CIVICUS discusses the state of civic space with Gina Romero, United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.
In her first report as rapporteur, Romero highlights the harmful effects of the growing stigmatising rhetoric against civil society. The report warns that this trend could lead to an increase in human rights violations and impunity, and an erosion of civic space and democracy. It urges governments to take steps to fulfil their obligation to create an environment that protects and promotes the exercise of fundamental civic freedoms.
