Global rights alliance condemns the prison detention of protesters of the ethnic Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) in Pakistan and killing of one of their leaders More than 80 PTM activists were arrested on 5 February for protesting the death of Arman Loni in police custody three days earlier.

International Civil Society Week (ICSW) 2019 brings together over 850 civil society leaders, activists and concerned citizens across sectors, themes, regions in Belgrade, Serbia (8-12 April) to tackle the world's most pressing challenges in the fields of human rights, democracy and international development.

Global rights groups concerned by Gabon government’s targeting of human rights defenders and opposition members for military coup attempt Authorities shut down Internet and suspend broadcasting services following failed coup Gabon under tense security in wake of coup attempt The family of President Ali Bongo has held onto power in Gabon for over half a century Global civil society groups are concerned at indications by the government of Gabon that it intends to investigate local civil society organisations and members of the political opposition for their involvement in the recent military coup attempt.

 Pakistan has expelled 18 international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) Another 20 organisations are also at risk of expulsion Pakistan’s policy on INGOs effectively hampers the registration and functioning of international humanitarian and human rights groups Global human rights groups have expressed grave concern over the expulsion of 18 international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) from Pakistan.

Human rights activists are being violently attacked and killed in record numbers 20 years after historic UN declaration adopted to protect them.

Hundreds of West Papuans were arrested for holding peaceful protests Some protesters were attacked by pro-government groups and suffered injuries There has been a failure by the government to address West Papuan grievances and instead respond with repressive tactics Indonesian authorities arbitrarily arrested hundreds of demonstrators across West Papua and other parts of Indonesia on December 1 following peaceful pro-independence protests.

Human rights group Odhikar is the target of a broad campaign to prevent them from exposing human rights violations in Bangladesh Pro-government media are engaged in a smear campaign against Odhikar, accusing them of involvement in “murky activities” and “conspiracy against the country” State agencies have used bureaucratic red tape to prevent Odhikar from receiving funding and renewing their registration with the state for past four years These actions highlight a systematic pattern of discrediting activists and organisations critical of the government Global civil rights alliance, CIVICUS, has called on Bangladesh, as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, to stop these campaigns ahead of December elections A chilling smear campaign by government-aligned media in Bangladesh against a local human rights group is the latest in an ongoing drive to prevent efforts to expose human rights violations in the country.

  Coalition of global human rights groups launch a campaign for release of all Saudi women activists behind bars At least 12 women human rights defenders arrested in past six months and have had their rights violated for their activism Almost a quarter of a million signatures on a petition calling on the UN to hold Saudi Arabia accountable  More than 170 NGOs have called on the UN to suspend Saudi Arabia's membership of the UN Human Rights Council and hold inquiry into human rights abuses The coalition calls for action including ending arms sales to Saudi Arabia, which has been enabling war in Yemen since 2015   On November 29, the world commemorates International Women Human Rights Defenders Day - just 10 days before the 20th Anniversary of the international signing of the Declaration on human rights defenders.

13 activists and academics arrested and detained by police in clear act of intimidation Prominent activist Yiğit Aksakoğlu remains in pre-trial custody Recent detentions spark fears of renewed crackdown on dissent Detentions come ahead of meeting between EU and Turkish officials today Global and Turkish human rights groups fear that the detention of thirteen activists and academics could signal a new upsurge in a state crackdown on dissent in Turkey.

Global SPEAK! campaign counters growing divisions with a call to “speak with” those we don’t normally Campaign will comprise almost 200 events in 60 countries worldwide Events include dialogues countering hate speech, extremism, and religious conflict Campaign timed to coincide with International Day for Tolerance

Cameroonian journalist was reporting on human rights abuses when detained Charges include engendering state security and cyber criminality Fears of imminent terrorism charges and a trial in military court Present case is the latest in ongoing anti-reporting campaign in Anglophone region International civil society is alarmed at the rising incidents of Cameroonian journalists being detained for reporting on human rights abuses in the country’s Anglophone regions.

French Year-long global research initiative explores what democracy means to people from almost 80 countries and what kind of democracy they want Key challenges identified are flawed elections, political and economic exclusion, extremism and political polarisation Recommendations include increased direct, participatory democracy and an economy that works for all If we could reimagine the kind of democracy we live in and the way we experience democracy, what would it look and be like? This was the question researchers put to thought leaders and activists from nearly 80 countries across the globe, in a year-long ‘Reimagining Democracy’ initiative.

CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance and The Innovation for Change South Asia Hub are extremely concerned about the political crisis in Sri Lanka and its impact on the rule of law and civic space in the country.

Saudi Arabia should immediately and unconditionally release all arbitrarily detained activists, respect their rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly, and put an immediate end to its nationwide crackdown, a coalition of leading human rights organizations said today.

#Zimbabwe Police arbitrarily arrest trade union leaders over planned protests; authorities are still employing methods of an era gone by to silence dissent - @LMandishara of @nangozim https://t.

Breaking News: Police close and cancel civil society conference on the sidelines of #IMF & #WorldBank annual meeting in Bali, #Indonesia (#IMFWBMeetingBali ).

New programme to support youth tackling major social issues through data collection Initiative will amplify activists’ work and hold leaders accountable Selected activists will receive up to $30,000 in financial and other assistance Prominent global foundations among members of partnership supporting initiative

Tibetan language education activist Tashi Wangchuk jailed for advocating cultural rights https://t.

"The use of unnecessary and excessive force during protests or peaceful gatherings in #Djibouti strengthens the prevalent climate of repression in the country" - @ClementineDM https://t.

Media Release The Government of the Indian Ocean island nation of The Maldives is undermining the rule of law and intensifying a brutal crackdown on its critics.

On the anniversary of the killing of the popular Maldivian blogger and social media personality, Yameen Rasheed, Amnesty International and CIVICUS call on the Maldivian authorities to bring his killers to justice.

Youth Arts Contest Seeks Out Silenced Voices to Reimagine Democracy Johannesburg, 18 April 2018 - What kind of country would South Africa be today if young people had not first raised their voices and taken action more than three decades ago? And today, how can the many silenced voices of youth be heard, to express a vision for the kind of democracy they desire? ‘Through Arts and Imagination’ is a newly launched contest seeking bold and original creative arts - music, poetry, art, media – that present youth perspectives on “re-imagining democracy.

The undersigned civil society organisations express their outrage at the latest death threats targeting the Director of Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), Bahey el-Din Hassan, as a result of his human rights work on Egypt in Europe and the US.

The three-year conviction of Somaliland poet and peace activist Nacima Abwaan Qorane this week highlights the increasingly repressive environment in Somaliland for peaceful expression, said global civil society alliance, CIVICUS.

As South Africa commemorates Human Rights Day tomorrow, 21 March 2018, it is an opportunity for the government now led by President Cyril Ramaphosa to situate human rights at the centre of all actions of the government in line with the constitution and address recent human rights violations.

The government in the Philippines has officially labelled a number of local indigenous rights activists, as well as a United Nations Special Rapporteur, as “terrorists”.

This is a significant time to be calling for greater progress in the fight against gender inequality and sexual abuse.

As 2017 gave way to 2018, many in civil society found renewed purpose in striving to make democracy real, and demanding human dignity and justice.

Two years ago, this week, human rights champion Baquer Namazi was arbitrarily arrested and detained by the authorities as he arrived in Iran to visit his detained son.

Global civil society alliance CIVICUS condemns recent attacks on the premises of the Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF) in Uganda which left security guards wounded and in need of urgent medical attention.

Arabic On the 7th anniversary of the peaceful popular movement of the Bahraini people which started on 14 February 2011, the undersigned NGOs call on the international community to help free human rights defenders in Bahrain, some of whom are jailed for life, and to stop the persecution of journalists simply for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

Global civil society alliance CIVICUS and the Voice of Women (VOW) Maldives condemn the ongoing attacks on the Maldivian judiciary, which has included targeting judges for simply upholding the rule of law and the constitution.

Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS condemns the horrific attack on the office and staff of Save the Children in Jalalabad, eastern Afghanistan.

Abuja — A proposed bill currently before Nigeria’s lawmakers, which will give the government sweeping powers over non-governmental organisations (NGOs), threatens the existence of Nigerian civil society, if passed into law.

Several delegates at the CIVICUS World Assembly in Suva, Fiji on 7 December 2017 urged us to speak out against the ill-advised announcement of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel by the current United States administration.

Winners of the 2017 Nelson Mandela-Graça Machel Innovation Awards show great courage and commitment to social change Suva, Fiji – An Egyptian activist and journalist, a young Guyanese change-maker, a Nigerian mental health organisation, and a German philanthropic foundation have been named winners of the coveted 2017 Nelson Mandela-Graça Machel Innovation Awards.

Johannesburg - Global civil society alliance CIVICUS urges the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and all stakeholders in Zimbabwe to continue to exercise restraint and respect the rights and fundamental freedoms of all citizens during this period of political transition.

November 15 marked the last day of the 61st Ordinary Session of the ACHPR taking place in Banjul, The Gambia as the Commission celebrates 30 years of advancing human rights in Africa.

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Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS expresses deep concern over the unlawful arrest and arbitrary detention of environmental rights defender Raleva.

We, the undersigned civil society organisations (CSOs), strongly condemn the Ugandan authorities’ flagrant and repeated attempts to suppress the peaceful and legitimate activities of civil society organisations in Uganda through the recent unwarranted raids on the offices of four independent CSOs.

This weekend, tens of thousands of people will come together at hundreds of events across 5 continents, as part of a new global campaign to give a voice to everyone, everywhere.

The attempted assassination of outspoken government critic Tundu Lissu on 7 September 2017 is the latest in a series of efforts aimed at constraining freedom of expression and association in Tanzania.

NAIROBI – Leading global and regional civil society groups have strongly condemned the targeting of two Kenyan national human rights organisations by the authorities.

Authorities in Vietnam have increasingly been using the country’s draconian security laws to attack and silence human rights defenders in recent weeks.

As Kenyans go to the polls tomorrow to vote in general elections, global civil society alliance, CIVICUS calls on the authorities, leaders of political parties and communities to adhere to democratic principles and respect the will of all Kenyans.

The family of Bassel Khartabil, a Syrian-Palestinian software engineer and free speech activist, confirmed that he had been subjected to an extrajudicial execution in October 2015.

JOHANNESBURG – Three civil society leaders in Cameroon remain imprisoned in solitary confinement and on trial for leading peaceful protests, following their court appearance on 27 July.

The declaration of State of Public Threatened Emergency in Zambia is a glaring indication of plans by the government to increase restrictions on civic space in an effort to consolidate the regime of President Edgar C Lungu, global civil society alliance CIVICUS and the Zambian Council for Social Development (ZCSD) noted today.

Attacks by the authorities on protesters, critics, NGOs and the media in Angola, Kenya and Tanzania have led global civil alliance, CIVICUS, to add the nations to its Watch List of countries where there are serious and ongoing threats to civic space.