On Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: An Interview with Un Women’s Lakshmi Puri
Interviews
United Nations officials, civil society groups and worldwide media coverage hailed last month's Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) for taking a significant step forward in the campaign to end gender-based violence.
Interview: Global conversation conducive to shaping post- 2015 agenda
Interviews
The World We Want 2015 initiative aims to create a collective vision of the most important priorities of people in every part of the world, including indigenous populations, women and youths, to ultimately inform what the development agenda should include when the current MDGs expire in 2015.
Decent work and social protection should be included in the Post-2015 Agenda | An interview with Matt Simmonds
Interviews
Matt Simmonds is the liaison officer for the platform of civil society organisations that sits in the OECD Working Party on Aid Effectiveness (WP- Eff), BetterAid in Paris.
Animal welfare and the Post-2015 Agenda: A CIVICUS interview with Arjan Van Houwelingen of the WSPA
Interviews
Arjan Van Houwelingen of the World Society for the Protection of Animals Netherlands shares why the Post-2015 Agenda needs to include animal welfare and detailed targets for international cooperation towards sustainable development.
Leo Williams shares his thoughts on CSOs and a post-2015 framework
Interviews
Leo Williams in the International Coordinator of the Beyond 2015 campaign, which brings together over 260 civil society organisations from more than 60 countries that work together to influence the creation of the Post- 2015 Development Framework.
Language, Culture and Millennium Development Goals- An Interview
Interviews
Recently I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Dave Pearson, who is a long-time staff member at SIL International, a large nongovernmental organization which has pioneered advocacy for minority language rights and resources around the world.
Uchita de Zoysa of Global Sustainability Solutions shares his thoughts on the MDGs and Corporate Sustainability
Interviews
Uchita de Zoysa is the Chairman of Global Sustainability Solutions (GLOSS), the Executive Director of the Centre for Environment and Development, and Initiator of the People's Sustainability Treaties.
Civil society has the potential of finding new solutions to global challenges which are based on the principles of equity, participation and sustainability: An Interview with CIVICUS Secretary General, Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah
Interviews
New CIVICUS Secretary General Dhananjayan (Danny) Sriskandarajah who officially began his mandate as head of the global alliance this week speaks to the CIVICUS Policy Unit about the role of civil society in redressing the challenges affecting citizens around the world.
Distinguishing between civil society groups is divisive and will weaken cohesion among different sectors: An interview with Lewis Mwape of the Zambia Council for Social Development
Interviews
Lewis Mwape of the Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD), speaks to CIVICUS about the status of the 2009 Zambian NGO Act and the campaign to amend the law.
Interviews with youth delegates at the ICPD Beyond 2014 Global Youth Forum (1)
Interviews
Natalie Akstein, CIVICUS Junior Convening Officer and youth focal point, interviews youth delegates at the Global Youth Forum currently taking place in Bali, Indonesia.
Human rights defenders in Bangladesh are at constant risk: An interview with Adilur Rahman Khan on Bangladeshi CSO Odhikar
Interviews
Can you tell us a little bit about the mission and work of Odhikar?Odhikar was formed by a group of human rights activists who fought against Bangladesh’s autocratic regime and struggled to restore democracy.
Change begins with the individual: An interview with Suzanne Salz, ICLEI
Interviews
How would you evaluate the Future We Want outcome document in two sentences?
The Future We Want outcome document is far from certain to actually lead us to the Future We Want due to its lack of ambition and commitment by the national government leaders of the world.
Russia's NGO Law will inevitably result in a contraction of space and opportunity for NGOs: An interview with Boris Pustyntsev, Director of the Russia-based Citizens' Watch
Interviews
Boris Pustyntsev, Director of the Russia-based Citizens' Watch, speaks to CIVICUS about the impact of the new 'NGO Law' and recent restrictions on civil society activism in Russia.
Harassment and detentions increase in Sudan: interview with Hassen Abdel Ati, National Civic Forum
Interviews
Dr Hassan Abdel Ati, Secretary General of Sudan’s National Civic Forum, speaks to CIVICUS about the crackdown on civil society activism and independent journalists since student-led protests began in March 2011.
‘The influence and participation of civil society in governance structures is a critical aspect of sustainable development’: Rio+20 interview with Catherine Pearce, Campaign Manager, Future Justice for the World Future Council
Interviews
Catherine Pearce is the Campaign Manager for Future Justice [www.
Interview with Natia Kapanadze, Director, Legal Defense Center, Georgian Young Lawyer's Association
Interviews
Natia Kapanadze, Director of the Media Legal Defense Center at the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), based in Tbilsi, Georgia, speaks to CIVICUS about recent attacks on independent journalists and civil society’s response.
‘What will you do differently now?’: Rio+20 interview with Susanne Salz, Former Head of the Secretary General’s Office at ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability
Interviews
Susanne Salz is the former Executive and Policy Assistant to the Secretary General of ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability.
LGBT activism in Lithuania: interview with Vladimir Simonko
Interviews
Vladimir Simonko, co-founder and chair of the Lithuanian Gay League (LGL) speaks to CIVICUS about the challenges the LGBT community faces in one of the most homophobic countries in Europe.
“For vulnerable communities, civil society groups are a ray of hope” – interview with Qamar Naseem, Blue Veins, Pakistan
Interviews
Qamar Naseem, programme coordinator with women’s organisation Blue Veins, based in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, speaks to CIVICUS about the main challenges civil society groups and women face from religious right politicians in Pakistan.
CIVICUS Interviews Nikhil Seth, Head of the Rio+20 Secretariat
Interviews
CIVICUS Director of Outreach, Henri Valot, interviews Nikhil Seth, Director, UN Division of Sustainable Development and Head of the Rio+20 Secretariat*
Listen to the interview
HENRI: What are your hopes and aspirations for Rio+20?
NIKHIL: My hopes and aspirations for Rio+20 are very high.
‘Fewer and fewer committed, independent civil society activists are remaining’ - interview with Sukhrobjon Ismailov, civil society activist, Uzbekistan
Interviews
Sukhrobjon Ismailov, founder and director of the Expert Working Group, Uzbekistan, speaks to CIVICUS about the challenges of being a human rights defender in his country.
‘What is needed is a monitoring and accountability system for governments North and South’ – Rio+20 interview with Roberto Bissio, Coordinator, Social Watch
Interviews
Roberto Bissio is Coordinator of Social Watch network and Executive Director of the Third World Institute.
‘International civil society should spread awareness of the devastating effects of Ethiopian law’: interview with Endalkachew Molla, Director, Human Rights Council, Ethiopia
Interviews
Endalkachew Molla Demilew is the Director of Ethiopia’s Human Rights Council (HRCO), responsible for coordinating the operations of the head and branch offices, establishing links and partnerships with governmental and non-governmental institutions, human rights activists, aid organisations, CSOs and the media, and overseeing HRCO’s human rights reporting and monitoring procedures.
‘Young women are a vital part of shaping the future’ – Rio+20 interview
Interviews
A Rio+20 interview with Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, World YWCA
Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda is the General Secretary of the World YWCA, a global federation in 125 countries, and a human rights lawyer with extensive experience in CSO governance and transition management.
An innovative proposal to inspire the world - An interview with Alice Vincent of World Future Council
Interviews
An interview with Alice Vincent of World Future Council on the Ombudsperson for Future Generations proposal
In the latest of our interviews with key civil society figures on the road to Rio+20, we talk to Alice Vincent, Policy Officer at the World Future Council, an organisation which brings together representatives of governments, parliaments, the arts, civil society, academia and the business world to form a voice for the rights of future generations.
‘We don’t see the necessary urgency and commitment from member states’ - Rio+20 interview with Cristina Diez Saguillo, Main Representative to the United Nations, International Movement ATD Fourth World
Interviews
Cristina Diez Saguillo has been a member of the International Movement ATD Fourth World's full-time volunteer corps since 2003.
‘Good intentions pasted onto flawed governance structures are not enough’ – Rio+20 interview with Linda Sheehan, Earth Law Center
Interviews
Linda Sheehan is Executive Director of Earth Law Center, an organisation that promotes recognition of the legal rights of all of Earth’s inhabitants and ecosystems and advocates for and promotes Earth-based laws and policies.
‘Civil society needs to be vigilant’ - interview with Elizabeth Thompson, Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Coordinator, UN Conference on Sustainable Development – Rio+20
Interviews
Elizabeth Thompson is a former Minister for Energy and Environment of Barbados who also served as Minister for Physical Development and Minister for Health.
Sustainable Development Officer and Major Groups Programme CoordinatorUN Department of Economic and Social AffairsDivision for Sustainable Development
Chantal Line Carpentier joined the Division for Sustainable Development of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) as a Sustainable Development Officer in 2007.
An interview with Felix Dodds, Executive Director of Stakeholder Forum
Interviews
Felix Dodds is part of a number of advisory boards for Rio+20, including the global scientists conference in 2012 'Planet Under Pressure', the German Government sponsored conference 'Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus' in the Green Economy and the Government of Abu Dhabi sponsored conference 'Eye on Earth Summit' framework committee and stakeholder advisory committee.
CIVICUS interview with Dale McKinley
Dale McKinley, official spokesperson of South Africa’s Right to Know Campaign (R2K) and member of its national working group spoke to CIVICUS about the Protection of Information Bill passed by the National Assembly and awaiting approval of the National Council of Provinces.
Interview with a civil society activist: Andrey Yurov
Interviews
Andrey Yurov, from the Moscow Helsinki Group, International Youth Human Rights Movement and Head of International Observation Mission in Belarus, talks to Adele Poskitt at CIVICUS during the OSCE Civil Society Parallel conference about the situation for civil society in Belarus.
Interview with a civil society activist: Andrey Yurov
Interviews
Andrey Yurov, from the Moscow Helsinki Group, International Youth Human Rights Movement and Head of International Observation Mission in Belarus, talks to Adele Poskitt at CIVICUS during the OSCE Civil Society Parallel conference about the situation for civil society in Belarus.
Billy Mayaya, Programme Manager, Church and Society (CCAP Nkohma Synod), the human Rights and advocacy department of the Presbyterian Church in Malawi spoke to CIVICUS about the current political situation in the country and the targeted threats civil society members.
Interview with civil society activist: Arthur Larok, Director of Programmes at the Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGO)
Interviews
Arthur Larok, Director of Programmes at the Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGO), the newest addition to CIVICUS’ Affinity Group of National Associations (AGNA) family, discusses whether there is a new beginning with the NGO Law Reform Process in Uganda.
Interview with Henri Valot, CIVICUS' new Director of Outreach
Interviews
Interview by: Elizabeth Hira, Human Rights Activist and Policy Unit Intern for CIVICUS
Henri Valot has just rejoined CIVICUS as the Outreach Director, although his relationship with the organisation began in 2005 when he served as the CIVICUS Policy Advisor.
