News

Bahrain: Free Imprisoned Rights Defenders and Activists

April 07, 2020

Bahrain: Free Imprisoned Rights Defenders and Activists

in News

Extend Releases to Those at Special Risk of COVID-19

Protecting our co-workers during COVID-19: A Social Security Protocol for Civil Society

April 07, 2020

Protecting our co-workers during COVID-19: A Social Security Protocol for Civil Society

in News

Arabic We have a responsibility to act decisively to protect our co-workers from adverse health, social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This…

India: Arbitrarily detained Kashmiri prisoners must be freed

April 06, 2020

India: Arbitrarily detained Kashmiri prisoners must be freed

in Geneva

While recent steps taken by Indian authorities to decongest prisons in an effort to contain the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak are welcome, the Government…

Cambodia and COVID19: State of Emergency draft law will put civic freedoms at further risk

April 06, 2020

Cambodia and COVID19: State of Emergency draft law will put civic freedoms at further risk

in News

Cambodia and COVID19: State of Emergency draft law will put civic freedoms and human rights defenders further at risk CIVICUS, FORUM-ASIA, Frontline Defenders and Civil…

POLAND: ‘People are more understanding and supportive of LGBTQI+ issues than politicians’

April 01, 2020

POLAND: ‘People are more understanding and supportive of LGBTQI+ issues than politicians’

in Interviews

Following our 2019 special report on anti-rights groups and civil society responses, we are interviewing civil society activists and leaders about their experiences…

Letter from Jail: West Papuan activists speak about their prosecution in Indonesia

March 26, 2020

Letter from Jail: West Papuan activists speak about their prosecution in Indonesia

in Interviews

CIVICUS has received letters from Dano Anes Tabuni and Charles Kossay around their arrest and detention. Political activists Dano Anes Tabuni, Charles Kossay, Ambrosius…

COVID-19: Urgent measures must be taken by MENA governments to protect the prison population

March 26, 2020

COVID-19: Urgent measures must be taken by MENA governments to protect the prison population

in News

Arabic In light of the global COVID-19 pandemic outbreak—qualified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization (WHO)—we, the…

Outcomes from the UN Human Rights Council...to be continued

March 25, 2020

Outcomes from the UN Human Rights Council...to be continued

in News

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations Human Rights Council’s 43rd Session, which was scheduled to run from 24 Feb – 20 March, was…

CIVICUS: States should put human rights at the centre of all responses to COVID-19

March 24, 2020

CIVICUS: States should put human rights at the centre of all responses to COVID-19

in Media Releases

During the global COVID-19 pandemic states should not impose emergency law as a pretext to restrict civic rights Human rights defenders and political prisoners…

G20: Hundreds of civil society organisations pledge to avoid Saudi Arabia-led process

March 24, 2020

G20: Hundreds of civil society organisations pledge to avoid Saudi Arabia-led process

in News

بالعربية More than 220 civil society organizations from around the world have voiced their concerns over the G20 civil society engagement process hosted by…

The G20 must put human rights at the heart of its response to COVID-19 pandemic

March 23, 2020

The G20 must put human rights at the heart of its response to COVID-19 pandemic

in News

In the COVID-19 outbreak, the global community is facing one of the most challenging crises for decades. As of mid-March 2020 more than 200,000…

Open letter: Donors and supporters must act to ensure civil society resilience against COVID-19 pandemic

March 19, 2020

Open letter: Donors and supporters must act to ensure civil society resilience against COVID-19 pandemic

in Open Letters

Dear civil society donors and supporters, As the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, civil society organisations across the world are taking proactive…

Guinea placed on human rights watchlist ahead of referendum

March 18, 2020

Guinea placed on human rights watchlist ahead of referendum

in Media Releases

Guinea placed on CIVICUS Monitor watchlist ahead of referendum Escalating rights violations include use of excessive force on protesters CIVICUS calls for release of…

Fiji: Government rejects review of restrictive laws used to target journalists, activists and its critics

March 13, 2020

Fiji: Government rejects review of restrictive laws used to target journalists, activists and its critics

in Geneva

Statement at the 43rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council Fiji's adoption of Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights Watch us deliver our…

Iraq: Over 700 people killed and 2800 arrested since protests started in October

March 13, 2020

Iraq: Over 700 people killed and 2800 arrested since protests started in October

in Geneva

Statement at the 43rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council Iraq's adoption of Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights Watch us deliver our…

Angola: Repressive restrictions include arrest of protesters

March 13, 2020

Angola: Repressive restrictions include arrest of protesters

in Geneva

Statement at the 43rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council Angola's adoption of Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights Watch us deliver our…

Madagascar: Journalist acquitted but severe civic space restrictions persist

March 13, 2020

Madagascar: Journalist acquitted but severe civic space restrictions persist

in Geneva

Statement at the 43rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council Madagascar's adoption of Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights Watch us deliver our…

El Salvador: Violence and stigmatization continues against activists

March 12, 2020

El Salvador: Violence and stigmatization continues against activists

in Geneva

Joint statement at the 43rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council El Salvador's adoption of Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights Watch us…

WOMEN’S RIGHTS: ‘At this pace, it will take us nearly a century to reach equality’

March 12, 2020

WOMEN’S RIGHTS: ‘At this pace, it will take us nearly a century to reach equality’

in Interviews

In the run-up to the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, due in September 2020, CIVICUS is interviewing civil society activists, leaders…

5 countries on civic space watchlist presented to UN Human Rights Council

March 11, 2020

5 countries on civic space watchlist presented to UN Human Rights Council

in Geneva

Statement at the 43rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council Watch us deliver our statement below: Dear Madame President, Research findings by…

EGYPT: ‘There's been severe deterioration in the rule of law & respect for human rights’

March 11, 2020

EGYPT: ‘There's been severe deterioration in the rule of law & respect for human rights’

in Interviews

CIVICUS speaks about recent protests in Egypt and their repression with a woman activist and protester who, for security reasons, asked to remain anonymous.…

India: Crackdown continues in Jammu & Kashmir

March 10, 2020

India: Crackdown continues in Jammu & Kashmir

in Geneva

Joint statement at the 43rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council Our organizations express grave concern over the human rights situation in Jammu…

Myanmar: Government continues to use an array of laws to silence its critics

March 10, 2020

Myanmar: Government continues to use an array of laws to silence its critics

in Geneva

Statement at the 43rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council during Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar Watch our statement below We…

Iran: Freedom of assembly is being violently curtailed

March 10, 2020

Iran: Freedom of assembly is being violently curtailed

in Geneva

Statement at the 43rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council Watch us deliver our statement below: Volunteer Activists and CIVICUS note with…

Burundi: Disappearances and detentions continue ahead of May elections

March 10, 2020

Burundi: Disappearances and detentions continue ahead of May elections

in Geneva

Statement at the 43rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council during Interactive Dialogue with the UN Commission of Inquiry on Burundi Watch us deliver our…

GHANA: ‘Work in the corner of your community has a potential to cause change at…

March 10, 2020

GHANA: ‘Work in the corner of your community has a potential to cause change at…

in Interviews

Following a year marked by massive mobilisation on the climate emergency, CIVICUS is interviewing civil society activists, leaders and experts about the main environmental…

Malawi: Leading civil society organisations call for immediate release of human rights defenders

March 09, 2020

Malawi: Leading civil society organisations call for immediate release of human rights defenders

in Media Releases

CIVICUS, the global alliance of civil society organisations, together with the Malawian Human Rights Defenders Network (HRDN) and the Centre for Human rights and Rehabilitation…

ETHIOPIA: ‘For civil society, 2019 has been a new beginning’

March 09, 2020

ETHIOPIA: ‘For civil society, 2019 has been a new beginning’

in Interviews

In 2019, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed Ali, “for his efforts to achieve peace and…

Unprecedented use of excessive force against peaceful protests

March 06, 2020

Unprecedented use of excessive force against peaceful protests

in Geneva

Statement at the 43rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council The meaningful participation of people in governance is essential for securing human rights,…

The SDGs will not be achieved unless civic space is protected

March 06, 2020

The SDGs will not be achieved unless civic space is protected

in Geneva

Statement at the 43rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council Watch us deliver our statement below: The report on intersessional meetings on…

Nicaragua: Letter to UN Member States calling for increased human rights monitoring

March 06, 2020

Nicaragua: Letter to UN Member States calling for increased human rights monitoring

in Geneva

Joint Letter at the 43rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council: UN Human Rights Council should ensure enhanced monitoring of the human rights situation…

#UN75: ‘There is often a lack of transparency on how civil society’s inputs are reflected…

March 06, 2020

#UN75: ‘There is often a lack of transparency on how civil society’s inputs are reflected…

in Interviews

2020 marks 75 years since the founding of the United Nations (UN). CIVICUS is speaking with civil society activists, advocates and practitioners about the…

COLOMBIA: ‘The protection of the environment is inseparable from the success of the peace process’

March 05, 2020

COLOMBIA: ‘The protection of the environment is inseparable from the success of the peace process’

in Interviews

Following a year marked by massive mobilisation on the climate emergency, CIVICUS is interviewing civil society activists, leaders and experts about the main environmental…

Elections test Africa’s democracy

March 04, 2020

Elections test Africa’s democracy

in Op-Eds

By David Kode, advocacy and campaigns lead for CIVICUS Once again, the state of democracy on the continent will be tested as millions of Africans…

Smeared and vilified by Duterte, activists in the Philippines are fighting back

March 04, 2020

Smeared and vilified by Duterte, activists in the Philippines are fighting back

in Op-Eds

By Josef Benedict, civic space researcher at CIVICUS One tactic that CIVICUS has seen increasingly being used by the government to target activists and…

ARMS CONTROLS: ‘Greater women’s participation in male-dominated mechanisms would increase prospects for peace’

March 04, 2020

ARMS CONTROLS: ‘Greater women’s participation in male-dominated mechanisms would increase prospects for peace’

in Interviews

CIVICUS speaks with Aaron Lainé, Policy and Government Liaison Officer, and Raluca Muresan, Programme Manager at Control Arms, a civil society coalition that advocates…