Interviews

UGANDA: ‘The Process Looks Democratic on Paper, but Genuine Competition is Systematically Undermined’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Uganda’s presidential election with Nalongo Nana Mwafrika, a Ugandan civic activist, human rights defender and former parliamentary candidate working on accountability, democracy and young people’s political participation.

GAZA: ‘Unless the Colonial Mindset is Dismantled, Gaza’s Political Future will Remain Externally Managed’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the future of Gaza with Karam Dana, interdisciplinary social scientist and professor at the University of Washington Bothell.

BRAZIL: ‘Femicide is the Culmination of a Cycle Rooted in the Normalisation of Control Over Women’s Bodies’

Interviews
Read in Portuguese CIVICUS discusses recent protests against gender-based violence in Brazil with Beatriz Souza, programme analyst at ELAS+ Foundation, an organisation dedicated to the rights of LGBTQI+ people and women.

MYANMAR: ‘Since the Coup, Factory Employers Have Increasingly Worked With the Military to Restrict Organising and Silence Workers’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks to the Business and Human Rights Centre (BHRC) about labour rights abuses in Myanmar’s garment industry since the 2021 military coup.

SINGAPORE: ‘The Ceasefire Remains a Temporary De-Escalation, Not Stable Peace’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about the Cambodia–Thailand peace process with Dr Eugene Mark, Fellow and Co-coordinator of the Thailand Studies Programme at the Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore.

SOUTH AFRICA: ‘The Global System Works Against Petty Corruption, But Collapses When Corruption Becomes Grand, Political and Organised’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Ruth Kolevsohn, Executive Director of Good Governance Africa, about recent anti-corruption protests across Africa and calls for an International Anti-Corruption Court.

BELARUS: ‘Freedom Always Returns – but Only If We Hold Fast to Our Values and Sustain the Struggle’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Belarusian activist, blogger and journalist Mikola Dziadok about his experiences as a two-time political prisoner and the repression of dissent in Belarus.

NETHERLANDS: ‘LGBTQI+ People, Sex Workers and People Who Use Drugs Are Most Affected by HIV and Suffer the Most Criminalisation’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about HIV response in Africa with Samuel Matsikure, Key Populations Lead at Aidsfonds.

GREENLAND: ‘Greenland is Not for Sale: Greenlanders are the Only Ones Who can Decide Their Own Future’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the US government’s renewed calls to annex Greenland with Rachael Lorna Johnstone, Professor of Law at the University of Akureyri, Iceland.

IRAQ: ‘The Election Felt Like a Formality Because it Took Place in a Context Hostile for Dissent, Pluralism and Rights’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses civic space and democratic participation in Iraq with Iraqi human rights defender Hasan Ibrahim.

UNITED KINGDOM: ‘When Critical Thinking isn’t Welcomed, Art Offers Alternative Ways of Speaking’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks to Daria Cybulska about her 2024 Churchill Fellowship field research in Central Asia, where she explored how civil society uses art, creativity and informal organising to survive, self-organise and push for change under increasing repression.

DENMARK: ‘Civil Society Should Not Just be Heard; it Should Influence Agendas, Priorities and Practice’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the outcomes and limitations of the Annual CSO-UN Dialogue on Peacebuilding with Sweta Velpillay, co-director of Conducive Space for Peace (CSP), an international civil society organisation (CSO) that works at the intersection of civic agency, global collaboration and peacebuilding.

UGANDA: ‘Refugees are being pushed into a legal limbo as international support collapses’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses a crisis for refugee protection in Uganda with Fabian Kagimu, founder of Prism Empowerment and Development Initiative, a trans-led feminist humanitarian organisation that supports refugees, internally displaced transgender women, gender-diverse people and young people living with HIV.

KAZAKHSTAN: ‘This anti-LGBTQI+ bill can still be blocked – but only with sustained international pressure’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Kazakhstan’s anti-LGBTQI+ bill with Temirlan Baimash, activist and co-founder of QUEER KZ youth initiative, a Kazakhstani LGBTQI+ organisation.

ZAMBIA: ‘Constitutional Changes in an Election Period Tend to be Driven by Political Expediency Rather than the Public Interest’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses recent constitutional changes in Zambia with Gideon Musonda, Executive Director of the Advocates for Democratic Governance Foundation, a Zambian civil society organisation.

SOUTH AFRICA: ‘Declaring Gender-Based Violence and Femicide a National Disaster Creates a Mechanism for Faster Action’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses South Africa’s recent declaration of gender-based violence (GBV) as a national disaster with Cameron Kasambala, student and spokesperson for Women for Change, a South African civil society organisation that works to raise awareness of violence against women and children.

ZAMBIA: ‘Zambia Has Environmental Laws and Standards on Paper – the Problem is Their Implementation’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses environmental accountability in Zambia with Christian-Géraud Neema, Africa editor at the China Global South Project, an independent journalism initiative that covers and follows China’s activities in global south countries.

BULGARIA: ‘People Reacted to a System of Governance Shaped by Informal Powers and Personal Interests’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Generation Z-led protests in Bulgaria with Zahari Iankov, senior legal expert at the Bulgarian Centre for Not-for-Profit Law, a civil society organisation that advocates for participation and human rights.

EGYPT: ‘Without a Binding Agreement, Each Decision Upstream Carries the Potential to Become a Crisis Downstream’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses international water governance and the political implications of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam with Khaled AbuZeid, Executive Director of the Arab Water Council, a Cairo-based regional organisation that works to promote integrated water management, cooperation and sustainable development across Arab countries.

SOUTH AFRICA: ‘Environmental Rights are Enforceable and Communities Have the Right to be Consulted and Taken Seriously’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses a landmark court ruling halting oil and gas exploration off South Africa’s coast with members of The Green Connection, one of the two civil society organisations that led the legal challenge.

INDIA: ‘When Civil Society is Constrained, it Cannot Challenge Power or Amplify Excluded Voices’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses civil society challenges in India with Smarinita Shetty and Devanshi Vaid, co-founders of India Development Review (IDR), a knowledge platform that documents social impact and development across Asia.

TUNISIA: ‘Tunisia has Lost the Progress that Once Made it a Regional Example of Democracy’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses growing authoritarianism in Tunisia with a representative of the Africa Independent Commission of Human Rights.

LIBYA: ‘From the Moment They Enter Libya, Migrants Risk Being Arbitrarily Arrested, Tortured and Killed’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses migrants’ rights in Libya with Sarra Zidi, political scientist and researcher for HuMENA, an international civil society organisation (CSO) that advances democracy, human rights and social justice across the Middle East and North Africa.

PHILIPPINES: ‘The Government Funds Gender Programmes While Denying Women Control of Their Bodies’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses women’s rights in the Philippines with Nica Dumlao, researcher and consultant for Asia Democracy Network, a regional organisation that works for a community of equitable, just and sustainable democracies in Asia.

SERBIA: ‘We Haven’t Inherited Democracy, so We’ve Had to Reinvent it Ourselves’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Mihajlo Matković, a student activist and member of the CIVICUS Youth Action Team, about anti-corruption protests that have swept Serbia over the past year.

UNITED KINGDOM: ‘The Crime and Policing Bill is one of the Most Far-Reaching Attempts to Curtail the Right to Protest’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the UK’s proposed Crime and Policing Bill with members of Liberty, the country’s largest civil liberties organisation, which campaigns for everyone to be treated fairly and with dignity and respect.

MYANMAR:‘Our Goal is to Shift the Narrative Through Community Gatherings, Digital Engagement and Storytelling’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about innovative strategies young people are using to resist the military regime and push for democracy in Myanmar with a youth activist who requested to stay anonymous for security reasons.

PHILIPPINES: ‘We Refuse to Stay Silent While Those in Power Treat Public Office Like Private Property’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about anti-corruption protests started by Generation Z students in the Philippines with Raoul Manuel from Karapatan, a Philippine-based human rights alliance.

POLAND: ‘This Ceasefire Came After a Level of International Concern We Hadn’t Seen Before’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the Gaza ceasefire and prospects for lasting peace and self-determination of Palestinians with Patrycja Grzebyk, associate professor of International Law at the University of Warsaw, Poland.

AUSTRALIA: ‘Australia Has Become a Global Leader in Criminalising Climate Defenders’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Julia Grix, founder and executive director of Climate Defenders Australia (CDA), about the growing repression of climate activism and rise of anti-protest laws in Australia, and how her organisation is providing essential legal support to climate activists.

SPAIN: ‘Setting Clear Red Lines For AI Is Not About Stifling Innovation But Preventing Catastrophic Misuse’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the campaign for better AI regulation with Gabriel Wang, data scientist and AI solution architect for AI4NGO, an international organisation that seeks to empower civil society to harness the transformative potential of AI to increase its impact and address critical global and local challenges.

UNITED STATES: ‘Seven Million People Have Taken To The Streets To Stand Up For Democracy’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses US civil society action under the second Trump administration with Bridget Moix, General Secretary of the Friends Committee on National Legislation, the oldest faith-based lobbying organisation in the USA, advocating for peace, justice and environmental stewardship.

SOUTH AFRICA: ‘Military Juntas Are Sending The Message That They Intend to Operate Outside Any System of Accountability’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the International Criminal Court (ICC) with Ottilia Anna Maunganidze, Head of Special Projects at the Institute for Security Studies, an African organisation that builds knowledge and skills to enable sustainable peace, development and prosperity in Africa.

SOUTH AFRICA: ‘We Help Young People Test Their Ideas, Scale Their Projects and Create Sustainable Livelihoods’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Rene Parker, Board Chair of AfriLabs and Co-founder and Director of RLabs, about how young people in Africa are driving change through innovation, entrepreneurship and technology.

SOUTH AFRICA: ‘Independent Media is Both a Watchdog and Guide Dog for Society: It Informs, Connects and Protects Institutions’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the growing challenges of sustaining independent journalism in South Africa with Styli Charalambous, co-founder and CEO of Daily Maverick.

NIGERIA: ‘As physical civic space shrinks, many turn to digital platforms – but those spaces are under attack too’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with ‘Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, about the state of digital rights and online civic space in Africa.

NORWAY: ‘The results reflected a deeply divided electorate’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the results of Norway’s recent election with Johannes Bergh, Research Director for Politics, Democracy and Civil Society at the Institute for Social Research, an independent research institute based in Oslo.

SYRIA: ‘The goal should have been to build a parliament reflecting the diversity of Syrian society, but that opportunity was missed’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Syria’s political transition and the implications of its new parliament with Fadel Abdulghany, founder and head of the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR).

UNITED STATES: ‘Increased demand and fewer resources have pushed civil society to innovate to prove the value of its work’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks to Jessie Krafft, president and CEO of the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) about the challenges and opportunities facing civil society today.

MALDIVES: ‘The government’s true motivation is to control the public narrative and silence dissent’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Maldives’ new media bill with Naaif Ahmed, President of Maldives Journalists Association, a civil society organisation that promotes journalistic professional rights, supports local media and advocates for a safe and free working environment.

AUSTRIA: ‘The global reach of the UN Convention against Cybercrime makes strong oversight critical’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the United Nations (UN) Convention against Cybercrime with Pavlina Pavlova, Cybercrime Working Group Lead at the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

TURKMENISTAN: ‘Turkmen authorities are carrying out a systematic campaign to eliminate independent voices’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about the disappearance of Turkmen activists Abdulla Orusov and Alisher Sahatov with human rights defender Diana Dadasheva from the civil movement DAYANÇ/Turkmenistan and with Gülala Hasanova, wife of Alisher Sahatov.

UNITED STATES: ‘US counterterrorism laws make it increasingly difficult for civil society organisations to fulfil their missions’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about US counterterrorism laws and their impact on civil society with Poorvika Mehra, Howard S.

UNITED STATES: ‘Without diverse voices at the table, any peace agreement risks failing’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Shamil Idriss, CEO of Search for Common Ground, about the rising impacts of conflict and new approaches to peacebuilding.

ITALY: ‘We will keep blocking everything to break our government’s complicity with genocide’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Italy’s protests in solidarity with Palestine with an activist with Cambiare Rotta (‘Change Course’), a leftist youth organisation that campaigns against war, fascism and neoliberal policies on university campuses.

UNITED KINGDOM: ‘The Scapegoating of Migrants has Become an Easy Political Tool’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses far-right mobilisation in the United Kingdom with Chris Jones, Director of Statewatch, a civil society organisation that monitors and exposes state actions that threaten civil liberties, democracy and human rights.

BELARUS: ‘Belarus is closer than ever to totalitarianism, with closed civic space and repression a part of daily life’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses civic space and the prospects for democracy in Belarus with a representative of the Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House (BHRH) who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons.

MALAWI: ‘Malawi’s democratic future depends on fostering a civic culture that values accountability and participation’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Malawi’s presidential election results with Michael Simon Kaiyatsa, Executive Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation, a civil society organisation that promotes democracy, good governance and human rights.

TIMOR-LESTE: ‘The Contrast Between Elite Privilege and Public Hardship Brought Together a Broad Coalition’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses recent protests in Timor-Leste with Domingos de Andrade, known as Ameu, Case Coordinator of the civil society organisation Rede ba Rai (‘Network for Land’) and Nelson Roldão, an activist involved in several campaigns, including in support of the right to self-determination in West Papua.

COTE D’IVOIRE: ‘Media and Social Networks are Battlegrounds Where Rumours and Disinformation Circulate Widely’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Côte d’Ivoire’s upcoming presidential election with Kaberu Tairu, country representative for Côte d’Ivoire at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, a West African think tank specialising in media innovation and development.

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