Rights groups call for release of Professor Ismail ahead of bail hearing on 5 March March 2 marks one month in detention for human rights defender Professor Ismail Police evidence questioned by Pakistan National Assembly's Human Rights Committee

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 Pakistan Ismail added to #StandAsMyWitness campaign calling for release of imprisoned activists 

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 limited the number of books she can receive February 13 marks 900 days since Indian activist Sudha Bharadwaj was arrested and imprisoned.

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 coalition call for her immediate and unconditional release.

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, and calls for his immediate release.

Civic freedoms are under severe attack around the world.

16 Days of Activism, running annually from 25 November to 10 December, comes at the end of a year that saw a global pandemic affect families, economies, and every aspect of society worldwide.

#Poland: Authorities must stop persecuting & intimidating protesters, including minors, who are protesting over the near-total #abortionban in Poland.

  NEW ANALYSIS: 'SOLIDARITY IN THE TIMES OF #COVID19: Civil Society Responses to the Pandemic' highlights the irreplaceable role of activists, NGOs & grassroots organisations in responding to the global pandemic.

#Poland: Authorities must refrain from using excessive force against protesters who are demonstrating against a near-total ban on #abortion.

Exactly one year to this day 4 journalists from the IWACU news agency were arrested and later convicted after a flawed judicial process.

🇹🇿🗳️With national elections in #Tanzania on 28 October, over 65 civil society organsations from across the world have called on President, @MagufuliJP, to end the systematic restrictions on political and civic freedoms: https://t.

🇳🇬The brutal shooting of peaceful protesters in Lagos by Nigerian security forces is a gross violation of protesters’ rights and those responsible should be held accountable by the authorities https://t.

Read the Thai version of the letter Letter to the Prime Minister of Thailand as the government cracks down on peaceful protests calling for democracy, human rights and reform.

Pakistani authorities must investigate recent wave of brutal attacks and killings of #transgender people in #Pakistan and ensure justice and accountability for the violence perpetrated against them to prevent further attacks https://t.

Global civil society alliance CIVICUS welcomes the decision by Nigerien authorities to release three human rights defenders after six months in detention.

Report highlights judicial harassment of activists, targeting of journalists and crackdown on protesters  Modi government has continued to use state resources to sustain its persecution of activists and critics during COVID-19 pandemic  CIVICUS calls for the immediate release of arbitrarily detained human rights defenders The Indian government is using a variety of restrictive laws - including national security and counter-terrorism legislation - to arrest and imprison human rights defenders, peaceful protesters and critics, the global civil society alliance CIVICUS said today in a new report.

Global civil society alliance CIVICUS calls on the Cameroonian authorities to avoid using violence to curb anti-government protests planned by members of the political opposition for 22 September 2020.

Global civil society alliance CIVICUS is extremely concerned by an ongoing crackdown on activists in Cambodia over the last month.

Available in German Political gains made by the Green party and increasing dialogue between government and civil society, has led to an improvement in civic space in Austria, prompting a ratings upgrade from narrowed to open.

On 15 September 2020 it will be six months since three human rights defenders were jailed in Niger simply for participating in peaceful protests calling for an investigation into allegations of the misuse of funds by the Ministry of Defence.

CIVICUS urges authorities to drop baseless charges against Sudha Bharadwaj  There are concerns for Bharadwaj’s health in prison during COVID-19 pandemic Bharadwaj is featured in international campaign #StandAsMyWitness calling for release of human rights defenders  August 28 2020 marks two years since the arrest and detention of Indian activist and human rights lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj.

🇵🇭#Philippines: The cold-blooded murder of Zara Alvarez is a travesty and yet another addition to the growing list of activists who have been attacked and killed in the country with impunity.

🇿🇼#Zimbabwe: CIVICUS stands in solidarity with Zimbabwean activists and condemns the targeting of civil society leaders and journalists.

CIVICUS calls on Hungary to respect media freedom and to stop interfering in independent news site, Index.

197 human rights organisations sign letter calling on states to end the imprisonment and harassment of human rights defenders States urged to stop new arrests and detentions of defenders, noting heightened risk during COVID-19 #StandAsMyWitness campaign launches on Nelson Mandela Day 18 July, featuring human rights defenders from around the world

  Human rights organisations call for release of Teresita Naul ahead of court case 17 July Naul’s family concerned about her deteriorating health in prison #StandAsMyWitness campaign featuring Naul and calling for release of activists in prison launches on Nelson Mandela Day 18 July CIVICUS, World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), Karapatan and other human rights organisations in the Philippines call for the release of Teresita Naul, a human rights defender from the Philippines, ahead of her court case on 17 July, and the launch of a global campaign featuring Naul and other imprisoned human rights defenders.

(Johannesburg 2 July 2020) CIVICUS calls on the authorities in Ethiopia to stop using violence to disperse ongoing protests and to lift internet restrictions that have been imposed across the country.

Over 10,000 protesters have been arrested in the #USA.

 Pandemic has accelerated major economic, political and social problems Civil society has proven its value by winning key breakthroughs over the last year The fight is now on to build a better post-pandemic world – civil society is in the forefront of this battle

COALITION TO HOST A WEBINAR ON MAY 15 PROVIDING UPDATES ON PRISONERS, STATE OF WOMEN’S HUMAN RIGHTS IN SAUDI ARABIA AND CAMPAIGN PROGRESS

On 15 May, Free Saudi Activists, a coalition of women human rights defenders and organisations advocating for the release of women’s rights activists from prison, is hosting a webinar to update the public on the status of those who were arrested two years ago for calling for the dismantling of the male guardianship system and defying the government’s ban on women driving.

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 should be released to curb the spread Governments should be transparent in responding to threats posed by COVID-19 CIVICUS urges states to lift emergency measures as soon as the threat of the virus diminishes As the global community continues to take measures to halt the spread of COVID-19 and ultimately eradicate it, states should ensure that the protection of human rights are at the centre of all responses.

 Guinea placed on CIVICUS Monitor watchlist ahead of referendum Escalating rights violations include use of excessive force on protesters CIVICUS calls for release of human rights defenders and urges President Condé to step down Guinea has been placed on the CIVICUS Monitor human rights watchlist ahead of the proposed referendum on 22nd March.

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 (CHRR), call for the immediate release of human rights defenders in Malawi ahead of their bail hearing today.

CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, is extremely concerned about a crackdown against activists and progressive groups in the region of Eastern Visayas by the Philippines government.

New report reveals that groups attacking hard-fought human rights are on the rise globally.

#Egypt: 2000+ people arrested after peaceful protests.

The decision by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to award Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a Goalkeepers Global Goals Award on 24 September sends the wrong message.

Global SPEAK! campaign counters growing social and political divisions with a call to “speak with” those we don’t normally Campaign will comprise almost 150 events in 50 countries, with most being held during 24 hours of global action from 5pm Friday 20th - 5pm Saturday 21st September Campaign timed to coincide with United Nations Summits in New York and global climate mobilisation

 New study reveals that Latin American Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) receive little funding for their essential work of political advocacy, activism and the promotion and protection of human rights An analysis of over 6,500 requests for funding proposals shows CSOs have more access to funding for education-related work Latin American CSOs must compete for essential resources on disadvantageous terms  3 September 2019 – In Guatemala, a politician known for his attacks on civil society is the new president-elect.

We condemn violent dispersal of peaceful protesters by #Zimbabwe police today & ongoing repression of civil society & #humanrights defenders.

Manushya Foundation, CIVICUS and the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) call on the Government of Lao PDR to remove all unwarranted restrictions on civic space in the country ahead of its human rights review to be held at the United Nations (UN) in January-February 2020.

FRENCH Global civil society calls on governments to put human rights at centre of development States failing to make connections between sustainable development and human rights to restrict civil society is against the spirit of Agenda 2030 Governments need to open channels of communications with civil society groups to make them an equitable partner in the implementation of the sustainable development goals.

  A year after the electoral victory of the Pakatan Harapan coalition, authorities have failed to reform repressive legislation or expand civic space, and continue to restrict fundamental freedoms and silence dissent, a new briefing from ARTICLE 19 and CIVICUS said today.

  Myanmar’s Supreme Court is set to rule on an appeal by two jailed Reuters journalists on 23 April  Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo have been jailed since December 2017, and convicted of violating a state secrets act in September 2018 The case highlights the increasing crackdown on press freedom in Myanmar The Myanmar Supreme Court must order the release of Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, global civil society alliance CIVICUS and the Asia Democracy Network (ADN) said today.

  Belgrade, Serbia – More than 200 civil society leaders and human rights activists from some 100 countries were seen running through the streets of Serbia today – literally.

Government attacks on humanitarian organisations on the rise globally Right-wing populists, nationalists and extremist groups being mobilised to attack vulnerable groups such as refugees, migrants, LGBTIQ Civil society organisations fighting back – 2018 saw a spike in protests against economic exclusion, inequality and poverty Report calls for new strategies to argue against right-wing populism while urging progressive civil society to engage citizens towards better, more positive alternatives Civil society organisations providing humanitarian assistance to migrants and refugees are being targeted as the world faces a crisis of global compassion.

A new broad and restrictive law being introduced by the Nepalese government gives the authorities sweeping powers to block social media platforms and remove or criminalise defamatory posts The government has also tabled legislation that restricts civil servants from sharing their views in the media including via social media sites Global and regional human rights groups are concerned that these laws are to be designed to stifle dissent and silence critical voices New proposed laws relating to social media use in Nepal are intended to stifle dissent and silence critical voices, say global and regional human rights groups.