Media Releases

Anti-Terrorism Measures in Pakistan: Authorities urged to see civil society as partners not opponents

20 January 2015 - Civil society in Pakistan, which already faces severe restrictions, is facing further threats to its freedom, following the horrific terrorist attack on a school in Peshawar last December.

Allegations of corporate complicity in attacks on activists in Philippines

10 December 2014.

Turkey: Repressive Security Bill will further imperil civic freedoms

Turkish Translation of Media Statement 11 November, 2014 - Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS is deeply concerned with the proposed “Security Package” before the Turkish Parliament, which if approved will warrant abusive policing practices, such as the ability to disperse public assemblies with physical force and to use firearms against protesters.

Global gathering of civil society to be held in Johannesburg in November

Hundreds of activists and prominent members of civil society from more than 100 countries will gather in Johannesburg for International Civil Society Week (ICSW) from 19-25 November.

Ethiopia: Crackdown on dissent intensifies as journalists convicted

Joint Statement CIVICUS: WORLD ALLIANCE FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION  EAST AND HORN OF AFRICA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS PROJECT ETHIOPIA HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT   31 October 2014.

Calls for Azerbaijan to end crackdown on civil society and uphold Council of Europe Commitments

24 October 2014.

Egypt: International Civil Society Urges Egypt to Release Activists

15 October 2014.

Cambodia at a Crossroads: New laws would limit freedoms

10 October 2014: Set against a background of endemic corruption, unsustainably low wages and impoverishing confiscations of land, Cambodia is considering a series of laws that will severely restrict human rights and the activities of civil society organisations working on these issues, according to a team of international experts visiting the country.

Concern over South Sudan NGO Law amidst deepening crisis

6 October 2014 - Civil society organisations are calling on South Sudanese authorities to stop the adoption of a restrictive NGO bill amidst fears that it could severely hinder civil society activities and undermine efforts to address the continuing humanitarian crisis in the country.

More Than 150 Organisations call on king to release Bahraini activist

Update: 19 September 2014: We are happy to let you know that detained Bahraini  activist, Maryam Al-Khawaja is no longer in custody.

Global civil society alliance condemns NGO crack-down in Hungary and calls on new European Commission to act

9 September 2014.

One year later: Bangladeshi activists still face trumped up charges

4 September 2014.

Gaza represents a failure of global governance: International community must insist on accountability for war crimes

3 September 2014.

Global civil society alliance stands in solidarity with South African community health workers

28 August 2014 - Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, has expressed solidarity with 127 community health workers and members of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) who will be appearing in court on 1 September in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Radical Change Needed Says Jay Naidoo In New Role As Global Civil Society Advisor

13 August 2014.

Human rights defenders in Bangladesh face dire threats

26 June 2014 - Independent civil society groups and journalists exposing human rights violations are coming under increasing pressure by Bangladeshi authorities warns CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance.

International community must not overlook repression and attacks on civil society in Egypt

2 July 2014 - Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, is urging the international community to isolate Egypt’s repressive regime as it escalates its campaign against democratic dissent and the rights of its people.

Civil society and media face ongoing crackdown in Nigeria

25 June 2014 - Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS is shocked at the ongoing media and civil society crackdown in Nigeria.

UN HRC must strengthen protections for civil society

13 June 2014: The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) must act to address the shrinking space for civil society across the globe, urged member organisations of the Civic Space Initiative* (CSI) at a side event in Geneva on 12 June.

First `Global Day of Citizen Action’ to be held on Saturday 7 June

4 June 2014 - More than 20 countries around the world will participate in the first ever 'Global Day of Citizen Action’ on Saturday 7 June as part of a campaign to raise awareness about threats to freedom of expression, association and assembly.

Brasil incluido na onda global de protestos impulsionada por falhas de governança nacional e internacional, afirma novo relatório

02 Junho 2014- Protestos públicos em massa  têm ocupado as manchetes ao redor do mundo durante os últimos anos, refletindo uma falha de governança a nível nacional e internacional, diz o novo relatório da aliança global de sociedade civil, CIVICUS.

Yeni rapor ulusal ve uluslararası yönetişim hatalarının sebep olduğu küresel protesto dalgalarına dikkat çekiyor.

02 Haziran 2014 - Küresel sivil toplum ittifakı CIVICUS tarafından yayınlanan yeni rapor, geçtiğimiz birkaç senede dünya genelinde manşetleri yakalayan  kitlesel protestoların, ulusal ve uluslararası seviyede gerçekleşen yönetişim hatalarını yansıttığına dikkat çekiyor.

Global wave of protests driven by national and international governance failures, says new report

 French | Spanish   Mass public protests that have grabbed headlines around the world during the last few years reflect a failure of governance at the national and international level, says a new report by the global civil society alliance, CIVICUS.

Civil Society calls for end to indiscriminate killings and violations of human rights in Philippines

19 May 2014.

Call to release civil society activists as Azerbaijan chairs Council of Europe

14 May 2014.

Call for release of civil society leader on 4th anniversary behind bars

       6 May 2014 – The global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, and several NGO networks are calling for the release of the imprisoned Palestinian civil society leader, Ameer Makhoul, on the 4th anniversary of his arrest.

Civil Society Alarmed At US Attempt To Punish Academia Over Israel

4 MAY 2014 - Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS and the US-based Defending Dissent Foundation are alarmed at proposed legislation in the United States to reduce official funding to academic institutions that support the boycott of Israel.

OWG inches closer to human rights for all post-2015, but still a long road ahead

In December of last year, we came together as human rights, social and environmental justice and trade union organizations worldwide to lay out a roadmap for embedding all human rights into the core of the post-2015 sustainable development agenda.

International civil society calls on Sri Lanka to release human rights activists

20 March 2014 – The release of Sri Lankan Human Rights Defenders Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen Mahesan must be met with substantive reform to advance human rights say CIVICUS, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) and the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice (SLCPJ).

Foreign Contributions Bill: Another setback for Civil Society in Pakistan

Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, and the Pakistan Development Alliance (PDA) express strong reservations about the proposed Foreign Contributions Bill to regulate international funding for civil society activities in Pakistan.

Ukraine: Conditional amnesty unacceptable say Civil Society groups

05 February 2014.

World’s Most Comprehensive Compilation on Civil Rights Released by Global NGO

Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, has released a revised version of what is probably the world’s most comprehensive compilation of commitments made by governments on civil society rights.

Support, not undermine Zambian Civil Society

Zambia’s government and its international development partners must support not undermine the country’s harassed NGOs say global civil society alliance, CIVICUS and the Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD).

Syrian human rights defenders abducted as situation continues to worsen in Syria

Global Civil Society Alliance CIVICUS joins other international, national and Syrian CSOs in condemning the gunpoint kidnapping of four Syrian human rights defenders including internationally acclaimed activist Razan Zaitouneh, the General Coordinator of the Violations Documentation Centre.

Civil Society Groups Condemn Attacks on Freedoms in Egypt

The Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND), CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, and SOLIDAR, join in strongly condemning attacks on fundamental freedoms in Egypt.

Global Civil Society Mourns the Passing of Nelson Mandela

CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, joins hundreds of millions of people around the world in extending its deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of former South African president Nelson Mandela and to the people of South Africa and all those inspired and touched by his humanity.

South Sudan’s NGO Bill is “needlessly repressive”: CIVICUS

Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS urges the international community and South Sudan's trading and development partners in particular to question official moves to push through a repressive civil society draft law in Parliament.

Shocking Threats to Civil Society in Sri Lanka - says New Report

11 November 2013 – A new report finds shocking threats to civil society in Sri Lanka, amidst growing protests about the Commonwealth's decision to host its Summit there despite strong criticism of the country's human rights abuses.

More than 100 groups call on Zambian President to halt NGO law

112 civil society organizations based in over 46 countries have endorsed a letter calling on the Zambian President to refrain from implementing the restrictive 2009 NGO Act.

New report highlights more than 400 threats to civil society around the world

A new report released today by the global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, reveals a pattern of sustained attacks on civil society organisations (CSOs) around the world.

Global civil society body calls for release of South Korean environmental activists

10 October 2013 - Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, denounces the South Korean government’s unjustified arrest and detention of eleven environmental and civil society activists for exercising their right to freedom of assembly.

CIVICUS denounces crackdown on protestors and civil society in Sudan

8 October 2013 - Global civil so ciety alliance, CIVICUS strongly condemns the government of Sudan’s brutal response to on-going protests in the country.

Civil society demands legal status in Saudi Arabia

In partnership with Saudi civil society, global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, is urging the Saudi Arabian government to draft an NGO law that will guarantee legal status and protection for civil society organisations (CSOs).

Govts fail to create favourable conditions for civil society, says new report

A new index published today by the global civil society network, CIVICUS, shows that many governments around the world are failing to keep their promise to create an environment that allows citizens to mobilise and participate in civil society.

Appalling Crackdown on Freedoms in Uganda Continues

Public and media freedoms are increasingly under threat in Uganda, says CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance.

CIVICUS welcomes UN Secretary General’s Post-2015 report

22 August 2013 – CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, has welcomed the UN Secretary General’s recently released report on the post-2015 development agenda.

International Community Urged to Take Action on Bangladesh

22 August 2013: Bangladesh's persistent onslaught on democratic freedoms will seriously undermine development gains warns CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance.

Zambia: Civil society raises concerns over NGO Law and media restrictions

Johannesburg, 19 August 2013 - Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, and the Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD) are alarmed at attacks on the independence of the NGO sector and the media in Zambia.

Indonesian NGO law a setback for freedom of association

Johannesburg, Jakarta, 18 August 2013: The decision by Indonesian President Yudhoyono to approve a highly restrictive NGO has been condemned by civil society in Indonesia and abroad.

Another Blow for Civil Society and Dissent in Israel

Johannesburg, 14 August 2013: Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, is deeply concerned about the proposed legislative changes to the Non-Profit Organizations Law in Israel and the effect this will have on civil society space and the right to express dissent in the country.

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