Media Releases

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Indonesia: Investigate security forces’ violence against protesters

CIVICUS calls on the Indonesian authorities to immediately investigate and punish security forces personnel responsible for unleashing violence against peaceful protesters.
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CIVICUS calls for release of journalist José Rubén Zamora on 2nd anniversary of his arrest

CIVICUS urges authorities to drop baseless charges against José Rubén Zamora There are concerns for Zamora’s health and safety in detention.
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Mandela Day: Global activist persecutions show shocking growth

 As we mark Nelson Mandela Day and #StandAsMyWitness campaign anniversary, number of countries to legally harass and put activists behind bars nearly doubled in five years.
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Singapore: Online Criminal Harms Act another legal instrument to suppress civic space

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation are deeply concerned over Singapore’s recently passed Online Criminal Harms Act.
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Malaysia: Gap in election manifestos on commitments to respect civic freedoms

CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, calls on all parties contesting the upcoming elections to strengthen commitments to respecting and protecting civic freedoms.
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Public Development Banks can’t drag their feet when it comes to building a sustainable future

A coalition of civil society organisations is demanding public development banks (PDBs) to take radical and innovative steps to tackle human rights violations and environmental destruction.
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Global civil society alliance urges Human Rights Council members to support debate on Uyghur abuses report

Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS is urging UN Human Rights Council member states to do the right thing by voting in support of a resolution to debate the human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).
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Demands to release Mexican land rights campaigner on Indigenous Peoples’ Day

On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, 9 August, global civil society alliance CIVICUS urges the Mexican authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Indigenous land rights campaigner Kenia Hernandez, and to free all Indigenous activists behind bars for their work protecting and promoting human rights.
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Activism works: on Mandela Day, let's boost efforts to free human rights defenders around the world

#StandAsMyWitness campaign launched two years ago on Nelson Mandela Day Campaign has been part of successful global calls to release incarcerated human rights defenders  21 human rights defenders currently featured in the campaign have spent 50 years collectively in prison In honour of Nelson Mandela Day 18 July, global civil society alliance CIVICUS calls for renewed efforts to help free 21 human rights defenders featured in its #StandAsMyWitness global campaign.

Chad: Respect the right to protest and release detained activists

The use of violence to disperse recent protests in Chad and the arrests and detention of members of civil society and the political opposition highlight ongoing attempts by the military junta to stifle civic freedoms and silence criticism of their actions.
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South Africa: Urgent calls for the government to act against rising killings of HRDs

CIVICUS and Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA) call on the South African government to urgently denounce the ongoing killings of human rights defenders in the country and act decisively to identify the perpetrators of such heinous acts.
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MYANMAR: ASEAN must move beyond consensus in facilitating cross-border humanitarian aid

In the lead up to the high-level meeting on ASEAN humanitarian assistance to Myanmar, civil society organisations voiced their grave concerns in a webinar titled ‘Beyond ASEAN’s Five Point Consensus: Humanitarian Assistance in Myanmar’ held last Thursday, 5 May.
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El Salvador: Stop attacks on civil society and civic freedoms

Government extends a state of emergency with unprecedented mass arrests and restrictions on civic rights.

Thai government fails to accept recommendations to repeal restrictive laws at UN periodic review

Human rights groups CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and the Asia Democracy Network (ADN) are disappointed by the Thai government’s failure to accept recommendations to repeal restrictive laws as recommended by members states of the UN Human Right Council, despite making commitments to civic freedoms.
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Civil society organisations call on Tunisia to lift all restrictions on civic space and independent bodies and restore the rule of law

Arabic Tunisia: More than 100 civil society organisations have endorsed a statement calling for an end to restrictions in Tunisia.
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Pakistan: Removal from Open Government Partnership another sign of the repressive civic space environment

CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, is appalled by the Pakistani government’s failure to keep its commitments to the Open Government Partnership (OGP), which has led to its removal.
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Thailand: First conviction under Article 112 for protest act sets a disturbing precedent for civic space

Following the conviction of Narin - a protester who placed a sticker over the Thai King’s portrait under Article 112 (lese majeste) - on Friday, 4 March 2022, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, and Asia Democracy Network (ADN) said: The conviction of Narin under Article 112 (lese majeste) for placing a sticker with the logo of a satire page ‘Gukult’ over a portrait of the King during a democracy protest in September 2020 sets a disturbing precedent for civic space in Thailand.
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Nicaragua: Urgent call to stop judicial persecution of HRD Medardo Mairena Sequeira

Medardo Mairena Sequeira, who appeared in court yesterday to face trumped charges, was found guilty of conspiracy to undermine National integrity.

Uganda yet to address civic freedom gaps ahead of UN review

Human rights organisations CIVICUS, Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI), Justice Access Point (JAP) and African Institute for Investigative Journalism (AIIJ) call on UN member states to urge the Government of Uganda to protect civic freedoms as its human rights record is examined by the UN Human Rights Council on 27 January 2022 as part of the 40th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
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Timor-Leste: States must call on the government to protect civic freedoms

International human rights groups raise the alarm about the state of civic rights in Timor-Leste ahead of the country's review at the United Nations Human Rights Council on 27 January 2022.
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Venezuela failed to implement over 80% of UN recommendations on civic rights

International human rights groups raise alarm about the state of civic rights in Venezuela ahead of the country's review at the United Nations Human Rights Council on 25 January, 2022.
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13 countries downgraded in new ratings report as civic rights deteriorate globally

9 out of 10 people live in countries where civic rights are severely restricted.
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Brazil: Anti-terrorism bill a tool to repress fundamental rights and freedoms

Portuguese  Brazilian authorities are debating a restrictive bill which amends the Anti-terrorism law (2016) If passed, the bill will severely impact on the rights of expression, assembly, association and privacy Concerns raised by UN Special Rapporteurs about the impact of the bill have largely been ignored
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Bangladesh: Drop all charges against human rights defenders from Odhikar

CIVICUS, a global alliance of civil society organisations, is seriously concerned over the ongoing judicial harassment against human rights defenders Adilur Rahman Khan and ASM Nasiruddin Elan.
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El Salvador:“Foreign Agents” bill would restrict freedom of expression & association if passed into law

🇸🇻 #ElSalvadorNew law on "foreign agents" restricts freedoms of expression and association and gives the executive broad powers to repress civil society and independent media.
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World leaders meet at COP26 but many participants from the frontlines of climate change are left out in the cold

As world leaders meet at #COP26, barriers for participation have left many participants from the frontlines of the fight against climate change out in the cold https://t.
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India: Human rights defender Sudha Bharadwaj spends another birthday in detention

🇮🇳#India: Today human rights lawyer & activist Sudha Bharadwaj will celebrate her 60th birthday in prisonShe was arrested on fabricated charges 3 years ago and has been denied bail.
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Sudan: Civilian and political leaders must be immediately released

🇸🇩#Sudan: Military leaders must exercise restraint amidst political tensions & refrain from the use of excessive force.
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Disinformation research reveals how governments hijack & weaponize narratives to serve their political agenda

Disinformation campaigns are on the rise in East Asia as states use false information to shape self-serving narratives.
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Pakistan: UN Working Group concludes Muhammad Ismail was targeted because of his human rights work

CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, welcomes the conclusions adopted by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention that found the arrest and detention of Muhammad Ismail arbitrary and calls on the Pakistan authorities to immediately and unconditionally put an end to all acts of harassment against Muhammad Ismail and his family.
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Russia: Stop smear campaigns, persecution of civil society

The ongoing violations of the right to freedom of association, peaceful assembly and expression, and particularly the labelling of civil society groups as “foreign agents,” is intended to force associations to close operations or self-censor, said CIVICUS, global alliance of civil society organisations.
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Philippines: International community must support independent investigative mechanism to end attacks on civil society

New research on the state of civic freedoms in the Philippines CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, continues to call on the UN Human Rights Council to establish an independent investigative mechanism to address human rights violations and abuses in the Philippines to further accountability and justice.
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India: Government must halt its harassment of human rights activist Harsh Mander

CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, condemns the recent raid carried out on facilities associated with human rights defender Harsh Mander who serves as Director of the Centre for Equity Studies and calls on the government of India to stop targeting and intimidating human rights defenders.
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Both protests & restrictions surge during the pandemic

The CIVICUS Monitor has produced a fourth installment of research on the state of civil liberties during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Afghanistan: UN and Member States must take urgent steps to protect civil society

🇦🇫#Afghanistan: UN & Member States must take urgent steps to protect civil society in the country.

Zambia: Guarantee human rights for all during elections period

🇿🇲#Zambia: Ahead of tomorrow's national elections, we are calling on President @EdgarLungu to guarantee the rights of all Zambians and refrain from shutting down the internet: https://t.
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Nicaragua: One month later, Medardo Mairena Sequeira still behind bars

3 months ahead of the Presidential elections, authorities in 🇳🇮#Nicaragua have arbitrarily detained several opposition leaders & activists.
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Fiji: Stop attempts to silence the political opposition

The police harassment of opposition politicians for their criticism of the land law amendments highlights the restrictive space for civic freedoms in Fiji, said global civil society alliance CIVICUS today.
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Tunisia: Exercise restraint and respect human rights as political tensions intensify

🇹🇳#Tunisia: Authorities must exercise restraint amidst political tensions & refrain from the use of excessive force.
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Tajikistan: release human rights lawyer ahead of 50th birthday behind bars

Russian On 9 July 2021, Buzurgmehr Yorov, a Tajikistani human rights lawyer and outspoken critic of the government, will mark his 50th birthday behind bars.
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Hong Kong: A year on, the National Security Law has crushed civic freedoms

New research on the state of civic freedoms in Hong Kong - a look at restrictions over the past year CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, is extremely concerned about the alarming regression of civic freedoms in Hong Kong.
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Protests prove the power of collective action as states fail pandemic test, says new report

OUT NOW! New State of Civil Society Report looks at where people have mobilised to demand more just, equal & sustainable societies during the pandemic.
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Benin downgraded as civic freedoms deteriorate

Judicial persecution of journalists and activists Recent legislative and presidential elections marred by protests, violence and human rights violations.
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Malaysia: Muhyiddin government escalating efforts to silence dissent

  Global civil society alliance CIVICUS is extremely concerned by the escalation of repression of critical voices by the Malaysian authorities in recent weeks.
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Freedom Day: more needs to be done to stop killings of LGBTQI+ people in South Africa

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 still the fundamental freedoms of many people are being curtailed - particularly the rights and freedoms of people within the LGBTQI+ community.
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Bahraini human rights defender Abdul-Hadi al-Khawaja turns 60 on his 10th anniversary in prison

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 his fragile health in prison during pandemic On 5 April 2021 prominent Bahraini human rights defender Abdul-Hadi al-Khawaja turns 60.
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Rights organisations call for release of activist Teresita Naul on her first anniversary in detention

15 March marks one year in detention for rights activist Teresita Naul Philippines Human Rights Commission says Teresita was wrongfully ‘red-tagged’ Teresita’s daughter fears for her mother’s life in prison
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Tunisia: release LGBTQI+ activist Rania Amdouni and stop violence against peaceful protesters

Arabic The sentencing of human rights defender and LGBTQI+ activist Rania Amdouni to six months in prison by a court in Tunis on 4 March 2021 for participating in peaceful protests calling for social and economic justice is an attack on the rights to freedom of expression and assembly in Tunisia.

Bangladesh: International community must respond to crackdown on freedom of expression

The Bangladeshi authorities must end their escalating crackdown on human rights, and respect and protect people’s rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in Bangladesh to curb protesters demanding justice for writer Mushtaq Ahmed’s death in prison on 25 February, the nine undersigned human rights organizations said in a joint statement today.
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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 during its first twelve months in power, said ARTICLE 19 and CIVICUS in a new report published today.

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