News

Chad: Stop violence against peaceful protesters and respect democratic rights of Chadians

May 12, 2021

Chad: Stop violence against peaceful protesters and respect democratic rights of Chadians

Chadian authorities must stop the brutal repression of peaceful protesters and ensure an immediate democratic transition in Chad, says global civil society alliance CIVICUS.…

Uganda: Stop arrests, detention, and targeting of opposition leaders and activists ahead of inauguration

May 12, 2021

Uganda: Stop arrests, detention, and targeting of opposition leaders and activists ahead of inauguration

in News

🇺🇬#Uganda: Over 40 activists have been arrested ahead of today's presidential inauguration of @KagutaMuseveni Our statement on the arrests and the continued targeting of…

Intersessional panel on the responsibility to protect

May 12, 2021

Intersessional panel on the responsibility to protect

in Geneva

Delivered by Lisa Majumdar Thank you, Madame President, and thank you to the panelists for the discussion. The Human Rights Council provides a critical…

Eritrea: renew vital mandate of UN Special Rapporteur

May 11, 2021

Eritrea: renew vital mandate of UN Special Rapporteur

in Geneva

To: Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the United Nations Human Rights Council (Geneva, Switzerland) Excellencies, In 2020, the UN Human Rights…

Hong Kong: The international community must take a principled stand against repression

May 07, 2021

Hong Kong: The international community must take a principled stand against repression

in Geneva

Joint statement with FORUM Asia and Asia Democracy Network The international community must take a strong, principled stand against the escalating repression and reprisals…

MYANMAR: “The military turned medical workers from heroes to criminals overnight”

May 06, 2021

MYANMAR: “The military turned medical workers from heroes to criminals overnight”

in Interviews

CIVICUS speaks to Nay Lin Tun, a medical doctor who regularly volunteers with rescue teams in emergency areas in the city of Yangon, Myanmar.…

Colombia: Stop brutal attacks and killings of protesters

May 05, 2021

Colombia: Stop brutal attacks and killings of protesters

in News

🇨🇴At least 20 killed in #Colombia as police brutally crackdown on protests. The government must guarantee the safety of its citizens & protect the…

Cambodia: Conviction of environmental defenders another blow to civil society

May 05, 2021

Cambodia: Conviction of environmental defenders another blow to civil society

in News

From left to right: Long Kunthea, Thun Ratha and Phuon Keoreaksmey The conviction of environmental defenders today highlights again the rapid deterioration of human rights and…

Malaysia: Muhyiddin government escalating efforts to silence dissent

May 04, 2021

Malaysia: Muhyiddin government escalating efforts to silence dissent

in Media Releases

Global civil society alliance CIVICUS is extremely concerned by the escalation of repression of critical voices by the Malaysian authorities in recent weeks.…

PHILIPPINES: ‘The charges against me are part of the government’s efforts at silencing its critics’

May 03, 2021

PHILIPPINES: ‘The charges against me are part of the government’s efforts at silencing its critics’

in Interviews

CIVICUS speaks with the chairperson of human rights group Karapatan, Elisa ‘Tita’ Lubi, who currently faces fabricated charges of attempted murder. She was accused…

Press freedom vital in the fight against the pandemic

April 29, 2021

Press freedom vital in the fight against the pandemic

in Op-Eds

Freelance journalist Hopewell Chin'ono. Credit: Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights By Sibahle Zuma, Researcher with CIVICUS Access to accurate information is vitally important during the…

Myanmar: ASEAN meeting outcomes ignores assault on rights and civil society

April 28, 2021

Myanmar: ASEAN meeting outcomes ignores assault on rights and civil society

in News

Global civil society alliance CIVICUS is disappointed that the outcomes of the regional ASEAN summit held in Jakarta fell short of what is necessary…

Singapore yet to address civic freedom gaps ahead of UN review

April 27, 2021

Singapore yet to address civic freedom gaps ahead of UN review

in Geneva

Human rights groups CIVICUS and FORUM-ASIA call on UN member states to urge the government of Singapore to protect civic freedoms as its human…

Freedom Day: more needs to be done to stop killings of LGBTQI+ people in South…

April 26, 2021

Freedom Day: more needs to be done to stop killings of LGBTQI+ people in South…

in Media Releases

Photo by Brenton Geach/Gallo Images via Getty Images It has been almost thirty years since Freedom Day was first introduced in South Africa but…

What Oscar-nominated film ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ tells us about protest rights

April 26, 2021

What Oscar-nominated film ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ tells us about protest rights

in Op-Eds

Source: Open Democracy By Susan Wilding, Head of CIVICUS' Geneva office The Trial of the Chicago 7’ is up for six Oscars at the…

A year after imprisoned Saudi activist Abdullah al-Hamid’s passing, NGOs call for accountability & release…

April 24, 2021

A year after imprisoned Saudi activist Abdullah al-Hamid’s passing, NGOs call for accountability & release…

in News

April 24, 2021 marks one year since prominent Saudi human rights defender Dr Abdullah al-Hamid passed away, while serving an 11-year prison sentence on…

ASEAN summit must call on Myanmar's military to end the violence and restore elected government

April 22, 2021

ASEAN summit must call on Myanmar's military to end the violence and restore elected government

in News

Re: ASEAN summit must address grave violations in Myanmar by security forces To: H.E. Lim Jock Hoi Secretary-General of ASEAN 70A Jalan Sisingamangaraja…

Joint Letter to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on Egypt

April 15, 2021

Joint Letter to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on Egypt

in Open Letters

As the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) celebrates its 30 anniversary, several organisations have written a letter asking the bank to reflect on…

Cuba: Int’l action needed to hold Cuban government accountable for human rights violations

April 09, 2021

Cuba: Int’l action needed to hold Cuban government accountable for human rights violations

in News

The international community must demand accountability from the Cuban government for its actions and to immediately stop unlawful short-term arbitrary detentions, house arrests, forced…

Urgent call to release Abdul-Hadi al-Khawaja on his 60th Birthday &10th anniversary of his detention

April 09, 2021

Urgent call to release Abdul-Hadi al-Khawaja on his 60th Birthday &10th anniversary of his detention

in Open Letters

To: United Nations Secretary General and diplomatic Missions United Nations Special Rapporteurs/Targeted Governments (to be amended based on recipient) Re: Urgent call to release…

Philippines: Halt judicial harassment and investigate killing of activists

April 08, 2021

Philippines: Halt judicial harassment and investigate killing of activists

in Open Letters

Hon. Menardo Guevarra Secretary, Department of Justice Padre Faura St., Ermita, Manila, Philippines 1000 Dear Secretary Guevarra, RE: Halt judicial harassment and investigate…

Chad elections: President Déby seeks a sixth term in a region for old men

April 07, 2021

Chad elections: President Déby seeks a sixth term in a region for old men

in Op-Eds

President Idriss Déby of Chad has been in power since 1990. Credit: Paul Kagame. By David Kode, Advocacy & Campaigns Lead at CIVICUS In…

CIVICUS' United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Submissions on Civil Society Space

April 06, 2021

CIVICUS' United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Submissions on Civil Society Space

in Geneva

CIVICUS and its partners have submitted joint and stand-alone UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) submissions on 4 countries in advance of the 39th UPR…

UK: Stop the violence against protesters and amend the Policing Bill

April 06, 2021

UK: Stop the violence against protesters and amend the Policing Bill

in News

The use of violence against peaceful protesters in the United Kingdom (UK), who are protesting against the draconian police, crime, sentencing and courts bill,…

Bahraini human rights defender Abdul-Hadi al-Khawaja turns 60 on his 10th anniversary in prison

April 05, 2021

Bahraini human rights defender Abdul-Hadi al-Khawaja turns 60 on his 10th anniversary in prison

in Media Releases

Arabic On April 5 Bahraini human rights defender Abdul-Hadi al-Khawaja turns 60 2021 marks 10 years since Bahraini pro-democracy protests Abdul-Hadi’s family concerned about…

Thailand: NGO law would strike ‘severe blow’ to human rights

April 02, 2021

Thailand: NGO law would strike ‘severe blow’ to human rights

in News

The Thai authorities’ adoption of a draft law to regulate non-profit groups would strike a severe blow to human rights in Thailand, several international…

Bangladesh: Authorities must conduct investigations into death of protesters

April 01, 2021

Bangladesh: Authorities must conduct investigations into death of protesters

in News

The Bangladeshi authorities must conduct prompt, thorough, impartial, and independent investigations into the death of at least 14 protesters across the country between 26…

Pakistan: Chronology of harassment against human rights defender Muhammad Ismail

April 01, 2021

Pakistan: Chronology of harassment against human rights defender Muhammad Ismail

in News

Pakistani human rights defender Professor Muhammad Ismail, aged 66, is a prominent member of Pakistani civil society and the focal person for the Pakistan…

Poland: Escalating threats to women activists

March 31, 2021

Poland: Escalating threats to women activists

in News

Investigate, Protect Rights Defenders, End Hateful Rhetoric

KYRGYZSTAN: ‘The citizens' choice in the referendum will be decisive for our future’

March 29, 2021

KYRGYZSTAN: ‘The citizens' choice in the referendum will be decisive for our future’

in Interviews

CIVICUS and the International Partnership for Human Rights speak to Ulugbek Azimov, legal expert at the Legal Prosperity Foundation, about the protests that took…

More must be done to ensure women in civil society are protected

March 26, 2021

More must be done to ensure women in civil society are protected

in New York

CIVICUS' Chief Programmes Officer, Mandeep Tiwana, participated in the 65th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 65) intersessional dialogue on…

More must be done to ensure women in civil society are protected

March 26, 2021

More must be done to ensure women in civil society are protected

in News

Arabic Twenty-five years since the ratification of the Beijing Platform for Action, and a year since women across the world participated in the Women's…

Outcomes and reflections from the UN Human Rights Council

March 25, 2021

Outcomes and reflections from the UN Human Rights Council

in Geneva

The 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council sat from 22 February - 24 March, 2021 and there were a number of critical human rights resolutions up for…

Nicaragua: Resolution adopted at Human Rights Council

March 25, 2021

Nicaragua: Resolution adopted at Human Rights Council

in Geneva

Resolution on Nicaragua adopted at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

UN Human Rights Council adopts resolution on Myanmar

March 24, 2021

UN Human Rights Council adopts resolution on Myanmar

in Geneva

Resolution on Myanmar adopted at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council This resolution, adopted by consensus, represents an important step towards…

Civil Society Organisations call for the immediate operationalisation of the HRC’s new mandate on Belarus

March 24, 2021

Civil Society Organisations call for the immediate operationalisation of the HRC’s new mandate on Belarus

in Geneva

Resolution on Belarus adopted at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council