News

Malaysia: New report on the state of fundamental freedoms under the Perikatan Nasional government

March 03, 2021

Malaysia: New report on the state of fundamental freedoms under the Perikatan Nasional government

Joint research report on the state of civic freedoms in Malaysia The Perikatan Nasional government has undermined and obstructed the exercise of fundamental freedoms…

Pakistan: Rights group calls for release of activist Professor Muhammad Ismail ahead of bail hearing

March 01, 2021

Pakistan: Rights group calls for release of activist Professor Muhammad Ismail ahead of bail hearing

in Media Releases

Rights groups call for release of Professor Ismail ahead of bail hearing on 5 March March 2 marks one month in detention for human…

THAILAND: ‘Young people question the government abusing their rights and compromising their future’

March 01, 2021

THAILAND: ‘Young people question the government abusing their rights and compromising their future’

in Interviews

CIVICUS speaks to Amnesty International Thailand’s executive director, Piyanut Kotsan, about the Thai pro-democracy movement and the repression of protests. Established in Bangkok in…

Is the USA fit to rejoin the UN Human Rights Council?

March 01, 2021

Is the USA fit to rejoin the UN Human Rights Council?

in Op-Eds

By Emily Standfield, CIVICUS Member and data volunteer A month into Joe Biden’s presidency, the U.S. has rejoined nearly all the multilateral institutions and international commitments that it…

SLOVENIA: ‘The government has taken advantage of the pandemic to restrict protest’

February 26, 2021

SLOVENIA: ‘The government has taken advantage of the pandemic to restrict protest’

in Interviews

CIVICUS speaks about the recent right-wing shift in Slovenia with Brankica Petković, a researcher and project manager at the Peace Institute in Ljubljana. Founded…

The advocate championing citizen action and organizing to enable change

February 26, 2021

The advocate championing citizen action and organizing to enable change

in Op-Eds

Champions of Change is an initiative started by the Pathfinders to highlight advocates who have made an impact in their communities and have helped…

Nicaragua: UN must take action as over 100 activists remain in prison

February 25, 2021

Nicaragua: UN must take action as over 100 activists remain in prison

in Geneva

Statement at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council delivered by Amaru Ruiz, Fundación del Río The crisis in Nicaragua persists and systematic…

Sri Lanka: Warning signs of a deteriorating human rights situation

February 24, 2021

Sri Lanka: Warning signs of a deteriorating human rights situation

in Geneva

Statement at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council We welcome the report of the High Commissioner, which concludes that domestic initiatives…

Joint Call for a Global Arms Embargo on Myanmar

February 24, 2021

Joint Call for a Global Arms Embargo on Myanmar

in New York

Over 130 Organisations write an open letter to the UN Security Council and individual UN Member States to urgently institute a coordinated global arms embargo…

INDIA: ‘CSOs that dare speak truth to power are attacked with politically motivated charges’

February 23, 2021

INDIA: ‘CSOs that dare speak truth to power are attacked with politically motivated charges’

in Interviews

CIVICUS speaks to human rights lawyer and researcher Mrinal Sharma about the state of civic freedoms in India. Mrinal works to help unlawfully detained…

Algeria: Assertive public position from international community crucial to protecting Algerians on Hirak anniversary

February 23, 2021

Algeria: Assertive public position from international community crucial to protecting Algerians on Hirak anniversary

in News

#Algeria: 16 February 2021 marked the two year anniversary of the start of the Hirak protests and the ensuing violent crackdown on civic freedoms.…

45 Human rights and foreign policy organisations call on Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton to…

February 23, 2021

45 Human rights and foreign policy organisations call on Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton to…

in Open Letters

Fourty-Five organisations sent a joint letter to Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton calling on him to speak out against the Saudi government's human rights…

ECOCIDE: ‘Perpetrators of environmental destruction should be prosecuted just like war criminals are’

February 22, 2021

ECOCIDE: ‘Perpetrators of environmental destruction should be prosecuted just like war criminals are’

in Interviews

CIVICUS speaks with Jojo Mehta, co-founder and Executive Director of Stop Ecocide International and Chair of the Stop Ecocide Foundation. The Stop Ecocide campaign…

Advocacy priorities at 46th Session of UN Human Rights Council

February 22, 2021

Advocacy priorities at 46th Session of UN Human Rights Council

in Geneva

The 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council will sit from 22 February - 23 March, 2021 and there are a number of critical human rights…

GREECE: ‘We need a change in narratives as well as in policies towards migration’

February 17, 2021

GREECE: ‘We need a change in narratives as well as in policies towards migration’

in Interviews

CIVICUS speaks about the situation of migrants and refugees in Greece and the role of civil society in policymaking with Lefteris Papagiannakis, Head of…

UNITED NATIONS: ‘The existing human rights system must be criticised, while still being defended’

February 16, 2021

UNITED NATIONS: ‘The existing human rights system must be criticised, while still being defended’

in Interviews

CIVICUS speaks with Brian Schapira, Director of Institutional Relations at the Center for Latin America´s Opening and Development (Centro para la Apertura y el…

Pakistan: Rights group calls for release of activist Professor Muhammad Ismail following bail rejection

February 15, 2021

Pakistan: Rights group calls for release of activist Professor Muhammad Ismail following bail rejection

in Media Releases

Anti-terrorism court refuses bail to Professor Muhammad Ismail despite his fragile post-COVID health Professor Ismail and family persecuted due to human rights work in…

ETHIOPIA: ‘The June 2021 election is between democratic life and death’

February 15, 2021

ETHIOPIA: ‘The June 2021 election is between democratic life and death’

in Interviews

CIVICUS speaks to Mesud Gebeyehu about the political conflict in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia and the highly contested upcoming Ethiopian national election, scheduled…

Angola decriminalises homosexuality

February 15, 2021

Angola decriminalises homosexuality

in Op-Eds

Angola has officially decriminalised same-sex relationships and prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation. LGBTQI+ advocacy lead for CIVICUS, Mawethu Nkosana spoke with eNCA's Sally Burdett on Angola's repeal…

Saudi activist, Loujain Al-Hathloul spends 1000+ days in prison: Masana Ndinga-Kanga

February 12, 2021

Saudi activist, Loujain Al-Hathloul spends 1000+ days in prison: Masana Ndinga-Kanga

in Op-Eds

Prominent Saudi female activist, Loujain al-Hathloul, who campaigned for women's right to drive, was sentenced to more than five years in prison in December…

Russia: Human Rights Council must respond to crackdown on civil society

February 12, 2021

Russia: Human Rights Council must respond to crackdown on civil society

in Geneva

Joint statement ahead of the 46th Session of the Human Rights Council, condemning Russia (a new member of the body) for recent attacks against…

Myanmar: A return to military dictatorship must be prevented

February 12, 2021

Myanmar: A return to military dictatorship must be prevented

in Geneva

Special session of the Human Rights Council on the human rights implications of the crisis in Myanmar CIVICUS thanks the UK and EU for…

Indian activist Sudha Bharadwaj spends 900 days in detention

February 12, 2021

Indian activist Sudha Bharadwaj spends 900 days in detention

in Media Releases

13 February 2021 marks Sudha Bharadwaj’s 900th day in pre-trial detention Questions raised about validity of letters used to incriminate Sudha Indian authorities have…

MYANMAR: “If this coup is not overturned, there will be many more political prisoners”

February 10, 2021

MYANMAR: “If this coup is not overturned, there will be many more political prisoners”

in Interviews

CIVICUS speaks about the recent military coup in Myanmar with Bo Kyi, a former political prisoner and co-founder of the Assistance Association of Political…

Civil society letter to U.S. State Dept on Human Rights Defenders

February 09, 2021

Civil society letter to U.S. State Dept on Human Rights Defenders

in News

80 civil society organisations from 30+ countries urge Honarable Secretary of State, Antony Blinken to strengthen U.S. government foreign policy to support human rights…

Bahrain: Joint Letter to EU Ahead of Meeting With Bahraini Delegation

February 09, 2021

Bahrain: Joint Letter to EU Ahead of Meeting With Bahraini Delegation

in News

Please note: This letter was sent on 25 January and it was acknowledged by the European External Action Service (EEAS). The Bahraini foreign minister…

Saudi rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul spends 1000th day in prison

February 08, 2021

Saudi rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul spends 1000th day in prison

in Media Releases

Today, as Saudi women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul spends her 1000th day in prison, global civil society alliance CIVICUS and the Free Saudi Activists…

Standing in solidarity with Venezuelan human rights defenders

February 08, 2021

Standing in solidarity with Venezuelan human rights defenders

in News

The recent, ongoing and unwarranted detention of five members of the Venezuelan NGO ‘Azul Positivo’ is one more event in a series of threats,…

Deportation of academic increases the chilling effect on freedom of expression in Fiji

February 08, 2021

Deportation of academic increases the chilling effect on freedom of expression in Fiji

in News

The recent deportation of academic Professor Pal Ahluwalia is alarming and highlights the restrictive environment for freedom of expression in Fiji, global civil society…

Joint call for Human Rights Council Special Session on Myanmar

February 08, 2021

Joint call for Human Rights Council Special Session on Myanmar

in Geneva

Joint statement by human rights organisations calling UN Human Rights Council to convene a Special Session on Myanmar. We, the undersigned human rights organisations,…

Pakistan: Human rights activist Muhammad Ismail detained and ill-treated

February 05, 2021

Pakistan: Human rights activist Muhammad Ismail detained and ill-treated

in Media Releases

CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, is extremely concerned about the detention and ill-treatment of Mohammed Ismail, a human rights defender and CIVICUS partner,…

Myanmar: Release all activists and politicians detained and restore democracy

February 02, 2021

Myanmar: Release all activists and politicians detained and restore democracy

in News

Global civil society alliance CIVICUS is alarmed that the military’s takeover of control of Myanmar from the civilian government represents a sharp reversal of…

Cambodia: Drop charges against union leader Rong Chhun and other activists

February 01, 2021

Cambodia: Drop charges against union leader Rong Chhun and other activists

in News

On Wednesday, prominent trade unionist and labour activist Rong Chhun will again appear before the trial court in Cambodia in one of a series…

Abortion Law | Mass protests across Poland

February 01, 2021

Abortion Law | Mass protests across Poland

in Op-Eds

Protests against new abortion laws have erupted across Poland. eNCA speaks to Aarti Narsee, a researcher at civil-society alliance CIVICUS.

Russia: Stop violence against peaceful protesters

February 01, 2021

Russia: Stop violence against peaceful protesters

in News

Read the statement in Russian The arrest of more than five thousand protesters in Russia calling for the release of anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny…

ANGOLA: “The ruling party sees local elections as a threat”

January 30, 2021

ANGOLA: “The ruling party sees local elections as a threat”

in Interviews

View the original interview in Portuguese here CIVICUS speaks about the situation in Angola with Pascoal Baptistiny, Executive Director of MBAKITA – Kubango Agricultural Benevolent…