rajapaksa administration that civil society has documented in recent years including the targeting of activists and critics, the use of the notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), the harassment of Tamil war victims’ families and civil society organisations and failure to hold officials accountable for conflict-era crimes under international law.
As a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Sri Lanka must adhere to its obligation to uphold fundamental freedoms enshrined in the treaty, particularly freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly.
“We condemn the continued use of excessive force against protesters under the pretext of maintaining law and order and other abuses by security forces. Any new government must ensure an independent and impartial investigation into all these violations and perpetrators must be held accountable. Continued impunity will only further erode human rights and the rule of law” Cornelius Hanung said.
In June 2022, Sri Lanka was added by the CIVICUS Monitor to a watchlist of countries that have seen a rapid decline in civic freedoms.
Civic space in Sri Lanka is rated as Obstructed by the CIVICUS Monitor
-
Sudan conflict marks failure of transition plan
By Andrew Firmin, CIVICUS Editor-in-Chief, co-director and writer for CIVICUS Lens and co-author of the State of Civil Society Report
On one side is the army, headed by Sudan’s current leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. On the other are the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemedti. Both sides blame the other and say they will refuse to negotiate. The two worked together in the October 2021 coup that overthrew a transitional government, put in place in August 2019 after long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir was ousted following a popular uprising. They were never committed to democracy. Military forces initially tried to suppress democracy protests with lethal violence. The grimmest day came on 3 June 2019, when the RSF ended a sit-in with indiscriminate gunfire, killing over 100 people. There has been no accountability for the violence.
Read in Inter Press Service
-
SUDAN: Demands for political change are fuelled by brutal state response to protests
Following a year that was marked by the violent repression of any kind of opposition and dissent in Sudan, a situation that has continued unchanged into 2019, CIVICUS speaks to Abdel-Rahman El Mahdi, a civil society activist and founder of the Sudanese Development Initiative (SUDIA). SUDIA is a civil society organisation that works toward stability, development and good governance in Sudan. With over 20 years of experience in international development, Abdel-Rahman specialises in organisational management and programming, with a thematic expertise extending to peacebuilding and human security, and civic engagement and democratic transformation. What is driving the current wave of protests in Sudan?
The current wave of protests was initially sparked by the rising cost of living and the increasing difficulties the Sudanese people are facing in meeting their basic needs. Poor economic and fiscal policy coupled with unbridled corruption had led to record high inflation rates, widening poverty and causing critical shortages in basic commodities and services. Shortages of fuel and bread across the country had people standing in long queues for hours to get these basic living commodities. A chronic liquidity crisis where banks and ATMs were only dispensing up to 2,000 Sudanese pounds a day (approximately US$40) to account holders was also making things worse and fuelling a lack of confidence in the banking system and the overall situation of the country.
-
THE NETHERLANDS: ‘People are beginning to realise that we need real and systemic change’
CIVICUS speaks with Sieger Sloot, an actor and climate activist from a Dutch branch of Extinction Rebellion (XR), about climate protests and the criminalisation of climate activism in the Netherlands.XR is a global decentralised network of climate activists working to compel governments to address climate change and prevent biodiversity loss and ecological collapse through the use of non-violent civil disobedience tactics.
What forms of protests has XR deployed in the Netherlands, and what have you achieved?
In the Netherlands, XR organised over 300 protests in 2022 alone. One of the most successful was a blockade of the A12 highway in The Hague city centre. We were 30 people when we started blocking the road last June, and since then, the number of participants doubled or tripled every time, so we grew exponentially. On 11 March 2023, around 4,000 protesters blocked the same spot.
It is XR’s strategy to use non-violent disruptive actions like blockades to draw attention to the climate crisis, and especially to the €30 billion (approx. US$32.9 billion) annual fossil fuel subsidies provided by the government. These attract way more media coverage than regular protests. The Dutch law allows a great deal of protesting and XR is actively investigating the limits of what is allowed.
These forms of protest have had a huge effect on Dutch society. For the first time we witness mainstream media talking about fossil fuel subsidies. Some 400 Dutch economists wrote an op-ed on why and how fossil fuel subsidies should be terminated. Members of parliament are making proposals for ending fossil fuel subsidies. The Dutch Secretary for Climate has announced a press conference on the climate crisis. A wave of famous musicians, actors, writers and directors are joining the XR movement. So our tactics are proving to be quite effective.
What are your demands to the Dutch government, and how has the government reacted?
The Dutch government promised to end fossil fuel subsidies in 2020 but still hasn’t done it, so with every blockade XR demands it end all fossil fuel subsidies immediately, or otherwise the protesters won’t leave. Until now, the government hasn’t complied with our demand. Instead, police have arrested protesters who weren’t willing to leave and fined others. They also used water cannon to disperse crowds and tried to infiltrate XR.
Over the past months, between 40 and 50 climate activists have been prosecuted in the Netherlands. The accusations vary from vandalism, which can be just about spray paint, to not following police orders and trespassing, all the way to sedition.
This included eight activists arrested for sedition because they posted on social media about their intention to go to the protest and block the highway. This had never happened before: it is a totally unprecedented attack on free speech and freedom of assembly. This provoked a lot of anger among Dutch people, since according to both Dutch and European Union law it’s allowed to block roads while protesting. Over 70 civil society organisations showed their solidarity with XR following the arrest of those eight activists by joining the A12 protest.
I think the Dutch government is criminalising climate activists just to ‘restore law and order’, but it has totally backfired on them. The District Attorney (DA) is prosecuting the eight activists, probably to make a case that not all ways of protesting are allowed – even though XR’s actions are always non-violent. We’ve had some quite violent farmers’ protests in recent years, but it seems that the DA didn’t dare to make a case against them. Of course they have tractors and aren’t as easy to target as climate activists.
What kind of support are your receiving from international allies?
We get a lot of international support online, which is absolutely awesome. Right now, I think we’re really thriving and growing rapidly. It feels as if XR is becoming more and more accepted and mainstream every day. Along with other activists I’ve started giving ‘Headed for Extinction’ talks to all kinds of people, which translated into more attention for our story from people in power and in the media. More and more people are now joining us because they see it’s the logical thing to do. A lot of powerful and smart people are beginning to realise that we need change, real and systemic change.
Civic space in the Netherlands is rated ‘open’ by theCIVICUS Monitor.
Get in touch with XR through itswebsite orFacebook page, and follow@ExtinctionR onTwitter.
-
Time to Sign: Stand with students & activists in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Release and drop all charges against all those arbitrarily arrested and investigate police abuse
Global civil society alliance CIVICUS is calling for your support and solidarity to demand the release of students and protesters who were arrested and charged over the last month in Bangladesh. On 15th August, Bangladesh was added to the CIVICUS Monitor’sWatch List, which means that there has been an escalation in serious threats to fundamental freedoms in recent weeks and months.
Add your voice to the campaign to demand that the government reverse this trend, release all those arbitrarily arrested and investigate police abuses by sending the letter below to government authorities, and adding your voice on social media using #BangladeshProtests.
-
Tunisie : Faire preuve de retenue et respecter les droits humains alors que les tensions politiques s'intensifient
🇹🇳 #Tunisie: Les autorités doivent s'abstenir de recourir à une force excessive dans un contexte de tensions politiques. Notre déclaration sur les récents événements & inquiétudes concernant l'utilisation des pouvoirs d'urgence pour étouffer la démocratie: https://t.co/HnQ6opEOaD pic.twitter.com/DNj7rTI74N
— CIVICUS Français (@CIVICUSfrancais) July 30, 2021Les autorités tunisiennes doivent s'abstenir de recourir à une force excessive dans un contexte de tensions politiques.
Le 25 juillet, les gens sont descendus dans les rues de plusieurs villes de Tunisie pour exprimer leurs inquiétudes quant à la réponse du gouvernement à la pandémie de COVID-19, au déploiement des campagnes de vaccination et à la situation économique désastreuse à laquelle les Tunisiens sont confrontés.
CIVICUS, une alliance mondiale pour la société civile, est préoccupée par les attaques violentes contre les manifestants en Tunisie et appelle les autorités tunisiennes à faire preuve de retenue dans un contexte de tensions politiques et à respecter les droits humains.
Après une journée de manifestations antigouvernementales, le président Kais Saied a invoqué les pouvoirs d'urgence, dont la plupart sont contraires à la Constitution tunisienne, suspendant le Parlement pour 30 jours et limogeant le Premier ministre Hichem Mechichi. Les ministres de la Justice et de la Défense ont également été limogés. Un couvre-feu d'un mois a été imposé ainsi que des restrictions supplémentaires qui empêchent les personnes de se déplacer entre les villes en dehors du couvre-feu, sauf pour des raisons de santé urgentes. Les autorités ont également imposé des restrictions à la liberté de réunion pacifique, interdisant les rassemblements de plus de trois personnes dans les lieux publics.
Le 26 juillet, 20 policiers lourdement armés ont fait irruption dans les bureaux du média international Al-Jazeera, ont confisqué du matériel et expulsé le personnel de ses locaux. Ces événements suscitent de graves inquiétudes quant à la liberté de la presse dans le pays.
« Le président Saied ne doit pas utiliser la crise actuelle et les pouvoirs d'urgence pour étouffer la démocratie, notamment les libertés d'expression et de réunion pacifique en Tunisie. Le recours systématique à la violence contre des manifestants pacifiques est une tendance inquiétante et l'utilisation de mesures d'urgence pour limiter les droits fondamentaux, sous couvert de la pandémie de COVID19, est un affront à la démocratie et une menace sérieuse pour les acquis des manifestations pro-démocratiques d'il y a dix ans », a déclaré Aarti Narsee, chercheuse en espace civique.
L'imposition des mesures d'urgence actuelles en réponse à des manifestations antigouvernementales rappelle une tendance continue où les manifestations mettant en lumière les préoccupations sur les questions sociales et économiques touchant les Tunisiens sont violemment réprimées par les autorités. En janvier 2021, les forces de sécurité ont fait un usage excessif de la force, notamment des gaz lacrymogènes, des canons à eau et des violences physiques, contre les manifestants, ce qui a entraîné la mort d'un manifestant et l'arrestation de milliers de personnes, dont des mineurs. Les autorités ont également pris pour cible les défenseurs des droits humains et ceux qui s'expriment sur la situation économique désastreuse de la Tunisie.
Contexte :
Les restrictions de l'espace civique se poursuivent en Tunisie, dix ans après que des manifestations ont forcé une transition politique. Les défenseurs des droits humains, les journalistes et les militants qui font part de leurs préoccupations concernant les violations des droits humains sont pris pour cible par les autorités. La liberté de réunion a été considérablement réduite dans le cadre des mesures d'urgence liées au Covid-19, qui ont interdit des rassemblements à différents moments. En octobre 2020, les forces de sécurité ont violemment réprimé des manifestants pacifiques qui protestaient contre une loi qui accorderait l'immunité au personnel de sécurité, devant le Parlement à Tunis. La plupart des protestations sont motivées par l'impact de la détérioration de l'économie, l'augmentation des prix des produits de base et le haut niveau d'impunité dont jouissent les forces de sécurité. Après les manifestations de dimanche, le Président a assumé l'autorité exécutive avec l'aide d'un nouveau Premier ministre qu'il va choisir. En principe, le Premier ministre devrait être élu par le Parlement, qui est contrôlé par le parti Ennahda, avec lequel le Président a une querelle de longue date.
L'espace civique au Tunisie est classé comme Obstrué par CIVICUS Monitor.
-
Uganda: shocking violence against protesters requires urgent attention
JOHANNESBURG: Shocking scenes have emerged from Uganda where police and the military have used live ammunition and extreme violence to disperse protestors demanding the release of detained members of parliament and activists following days of political unrest in further signs of growing political intolerance against dissenting voices.
Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, condemns this use of lethal violence used by security forces and calls on the East African Community to urgently meet and send communication to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to immediately ensure the release of arrested political and human rights activists.
Said Teldah Mawarire, CIVICUS Campaigns and Advocacy Officer: “The use of live ammunition to disperse protests is unacceptable under any circumstances and must be condemned by regional leaders. Security forces must cease this action immediately.”
“It goes against the tenets of open and free political participation which Uganda subscribes to as a democracy,”’ said Mawarire.
Following a by-election in Arua Municipality on 15 August 2018, violence erupted resulting in the police shooting and killing Yasin Kawuma, the driver of popular member of parliament Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine. Kyagulanyi and other activists have been held incommunicado and not allowed access to legal representation or visits from family members. Other reports suggest the detainees have been severely tortured and denied access to medical treatment. Another detained member of parliament Francis Zaake was dumped in Rubaga hospital in an unconscious state.
Days after the poll, there were also several arrests of protestors in different parts of the country including Kamwokya and the capital Kampala. Protestors also gathered at the Kenya border in Busia registering displeasure at the recent detentions and demanding the release of Kyagulanyi and other activists. In all cases, the authorities responded either with live ammunition, teargas and assaults on protestors.
Journalists have also not been spared by police brutality. In Arua, journalists Hebert Zziwa and Ronald Muwanga were arrested while reporting live on the unrest. Both were assaulted and detained overnight before being charged with inciting violence and malicious damage to property. They have been released on bail. Journalists were also viciously assaulted by members of the uniformed forces during protests in Kampala on 20 August 2018.
“Impunity remains a cause for concern where perpetrators of incidents of political violence are rarely held to account. An immediate enquiry made up of eminent and independent individuals from the continent, must be established to investigate the torture and loss of life with a view of bringing those responsible to justice,” said Mawarire.
CIVICUS Monitor, an online tool that tracks threats to civil society in all countries, rates the space for civil society in Uganda as “repressed”. Under this rating, civil society and citizens do not fully enjoy their freedoms and those engaging in protest are targeted by the state authorities through arrests, use of live ammunition and arrests.
CIVICUS expresses solidarity with Ugandans demanding the respect of fundamental freedoms and calls on the East African Community and the African Union to urge President Museveni to immediately stop using violence against his citizens, release all those in detention and respect the rule of law.
ENDS.
For more information, please contact:
Teldah Mawarire
David Kode
-
United States: ‘Even in challenging times, civil society needs to be proactive in setting the agenda"
CIVICUS speaks toNick Robinson, a legal advisor at the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) and lead of theirUnited States Program. ICNL is a civil society organisation that works with governments, civil society and the international community in more than 100 countries to improve the legal environment for civil society, philanthropy and public participation.
- How is ICNL engaging with the impacts on civil society of the current political climate in the United States?
ICNL has engaged with the current political environment by developing a set of initiatives focused on the United States. For example, in one of our central initiatives, the US Protest Law Tracker, and related freedom of assembly work, we analyse and advocate against anti-protest laws and overly aggressive prosecution of demonstrators. In another initiative, we are engaging Congress and other policy-makers about concerns we have regarding recent legislative proposals to strengthen the enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Dating from 1938, FARA requires those who engage in political activities on behalf of foreign principals to register as a ‘foreign agent’ with the Department of Justice. While the Act has traditionally been rarely enforced, its provisions are so broad and vague that if it was implemented it could lead to many civil society organisations (CSOs) having to register as ‘foreign agents’. It is worth noting that ‘foreign agent’ acts in other countries, like Russia, have stigmatised and undercut civil society. In fact, as we’ve documented in a recent report, many of these other countries claim to have based their legislation on FARA.
Other projects include one that provides support to CSOs concerned about politicised government legal compliance actions against them and third party attacks; and a project that aims to help address vulnerabilities we see in the US university space.
- What has been the impact on US-based civil society groups in this first year of the Trump Presidency? What rights and groups do you perceive as being in the most danger?
We see a number of types of civil society groups and activities being particularly vulnerable at the present moment. As the prosecution of so-called ‘J20 protesters’ made clear, the use of collective liability is on the rise against protesters. This is deeply disturbing. In the J20 case, which was a case resulting out of protests in Washington DC against President Trump on Inauguration Day (20 January 2017) that damaged property, almost 200 protesters had charges brought against them that could bring decades in jail. The prosecutors never claimed they had evidence that the specific individuals who were charged had damaged property or assaulted anyone; instead, they were trying to hold liable anyone who was present at the protest under a theory of collective liability.
The protesters in the first batch were found innocent on all charges by a jury in December 2017, but it took 11 months to get a verdict. The other protesters charged are still awaiting trial. Keep in mind, this is a prosecution brought not by an obscure local prosecutor, but by the federal government – the Department of Justice. Along with CIVICUS and the Charity & Security Network, ICNL was able to bring our concerns about the freedoms of association, assembly and expression to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). We brought one of the charged J20 protesters, Elizabeth Lagesse, to give her testimony at an IACHR hearing that anyone interested in the case should check out.
We’ve also seen discriminatory or aggressive actions taken against civil society groups. For example, in September 2017, Representative DeSantis introduced a bill that would have banned Islamic Relief Worldwide from receiving federal funds based on unsubstantiated claims that they had ties to terrorist organisations. ICNL participated in a coalition that spoke out against this bill, which was ultimately withdrawn. However, this is part of a larger pattern of trying to target some groups by claiming they have ties to terrorist groups.
Finally, we’ve seen a number of impacts on civil society because of the administration’s new immigration policies. Organisations have mobilised to fight some of these policies because of the effect they will have on the country and people’s lives, but they also affect the functioning of organisations. Employees or volunteers of many groups are now facing deadlines by which they have to leave the US or are facing the threat of deportation. The visa bans of targeted countries, most of which are predominantly Muslim, have made it difficult, and sometimes impossible, for civil society groups to do something as simple as bring a speaker for a conference from one of these countries.
This isn’t meant to be an exhaustive list, but it gives you a sense of some of the challenges we are seeing.
- Can you tell us more about your US Protest Law Tracker, its uses and main findings?
My colleague Elly Page has led ICNL’s efforts on the US Protest Law Tracker. ICNL created it when we realised there was an increase in the number of anti-protest bills being introduced in states across the country. As of the beginning of 2018, 28 states had considered 50 bills that restrict the right to protest since November 2016. Eight of these bills have been enacted, while a number of others are still pending. The tracker provides succinct analysis of each bill and categorises them under topics like ‘campus speech’ and ‘trespass’. Activists, the media, and the public can then search the tracker to find out the latest information about what bills are being considered.
We’ve seen not only an uptick in these laws, but a proliferation in the ways that the right to protest can be chilled. Perhaps most disturbing has been the number of bills that apply theories of collective liability or that increase the penalties for relatively minor offences frequently related to demonstrations – like blocking traffic or trespassing. We’ve also been troubled by governors declaring states of emergency in response to protests – even in situations where this might make sense, like the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville in August 2017, these powers aren’t being tailored sufficiently. And we are concerned that these powers are beginning to be used whenever there is the mere threat of violence at a protest. This can chill participation in protests.
- How big an impact do you think democratic regression in the US is having at the regional and global level?
Other governments are picking up on US rhetoric and actions. For example, in Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán started using rhetoric around “Hungary comes first”, modelled on President Trump’s slogan “America First”, to justify the passage of a restrictive bill targeting international funding of civil society. President Trump’s practice of labelling certain stories “fake news” has been picked up and used by governments in countries like Cambodia, China, Russia and Syria against media reports documenting their human rights violations. It’s an easy way to delegitimise critics.
It’s important to note though that we don’t just see these challenges in the US, but across several developed democracies. Australia has seen proposals to ban foreign funding to CSOs and limit the amount of advocacy they are allowed to engage in. France has seen the repeated extension of national states of emergency and the use of other national security measures that can undercut a free and open civic space. It’s a bigger challenge than just the US.
- What message would you like to convey to international civil society groups working in challenging circumstances?
I would leave them with two thoughts. First, as the US government takes a step back from taking a lead on protecting civil space globally, and I think it is taking a step back, international civil society needs to push governments of other democracies to step up and take on more of a leadership role. There is a vacuum that needs to be filled.
Second, and related, in times like these it’s understandable that many of the responses of civil society are defensive. We need to defend the gains we’ve made over the years. Yet I think it’s also really important that we continue to pursue a vision of the independent pluralistic civil society that we want to create in the world. Even in difficult times we want to be proactive, and set the agenda we want to set – not just react to the latest crisis or concern. It’s difficult to do, but a vital task.
- Civic space in the United States is rated as ‘narrowed’ in theCIVICUS Monitor
- Get in touch with ICNL through theirwebsite orFacebook page, or follow @ICNLAlliance
-
USA: ‘Our aggressive tactics helped amplify the demands of the broader climate movement’
CIVICUS speaks with Evan Drukker-Schardl of Climate Defiance about the disruptive tactics the organisation uses to put climate change on the agenda.Climate Defiance is a youth climate organisationdetermined to challenge political betrayal and fight for a just world. Through mass protest and peaceful direct action, it seeks to force politicians to address the existential climate crisis, rejecting the constraints of current political realities in favour of transformative change.
What makes Climate Defiance different from other climate action groups?
Climate Defiance takes a direct approach, confronting climate criminals wherever they are – whether they are being honoured by industry peers or speaking in public. We challenge their presence in society and highlight the damaging impact of politicians and fossil fuel executives on our collective future.
This approach has resonated widely, particularly online, where millions have supported videos of young activists confronting those responsible for endangering their future. It has also allowed us to amplify the climate movement’s demands. Notably, our protests have had tangible results, such as the resignation of Harvard professor Jody Freeman from the board of ConocoPhillips. Similarly, Assistant Secretary of the Interior Tommy Beaudreau resigned just 15 days after we disrupted his participation at an event.
What are your demands, and how has the US government responded to them?
Our demands focus on ending coal, gas and oil infrastructure, both in specific cases and as a general policy. We have also joined others in calling for an end to new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export permits. Over the past year, we have consistently raised these issues, most notably during a meeting at the White House where we repeatedly stressed the need to address LNG exports. Shortly afterwards, the Biden administration announced a moratorium on new permits.
While Climate Defiance cannot take sole credit for these developments, our aggressive tactics have helped amplify the demands of the broader climate movement. We understand we are not here to make friends; rather, we are focused on forcing those in power to listen and respond to our demands.
Although the Biden administration and Congress may not meet all our demands, we have made it clear they have no choice but to address our concerns, even if it goes against the interests of fossil fuel companies that hold significant power. Our actions ensure that those in power are aware of and accountable to the demands of the climate movement.
What forms of protest have you undertaken so far, and why?
So far, our protests have taken a variety of forms, all aimed at holding climate criminals accountable. For instance, we recently targeted Senator Lisa Murkowski, who was instrumental in getting the Biden administration to approve the Willow Project in Alaska, allowing new drilling on federal lands. She was receiving an award at a non-profit gala in Washington DC, presented by Chevron’s top lobbyist. We interrupted her speech with a banner that read ‘Murkowski is a murderer’. This direct action brings our energised activists to where the powerful are being honoured and exposes the truth about their destructive actions.
Similar actions led to the resignations of Beaudreau and Freeman. While we don’t expect Murkowski to resign, our actions ensure she cannot expect to go unchallenged in public forums. We specialise in these confrontational tactics, disrupting events like the Congressional baseball game, a bipartisan event attended by numerous climate offenders from both parties. This game symbolises a political consensus that perpetuates fossil fuel subsidies at the expense of our planet and its people.
We’re present at such events to demand an end to these subsidies and highlight the bipartisan support for policies that harm our environment. While we cannot predict the immediate outcome of these protests, they are essential in raising awareness and pressuring policymakers to prioritise climate action over corporate interests.
Are you seeing restrictions on protests?
Climate Defiance has so far managed to protest effectively while minimising the risk of arrest for our activists. Avoiding arrest ensures the safety of our activists and conserves our resources and capacity.
However, the broader protest landscape in the USA has seen concerning developments, particularly in relation to the Gaza and Palestine solidarity movements. Across university campuses in the USA and around the world, there has been a noticeable shift in how disruptive and confrontational protests are handled. Authorities have responded with excessive force and repression, seeking to silence criticism and dissent.
While Climate Defiance focuses on confronting climate criminals, it is important to recognise and condemn any undemocratic actions taken by those in power to stifle legitimate dissent. Such behaviour reflects poorly on the democratic principles that should underpin society, and those responsible should be held to account.
We stand in solidarity with all people protesting against genocide in Gaza. It is unconscionable that university administrations, police forces and politicians are brutalising and targeting student protesters instead of listening to their principled calls for justice and an end to massacres in our name and on our dime. Crackdowns on college campuses are a threat to us all and should alarm people even if they are not part of the Palestine solidarity movement in the USA.
How has the public reacted to your protests?
Public reaction to our protests has been mixed. While some people appreciate our direct approach and see the urgency of our cause, others are uncomfortable with our disruptive tactics. We build relationships with politicians who want them and whose values align with ours, but we are not afraid to criticise those in power who further the destruction of our planet, wherever they are on the political spectrum. Our priority is to be vocal, public and disruptive to drive home that our lives depend on transformative action now to end fossil fuels.
Regardless of whether people agree with our methods, we have been able to achieve tangible results. Even those who don’t support us cannot ignore the impact we are having. We believe that discomfort can be a catalyst for change. We challenge people to confront uncomfortable truths to motivate them to act.
Ultimately, our aim isn’t to win a popularity contest but to insist that everyone, regardless of their background, deserves a healthy and prosperous future. We see protest as a means of subversion, a way of challenging the status quo and demanding a better world for future generations and ourselves.
Civic space in the USA is rated ‘narrowed’ by theCIVICUS Monitor.
Get in touch with Climate Defiance through itswebsite orFacebook page, and follow @ClimateDefiance onTwitter,Instagram andTikTok.
-
Venezuela Presidential Election: International Organizations Call on Authorities to Guarantee Transparency
July 30, 2024
The undersigned international organizations condemn the lack of transparency in the announced results of Venezuela’s July 28 presidential elections. This lack of clarity raises serious questions about the fairness and integrity of the election, leading to widespread doubts about the credibility of the claim that Venezuelans awarded Nicolás Maduro a third presidential term. Given this situation, the international community should insist that Venezuelan authorities immediately ensure and facilitate an independent verification process of the election results.
On July 28, Venezuelans participated massively and peacefully in the presidential election, demonstrating an inspiring commitment to democratic principles. This occurred despite the electoral process being severely marred by human rights violations and irregularities, including arrests of opposition members, arbitrary disqualifications of opposition candidates, arbitrary restrictions imposed on Venezuelans to vote abroad and young people, and efforts to further restrict civic space. Venezuelans deserve elections where every vote is counted, accurately and transparently.
Based on the right of the Venezuelan people to participate in fair elections, Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral, CNE - in Spanish) should immediately:
- Make available the totality of the tally sheets to all Venezuelan citizens and to national and international election observers as required under Venezuelan law. The CNE should publish the data by state, municipality, parish, voting center, and polling station; and review possible discrepancies in the results of the public tally sheets.
- Complete the electoral audit and citizen verification processes as required by law with the purpose of reconciling the voting receipts with the data registered in the Scrutiny Report issued by each polling station. The audit should be public and the process verifiable.
Until these conditions are met and Venezuelans’ right to transparent information about the electoral process is fulfilled, the international community should refrain from recognizing the announced outcome. Governments and international and regional intergovernmental organizations should use every diplomatic tool at their disposal to call on Venezuelan authorities to conduct a fair and transparent vote count that respects the right of Venezuelans to vote in elections “guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors” and effectively choose their political future.
Additionally, the Carter Center and the UN Panel of Electoral Experts, as the only international technical observation missions accredited by the CNE, should have access to all the information of the electoral process in order to proceed with their impartial reports in accordance with the memorandums of understanding agreed by each organization with the Venezuelan authorities.
Failure by Venezuelan authorities to ensure a full and transparent account of the election results, as required by Venezuelan law, risks the loss of vital channels of diplomatic engagement and renewed regional and international isolation, with potentially dire consequences for Venezuelans inside and outside the country.
Between July 26 and 29, local organizations reported documenting over 130 arbitrary arrests, as well as confirmed and potential unlawful deaths. These arrests have taken place in a context of harassment, persecution, and criminalization that marked the electoral campaign.
Finally, we call for the immediate release of arbitrarily detained individuals, respect for due process guarantees, and the non-criminalization of opposition leaders and citizens exercising their right to peaceful protest. We also urge the utmost respect for their rights to freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, liberty, and security of person and to freedom of movement.
Signed by:
- La Oficina en Washington para Asuntos Latinoamericanos (WOLA)
- Fundación para el Debido Proceso Legal (DPLF)
- Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
- Centro por la Justicia y el Derecho Internacional (CEJIL)
- CIVICUS
- Centro Global para la Responsabilidad de Proteger (GCR2P)
- Comisión Internacional de Juristas
- Organización Mundial Contra la Tortura (OMCT)
- Human Rights Watch (HRW)
- International Service for Human Rights
- Instituto Internacional sobre Raza, Igualdad y Derechos Humanos
Adhere:
- Apuesta Solidaria AC - México
- Asociación Intercultural de Derechos Humanos (ASIDEHU) - Costa Rica
- Asociación Paz y Esperanza - Perú
- Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos (APRODEH) - Perú
- Asociación Pro-Búsqueda - El Salvador
- Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez - México
- Centro de Estudios de Derecho, Justicia y Sociedad Dejusticia - Colombia
- Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS) - Argentina
- Centro de Políticas Públicas y Derechos Humanos - Perú Equidad- Perú
- Centro de Promoción y Defensa de los Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos (Promsex) - Perú
- Centro Regional de Derechos Humanos y Justicia de Género - Corporación Humanas - Chile
- CISAS - Costa Rica
- CIVILIS - Venezuela
- Colectivo de Derechos Humanos Nicaragua Nunca Más - Nicaragua
- Conectas Direitos Humanos - Brasil
- Consultoría para los Derechos Humanos y el Desplazamiento (CODHES) - Colombia
- Equipo de Reflexión, Investigación y Comunicación - Honduras
- Equipo Jurídico por los Derechos Humanos - Honduras
- Fundación Étnica Integral - Republica Dominicana
- Instituto de Defensa Legal (IDL) - Perú
- Mesa Nacional para las Migraciones y Refugiados en la República Dominicana (MENAMIRD) - República Dominicana
- Movimiento Autónomo de Mujeres - Nicaragua
- Observatorio Venezolano de Prisiones - Venezuela
- Oficina Jurídica para la Mujer - Bolivia
- Plataforma Internacional contra la Impunidad - Guatemala
- Red para la Infancia y la Adolescencia de El Salvador (RIA) - El Salvador
- Tejiendo Redes Infancia en América Latina y el Caribe - Regional
- Vicaría de Derechos Humanos de Caracas - Venezuela
Civic space in Venezuela is rated 'closed' by the CIVICUS Monitor.
-
Zimbabwe Police arbitrarily arrest trade union leaders over planned protests
#Zimbabwe Police arbitrarily arrest trade union leaders over planned protests; authorities are still employing methods of an era gone by to silence dissent - @LMandishara of @nangozim https://t.co/rP38qec5Jp pic.twitter.com/DeP8POliqa
— CIVICUS (@CIVICUSalliance) October 15, 2018- Police arrest, assault union leaders and members ahead of planned peaceful march
- Authorities banned demonstrations against economic crisis, citing cholera concerns
- Protests prompted by fuel queues, new tax on money transfers impacting mostly poor
- National, global NGO groups urge government to respect the protected rights of citizens
Global and national civil society groups have expressed concern at the arrest of trade union leaders in Zimbabwe ahead of planned peaceful protests.
Zimbabwean police pre-empted nationwide demonstrations against the deepening economic crisis in the country, scheduled for October 11, by banning them and arbitrarily arresting organisers belonging to the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).
The National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) and global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, has urged the authorities to show restraint and respect the constitutionally protected rights of all Zimbabweans.
Police banned the protests citing concerns of a cholera outbreak in recent weeks. The unions say they are being targeted because of their dissenting message as other gatherings had been allowed to proceed.
ZCTU members were arrested in the capital, Harare as well as in the cities of Mutare and Masvingo. According to reports, police were armed with truncheons, tear smoke canisters and accompanied by water cannons during the raids. Several union members were assaulted. ZCTU president Peter Mutasa and secretary general Japhet Moyo were among those arrested.
Following a disputed 30 July 2018 election outcome, economic uncertainty has deepened in Zimbabwe, which has been struggling with foreign currency shortages, hyper-inflation and erosion of the local currency. This has triggered fuel queues as business slowed down in response to the economic decline.
The government also recently imposed a new 2% tax on mobile money transactions that the unions said will be borne mostly by the poor. Trade unions had organised a protest to highlight these trying economic circumstances to the government and raise concerns about the hardships the new tax would bring for the poor.
“It had been our sincere hope that after the election in August, the authorities would open more space for citizens, civil society and trade unions to freely express their opinions including through peaceful protests,” said Leonard Mandishara, NANGO Executive Director.
“Hence, we are disappointed that the authorities are still employing methods of an era gone by to silence dissent,” said Mandishara.
NANGO also said civil society is awaiting with much anticipation the outcome of a commission of enquiry established after six people were shot dead by the military in Harare at an election-related protest.
CIVICUS calls on the Zimbabwean government to engage with civil society and trade unions on the fundamental rights of citizens including the right to assemble peacefully.
NANGO is a non-partisan, non-profit organisation and the official, non-denominational coordinating body of NGOs in Zimbabwe. It is mandated by its membership to coordinate the activities of NGOs, represent the NGO sector and strengthen the voice of NGOs in Zimbabwe.
ENDS.
For more information, please contact:
Leonard Mandishara, NANGO Director
Teldah Mawarire, CIVICUS Advocacy and Campaigns Officer
-
Zimbabwe: Civil society concerned as human rights violations persist after violent reprisal for protests
Human rights violations continue in Zimbabwe in the aftermath of the violent attacks against protesters on 14 to 16 January 2019. More than 700 people have been detained. The military continues to physically assault citizens and the legal process for many of those who are in detention is seriously flawed. We need to stand in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe and call on the government to address the concerns of its citizens, stop all human rights violations, demilitarise the streets and release all those detained in relation to the protests. Sign the letter below addressed to President Emmerson Mnangagwa with a call for him to address these human rights concerns.
21 February 2019
Office of the President and Cabinet
Munhumutapa Building
Corner Samora Machel Avenue and Sam Nujoma
Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: 00 263 24270 7091/7
Dear Sir,
Re: Civil society concerned as human rights violations persist after violent reprisal for protests
We the undersigned civil society organisations, based in different countries across the world, write to you to express our concerns over the continued human rights violations taking place in Zimbabwe, more than a month after the violent reprisal for protests. We are appalled at the ongoing violence targeting ordinary citizens and members of civil society and high levels of impunity enjoyed by those responsible for these actions.
Mr. President, there is an urgent need for inclusive dialogue in Zimbabwe and for the deep divisions and mistrust fostered by recent events between the government, civil society and citizens to be addressed. Since protests were violently dispersed from 14 to 16 January 2019, the streets in Zimbabwe have been heavily militarised and soldiers have been breaking into homes and subjecting citizens to some of the worst forms of human rights violations that have included shootings, severe assaults and rape. The human cost from the response to the protests is immense. At least seventeen people were killed during the protests or succumbed to injuries from the violations, more than 316 injured, many with gunshot wounds, and at least 700 arbitrarily arrested or detained. The arbitrary arrests and sentencing of many is at variance with Zimbabwe’s Criminal Procedures and Evidence Act. A majority of those detained have been subjected to flawed legal processes including mass trials, and many are been denied bail. Some have been brought to the courts with visible injuries, requiring urgent medical attention and many more subjected to mass trials without proper access to legal representation. There is an urgent need for the respect the rule of law in Zimbabwe.
We are concerned by reports which indicate that in the aftermath of the protests, security forces raided medical facilities, including the Belvedere Medical Centre in Harare, where some of the injured received medical attention and assaulted them again before whisking them off to detention in police stations. Many human rights defenders and civil society representatives have been targeted and accused of colluding with the political opposition to “unseat” the regime. Some have been forced to go into hiding in Zimbabwe and others have had to flee the country to avoid being subjected to torture or worse. Human rights defender Pastor Evan Mawarire is free on stringent bail conditions and also faces charges of subverting the government while the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Japhet Moyo has been detained and injured and faces charges of attempting to overthrow a constitutionally elected government.
Mr. President, before the 30 July 2018 elections, many Zimbabweans – and most of us in the international community – had hoped to see a peaceful political transition that would usher a new dawn where the rule of law was upheld, and the fundamental rights of all citizens respected. Unfortunately, we are witnessing a continuation of violence against citizens who legitimately exercise their discontent over excessive hikes in the prices of basic commodities and a deteriorating economic environment. While we welcome the release of some of those detained, many more remain behind bars unjustly.
We urge your government to initiate efforts to find a lasting solution to the challenges affecting Zimbabwe.
We appeal to you to urgently organise a multi-stakeholder dialogue process that will bring together your government, members of civil society, the political opposition, youth, academics, labour representatives and representatives of the religious community and minority groups, to chart a path to peace, in which all Zimbabweans can participate.
We urge your government to immediately withdraw armed soldiers out of residential and city areas in both urban and rural Zimbabwe and to carry out an independent investigation into the violence and ensure that perpetrators from the Zimbabwe National Army and Zimbabwe police are held accountable.
Endorsed by