Interviews

UNITED STATES: ‘There will be no progress on gender rights without political will and accountability’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses civil society’s efforts to advance gender rights at the global level with Foteini Papagioti, Deputy Director of Policy and Advocacy at the International Center for Research on Women, an international civil society organisation that advocates for the rights of women, girls and other structurally excluded groups.

UNITED KINGDOM: ‘After decades of making huge profits, companies shouldn’t be allowed to leave behind a toxic legacy’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Matthew Renshaw, a partner at a UK law firm that represents Nigerian communities taking legal action against Shell over environmental damage caused by its operations in the Niger Delta.

KENYA: ‘Impunity and lack of political will have normalised police violence against civilians’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Kenya’s nationwide protests against police brutality with a representative of a local civil society organisation who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons.

PALESTINE: ‘The lesson from Gaza is clear: when AI-powered machines control who lives, human rights die’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the military use of artificial intelligence (AI) in Gaza with Dima Samaro, a Palestinian lawyer and researcher, and director of Skyline International for Human Rights, a civil society organisation (CSO) that defends digital freedoms and human rights in the Middle East and North Africa.

HONG KONG: ‘The diaspora is playing key roles in advocating for human rights and raising international awareness’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Hong Kong’s latest security laws with Laura Naw, East Asian and ASEAN Programme Officer at the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), a regional human rights network comprising 90 organisations across 23 countries.

PANAMA: ‘The agreement with the USA was the final straw that pushed people out onto the streets’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses recent protests in Panama with Lina Vega Abad, president of the board of directors of the Foundation for the Development of Citizen Freedom, a civil society organisation that defends fundamental freedoms and strengthens democracy through citizen training and accountability and transparency advocacy.

GERMANY: ‘Democracy and human rights are two sides of the same coin’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the potential for a United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Democracy with Andreas Bummel, founder and executive director of Democracy Without Borders, an international civil society organisation (CSO) that advocates for democracy as a human right.
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DRC: ‘International demand for coltan is linked to violence in the DRC’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Claude Iguma, a mining governance expert with a PhD in Social Sciences, who is based in Bukavu, South Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

SPAIN: ‘Migration regularisation is a necessary step towards social justice and a sign of democratic health’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Spain’s moves to grant undocumented migrants formal status with Rubén Romero, coordinator of the Political Advocacy and Partnerships Department at CONVIVE Fundación Cepaim, a civil society organisation that works to create an inclusive and intercultural society that guarantees full access to rights to the most vulnerable people, particularly migrants.

MEXICO: ‘This is the largest experiment in justice systems ever undertaken by any country’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Mexico’s recent judicial elections with Gladys Morales Ramírez, a Mexican researcher who holds a PhD in Social Sciences.

LIBERIA: ‘We need enforceable legal tools to hold governments accountable for climate inaction’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses African climate litigation efforts with Liberian environmental rights activist, lawyer and law professor Alfred Lahai Brownell, president of Global Climate Legal Defence and co-founder and Lead Campaigner of the African Climate Platform, a coalition of public interest lawyers and climate activists.

SWITZERLAND: ‘Expanding defence spending without proper accountability could weaken rather than strengthen security’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the 2025 NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) summit with Francesca Grandi, Head of Defence and Security at Transparency International, a global civil society organisation that fights corruption and promotes transparency and integrity in public life.

ROMANIA: ‘Only a handful of environmental organisations still dare challenge corporate projects in court’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks to Cristinel Buzatu, regional legal advisor for Central and Eastern Europe at Greenpeace, about how Romania’s state gas company is weaponising the courts to silence environmental opposition.

BANGLADESH: ‘Authoritarian laws outlast authoritarian rulers, so we must dismantle them’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Bangladesh’s democratic transition challenges with Taqbir Huda, human rights lawyer and former regional researcher with Amnesty International, responsible for investigating and documenting human rights violations in the region.

ITALY: ‘This security decree is the biggest attack on the right to protest in the history of the Italian Republic’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Italy’s new Security Decree with Pasquale Prencipe, a lawyer, member of the research staff of Associazione Antigone, an Italian civil society organisation (CSO) working to ensure respect for rights in Italian prisons, and editor of a recent publication, ‘The greatest attack on the freedom of protest in the history of the Italian Republic’.

UNITED STATES: ‘Democratic states have been slow to recognise Chinese transnational repression on their soil’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses China’s transnational repression with investigative reporter Scilla Alecci of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), a news organisation and independent global network encompassing over 280 journalists and 140 media from over 100 countries.

THE NETHERLANDS: ‘The Pandemic Agreement is a work in advanced progress: we are close to the finish line, but not there yet’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the Pandemic Agreement with Jaume Vidal, Senior Policy Advisor at Health Action International, an international civil society organisation based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, that works to realise the human right to health, with a special emphasis on access to health technologies.

SWITZERLAND: ‘Enabling machines to make life and death decisions is morally unjustifiable’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses autonomous weapons systems and the campaign for regulation with Nicole van Rooijen, Executive Director of Stop Killer Robots, a global civil society coalition of over 270 organisations that campaigns for a new international treaty on autonomous weapons systems.

JAPAN: ‘The roots of young people’s political disengagement lie in their lack of representation’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Japan’s upcoming election for its upper chamber of parliament with Aoi Horiuchi, Senior Advocacy Officer at the Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC), a network of civil society organisations (CSOs) working to address global issues.

United States: ‘It’s time for states to commit to binding reforms of the international financial system’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses financing for development with Elena Marmo, Head of Advocacy and Campaigns at the Transparency, Accountability and Participation (TAP) Network, an international civil society coalition working to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the pursuit of more peaceful, just and inclusive societies.

ITALY: ‘Referendums reaffirm citizens’ right to be protagonists in their country’s democratic life’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the results of a recent Italian referendum on citizenship and workers’ rights with Andrea Oleandri, Co-Executive Director of the Italian Coalition for Freedom and Civil Rights (CILD), a civil society network working to promote and protect civil liberties.

POLAND: ‘The new president will reject anything he perceives as conflicting with conservative and national values’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the results of Poland’s presidential election with Filip Pazderski, Programme Manager for Civil Society of the Stefan Batory Foundation, a civil society organisation that promotes democratic governance.

ETHIOPIA: ‘The algorithm increases harmful content’s reach, raising exposure and the risk of real-world harm’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Mercy Mutemi, a Kenyan tech lawyer at Nzili and Sumbi Advocates and legal counsel for petitioners challenging Facebook’s role in hate and violence in Ethiopia.

GUINEA: ‘The referendum could be used to consolidate the junta’s power rather than transition to democracy’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses prospects for democracy in Guinea with Omolara Balogun, Head of Policy Influencing and Advocacy at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), a civil society organisation that promotes civic space and youth and women’s leadership and leverages technology for development.

MEXICO: ‘In the face of funding cuts, civil society has taken a leading role in the humanitarian response’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the closure of offices of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Mexico with members of Integral Human Rights In Action (DHIA), a Mexican civil society organisation (CSO) that promotes and defends human rights in contexts of mobility.

ROMANIA: ‘While the far right may be losing ground, populist rhetoric cuts across party lines’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the results of Romania’s presidential election with Anda Serban, Executive Director of the Resource Center for Public Participation, a civil society organisation that promotes public participation and transparency in decision-making.

UNITED KINGDOM: ‘Live facial recognition treats everyone as a potential suspect, undermining privacy and eroding presumed innocence’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the dangers of live facial recognition technology with Madeleine Stone, Senior Advocacy Officer at Big Brother Watch, a civil society organisation that campaigns against mass surveillance and for digital rights in the UK.

SOUTH AFRICA: ‘The top-down era of global health is over’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the need for community-centred approaches to global health funding and governance with Solange Baptiste, Executive Director of ITPC Global, a South Africa-based global organisation working to achieve health and social justice for all.

SUDAN: ‘The dismissal of Sudan’s case against the UAE exposes the limits of international law’

Interviews
On 5 May, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) dismissed a case brought by the Sudan government against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), alleging violations of the Genocide Convention due to the UAE’s alleged funding and arming of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militias in Sudan’s ongoing civil war.

HUNGARY: ‘Those who promote accountability, democratic values and human rights are branded enemies of the state’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Hungary’s foreign agents bill with Márta Pardavi, co-chair of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, a human rights organisation that defends human dignity through legal and public advocacy.

URUGUAY: ‘Truth and justice have no statute of limitations; the state must assume its responsibility’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses struggles for historical justice with Graciela Montes de Oca, a member of Mothers and Relatives of Detained and Disappeared Uruguayans, a Uruguayan civil society organisation that seeks truth, justice and prevention of future crimes like those committed under dictatorship.

ZAMBIA: ‘The NGO bill strengthens legal mechanisms designed to discredit or silence critical civil society voices’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Zambia’s Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) bill with Josiah Kalala, Executive Director of Chapter One Foundation, a Zambian civil society organisation (CSO) that promotes constitutionalism, human rights and the rule of law.

SOUTH KOREA: ‘As far-right forces gain ground, the political landscape is shifting to the right’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses South Korea’s upcoming presidential election with Hyun-Phil Na, Executive Director of the Korean House for International Solidarity, a civil society organisation that promotes democracy and human rights across Asia and the Pacific.

ALBANIA: ‘Diaspora voting ensured every citizen, regardless of location, could exercise their right to vote’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Albania’s recent election with Erida Skëndaj, Executive Director of the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC), a non-partisan civil society organisation (CSO) dedicated to promoting fair and democratic elections.

UNITED STATES: ‘The funding freeze has damaged the support systems that protect human rights defenders’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about the impact of the US funding freeze with Ginna Anderson, Associate Director of the American Bar Association Center for Human Rights and leader of its Justice Defenders Program.

ISRAEL: ‘The groups targeted are those that promote a two-state solution and defend peace and human rights’

Interviews
The Israeli Parliament is debating a controversial bill that would impose an 80 per cent tax on foreign donations to civil society organisations primarily funded by ‘international political entities’.

'The groups targeted are those that promote a two-state solution and defend peace and human rights'

Interviews
The Israeli Parliament is debating a controversial bill that would impose an 80 per cent tax on foreign donations to civil society organisations primarily funded by 'international political entities'.

NICARAGUA: ‘The regime seeks to consolidate absolute control by eliminating all external oversight’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Nicaragua’s withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and other international organisations with Wisthon Noguera, an activist, student and deputy coordinator of the National Youth Platform of Nicaragua.

TAJIKISTAN: ‘Authorities silence dissent by accusing activists of extremism, terrorism and spreading false information’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses civic space conditions in Tajikistan with Leila Seiitbek, a human rights lawyer and chairperson of Freedom for Eurasia, a civil society organisation that documents and exposes corruption, kleptocracy and human rights abuses.

PORTUGAL: ‘Civil society must engage to prevent discussions devolving into demagoguery’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Portugal’s recent election with Jorge Máximo, a board member of Transparency International (TI) Portugal, a civil society organisation (CSO) that tackles corruption, promotes transparency and good governance and defends human rights and democratic values.

VENEZUELA: ‘Venezuela is on the road to becoming an entrenched authoritarian regime tolerated by the international community’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Venezuela’s legislative and regional elections and the consolidation of its authoritarian regime with Rafael Uzcátegui, a human rights defender, sociologist and co-director of Laboratorio de Paz, a Venezuelan civil society organisation working for democracy, human rights and civil society strengthening.

ZIMBABWE: ‘The new NGO law is a political weapon targeting civil and political rights work’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses restrictions on civil society with Glanis Changachirere, founding director of the Institute for Young Women Development, a Zimbabwean civil society organisation (CSO) working for women’s rights and against structural inequalities.

UNITED KINGDOM: ‘We need a funding system where everyone contributes, everyone benefits and everyone has a say’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses international development funding with Harpinder Collacott, executive director of the Global Public Investment Network (GPIN).

MALI: ‘The democratic ideal is alive and well and no one can govern for long without credible elections’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with two representatives of Malian civil society – Modibo Diakite, president of the Association for the Socio-Economic and Technological Development of Youth (ADEJ-Mali), and Fakassi Fofana, coordinator of a partner humanitarian organisation – about the likely consequences of a draft law to tax civil society organisations (CSOs).

THE NETHERLANDS: ‘Large investors must accept that climate risk is financial risk and act accordingly’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Mark van Baal, founder and director of Follow This, about its decision to pause filing climate-related shareholder resolutions.

INDONESIA: ‘We are witnessing ecocide in West Papua, one of the world’s richest biodiversity centres’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the devastating impact of palm oil extraction in West Papua with Tigor Hutapea, legal representative of Pusaka Bentala Rakyat, an organisation campaigning for Indigenous Papuan people’s rights to manage their customary lands and forests.

PAKISTAN: ‘The ceasefire offers a narrow window for real change’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses recent tensions between India and Pakistan with Altaf Hussain Wani, chair of the Kashmir Institute of International Relations, a think tank focused on peace research and advocacy based in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, in the disputed Kashmir region.

TURKEY: ‘The Turkish republic has never been a state governed by the rule of law’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses ongoing protests in Turkey with lawyer Eren Keskin, chair of the Human Rights Association (IHD).

UNITED STATES: ‘At a time of widespread violence and division, Pope Leo XIV is prepared to be a Pope of peace’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the election of Pope Leo XIV with Paul Elie, senior fellow at Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs, and regular contributor to The New Yorker.

NEPAL: ‘Despite deep-rooted prejudice against Dalits, encouraging shifts are emerging among young urban people’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the challenges facing Nepal’s Dalit community with Rup Sunar, chairperson of the Dignity Initiative, a Kathmandu-based research and advocacy organisation working to dismantle caste-based discrimination.

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