News

Global Call to Protect Environmental Defenders, Indigenous Peoples and Land Rights Activists

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Ahead of COP31, CIVICUS and partners have issued an urgent call for stronger protections for environmental human rights defenders, Indigenous Peoples and land rights activists.
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Hong Kong: Human Rights Organizations Condemn Unjust Sentencing of Joshua Wong

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  CIVICUS joins civil society organisations in calling for the release of Joshua Wong, a prominent pro-democracy activist imprisoned since November 2020, and in urging respect for fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong.

Morocco: Release detained Sahrawi activists and end reprisals against prisoners’ families

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CIVICUS calls on the Moroccan authorities to immediately release seven Sahrawi activists arrested during a peaceful gathering in Rabat on 12 October 2026 and to end reprisals against their families and supporters.

Release Dr Hussam Abu Safiya and 13 other doctors held without charge

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CIVICUS and Physicians for Human Rights – Israel add Dr Abu Safiya to the Stand As My Witness campaign, calling for the release of all 14 detained Gaza doctors.
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Indonesia: President Prabowo’s two years marred by regression of civic freedoms

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CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance, urges President Prabowo Subianto to halt his assault on civic freedoms and to adhere to Indonesia’s human rights obligations.

Open Letter: Drop charges against Rohingya human rights defender in Malaysia

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Dear Minister, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is a global alliance of civil society organisations (CSOs) and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society worldwide.

CIVICUS at the 89th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights

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The 89th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) will be held in Dakar, Senegal, from 11 to 20 October, preceded by the NGO Forum, which will take place from 8 to 10 October.

Release Sudanese Peacebuilder and Women’s Rights Defender Najwa Musa Konda

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We at CIVICUS call for the immediate and unconditional release of Najwa Musa Konda, a prominent Sudanese peacebuilder, women’s rights defender and humanitarian actor, who has been arbitrarily detained by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM-N) since 30 March 2026.

Singapore: Drop New Wave of Charges Against Human Rights Defenders, End Criminalization of Freedom of Expression and Peaceful Assembly

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We, the undersigned organizations, are deeply concerned by the continuing criminalization of human rights defenders (HRDs), activists, lawyers and journalists in Singapore for exercising their internationally protected rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

Turkey: Six Human Rights Association (İHD) members to stand trial on 29 September and 2 October after months in pre-trial detention

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Mert Ahmet Aldemir, Zehra Camcı, Hale Nur Çetin, Emirhan Gedik, Tuğba Kahraman and Şevin Özden were among the 16 İHD members detained on 23 June 2026 ahead of the Ankara NATO Summit.

Bangladesh: Draft Cyber Protection (Amendment) Act 2026 poses serious risk to freedom of expression, and mirrors the Digital Security Act used to repress human rights defenders and journalists

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We, the undersigned organisations, committed to promoting and protecting human rights in Asia, are deeply alarmed by Bangladesh Government’s draft Cyber Protection (Amendment) Act 2026.

Over 450 Organisations Demand an End to the Criminalisation of the LGBTI+ Movement in Turkey

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More than 450 civil society organisations from 65 countries around the world have called for an immediate end to the crackdown on LGBTI+ organisations, activists and human rights defenders in Turkey.

Indonesia: Lack of accountability six months on for attack on human rights defender Andrie Yunus

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To: H.

81 years on, the United Nations has yet to be led by a woman

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New York City, 8 September 2026 The race for United Nations (UN) Secretary-General enters a decisive phase, with eight candidates competing for the top job.
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Hong Kong: Unjust verdict against Chow Hang-Tung uses draconian law, silences dissent

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CIVICUS global civil society alliance condemns the guilty verdict against Chow Hang-Tung.
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Defending Our Lands and Environment: Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Worldwide

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Statement on International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples Each year on 9 August, the international community marks the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, honouring the first session of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982.

Morocco: Provide safety and justice for Sahrawi activist Naama Asfari

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CIVICUS calls on Moroccan authorities and the international community to provide safety and justice for Sahrawi human rights defender (HRD) Naama Asfari.

Joint Letter: Urgent Call to End Escalating Repression in Uganda

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Together with partners, we have written to the international community urging immediate action to condemn and respond to the escalating repression of civil society, human rights defenders, journalists and political opposition in Uganda.

Mandela Day: CIVICUS calls on the public to spend 67 minutes standing with jailed human rights defenders

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Johannesburg, South Africa — As the world marks Nelson Mandela Day, CIVICUS is calling on people everywhere to dedicate 67 minutes to solidarity and action for imprisoned human rights defenders through the #StandAsMyWitness campaign.

Joint Statement | Tunisia: Conviction of Sihem Bensedrine Threatens Transitional Justice and Deepens Restrictions on Civic Space

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While awaiting the scheduling of Sihem Bensedrine’s appeal trial before the Tunis Court of Appeal, the undersigned organizations express their deep concern over the judgment issued against the prominent human rights defender and former President of the Truth and Dignity Commission (TDC), sentencing her to twenty-five years in prison in connection with two cases directly related to her work as President of the Truth and Dignity Commission and the preparation of its final report.

United States: Texas Federal judges' sentence against ICE protestors a brutal assault on First Amendment rights

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A justice system turned upside down: protesters face decades-long sentences while an agent who killed Renée Good, an unarmed female activist, walks free.
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United States: End attacks on anti-ICE protesters and civic freedoms activists

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As federal agents raid anti-ICE protesters and a voting rights group and the administration targets critics, CIVICUS warns of an increasing assault on US civic space.
A Public Call to end Khurram Parvez’ arbitrary detention
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A Public Call to end Khurram Parvez’ arbitrary detention

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On his 49th birthday, his fifth while arbitrarily detained, we, the undersigned organisations and individuals, stand in solidarity with human rights defender Khurram Parvez.

Indonesia: Deliver justice for attack on activist by armed forces

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CIVICUS condemns the inadequate and unjust sentences by the military for the acid attack on human rights defender Andrie Yunus.

Turning Locally-Led Development into Action

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By Trisha Alexis De Leon Recent global crises have magnified the gaps in the global development architecture—deficits which especially impacted under-represented and marginalised communities, reflecting the power imbalances and colonial biases that continue to shape whose knowledge, leadership, and solutions are valued.

Egypt: Rights Groups Call for the Release of Filmmaker Omar Salah Marei and Immediate Access to Medical Care

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Read in Arabic We, the undersigned organisations, strongly condemn the continued detention of Egyptian filmmaker and screenwriter Omar Salah Marei.

78 Years Since the Nakba: Ongoing Displacement, Denied Return, and Enduring Resistance

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Today we mark the Nakba, the ‘catastrophe’, and remember the more than 750,000 Palestinians forcibly expelled from their homeland in 1948, some 530 villages destroyed and the families forced to live in an exile that has never ended.

CIVICUS at the 87th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights

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The 87th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) will be held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 11 to 20 May.

IRAN: Release Narges Mohammadi and Provide Urgent Cardiac Care

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CIVICUS global civil society alliance calls for the immediate release and urgent medical care for Iranian woman human rights defender and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi.

BAHRAIN: Civil society urges world leaders to act against citizenship stripping and related human rights violations

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Arabic Dismayed by the Government of Bahrain’s (GoB) continued violations of its international human rights obligations, on 1 May 2026, 12 human rights organisations appealed directly to the UN, the European Union, and the UK government to take action to address citizenship stripping and related abuses.

Bahrain: Call to Release Political Prisoners and End Prison Abuses

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The undersigned organisations urge the European Union and other regional bodies and agencies to address the human rights situation in Bahrain, in particular the ongoing crackdown on protests, incidents of torture and the inadequate provision of medical care for political detainees.

Global Civil Society Calls for Ending Violence and Protecting Civilians in the Middle East

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  A coalition of 342 civil society organisations calls on all parties to immediately cease attacks on civilians in the Middle East and uphold international law.
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Pakistan: Civic space situation has regressed two years since the elections

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CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance, calls on the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his government to halt the continued harassment of activists and journalists and crackdown on protests.
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CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist: March 2026

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  The March 2026 Watchlist from the CIVICUS Monitor highlights five countries where civic freedoms are deteriorating at an alarming pace: Ecuador, Georgia, Iran, the Philippines and Benin.

Belarus Releases Viasna Human Rights Defenders Marfa Rabkova and Valiantsin Stefanovich

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  The global civil society alliance CIVICUS welcomes the release of Belarusian human rights defenders Marfa Rabkova and Valiantsin Stefanovich, featured in its Stand As My Witness Campaign, following the Belarusian authorities’ decision to free 250 political prisoners in exchange for sanctions relief.

Pakistan: Release human rights activist Dr. Mahrang Baloch

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CIVICUS calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Pakistani human rights defender Dr.

Indonesia: Investigate attack on human rights defender Andrie Yunus

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  To: General Listyo Sigit Prabowo  Chief of Indonesian National Police Indonesian National Police Headquarter  Jl.

Joint Call for the Immediate Release of Dr Abduljalil Al-Singace

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CIVICUS joins 17 organisations in calling for the release of human rights defenders, Dr Abduljalil Al-Singace.

Bangladesh: New Prime Minister must address human rights challenges

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Nine civil society groups including CIVICUS have written a letter to Bangladesh’s prime minister, Tarique Rahman, who was elected in February 2026 to use this opportunity to bring lasting protections of human rights.

CIVICUS Global Campaign Urges the Release of Mother Nature Cambodia Activists 

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  CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance, calls for the immediate release of five Mother Nature Cambodia environmental rights defenders, who are now featured in its ‘Stand As My Witness’ campaign.

Pakistan: Overturn Conviction and Release Human Rights Lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha

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OPEN LETTER To: Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar Federal Minister for Law and Justice & Human Rights S-Block, Pakistan Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan Pakistan: Overturn conviction and release human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha Dear Minister, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is a global alliance of civil society organisations (CSOs) and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society worldwide.

Myanmar: Military Junta has Crushed Civic Space Five Years Since its Takeover

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CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance, calls on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the international community to step up and do more to resolve the human rights crisis in Myanmar as well as reject the sham election results.

UN Budget Cuts – Hurts Human Rights Around the World

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CIVICUS remains deeply concerned about the outcome of the UN budget negotiations in New York.

UGANDA: Reverse the suspension of five human rights organisations and urgently lift internet shutdown

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CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance, is seriously concerned over a decision by the Ugandan authorities to suspend the operations of five human rights organisations.

One year since the arrest of Abdulrahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi: a year of complicity, enforced disappearance, and diplomatic failure

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Today, 28 December 2025, marks one year since the arrest of Egyptian–Turkish poet and opposition figure Abdulrahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi in Lebanon.
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Iran: Joint statement on the detention of Narges Mohammadi

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We Volunteer Activists and CIVICUS strongly condemn the arbitrary detention and reported ill-treatment of Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Iranian human rights defender Narges Mohammadi by Iranian authorities.
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Belarus: The release of Viasna defenders Ales Bialiatski and Uladzimir Labkovich 

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CIVICUS welcomes the release of Belarusian human rights defenders Ales Bialiatski and Uladzimir Labkovich, who were freed on 13 December 2025 as part of a broader release of 123 political prisoners by Belarusian authorities.

NIGER: Reverse the Suspension of Civil Society Organisations

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CIVICUS, a global alliance of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society worldwide, strongly condemns Niger’s decision to suspend hundreds of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The Pacific: States Must Strengthen the Protection of Civic Freedoms

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CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance, calls on the governments in eight countries in the Pacific to do more to respect civic freedoms and strengthen institutions to protect these rights.

India: Arbitrarily Detained Without Trial for Four Years - Khurram Parvez Must be Released

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We, the undersigned organisations, call for the immediate and unconditional release of human rights defender Khurram Parvez.

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