Interviews

Featured

NETHERLANDS: ‘Instead of outsourcing migration management, the government should address the root causes of migration’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the Dutch government’s new migration plan with Femke de Vries, coordinator for European Union (EU) policy and advocacy at the Dutch Council for Refugees, a human rights organisation that supports asylum seekers in the Netherlands.
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UNITED STATES: ‘Even though Trump was democratically elected, he poses a significant threat to democracy’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the challenges posed by a new Trump presidency with Jamil Dakwar, Director of the Human Rights Program at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), one of the USA’s oldest and largest civil liberties organisations.
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IRAQ: ‘The proposed amendments to the Personal Status Law are an attack on women’s rights’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses women’s and girls’ rights in Iraq with Mohammed Juma, a lawyer and human rights defender based in Baghdad.
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GLOBAL: ‘World’s most influential urban companies are failing to take responsibility for inclusive and sustainable cities’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses corporate accountability efforts with Sibora Dhima, Engagement Manager at the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA).
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KENYA: ‘Femicides are not isolated incidents but predictable outcomes of unaddressed gender-based violence’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the rise in femicide cases in Kenya with Judy Gitau, lawyer and regional coordinator of Equality Now, a feminist organisation that uses the law to protect and promote the rights of women and girls.
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NIGERIA: ‘By framing dissent as disloyalty, the government is stifling legitimate calls for reform’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the criminalisation of protesters in Nigeria with Oluwafunke Adeoye, founder and Executive Director of Hope Behind Bars, a civil society organisation (CSO) that works to improve the criminal justice system.
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‘Quilombola communities live in fear because the laws that are supposed to protect them are ignored’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses threats to the security, rights and ancestral lands of Brazil’s quilombola communities with Wellington Gabriel de Jesus dos Santos, leader and activist of the Pitanga dos Palmares Quilombola community in Bahia state.
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MOZAMBIQUE: ‘This exercise of people power against systemic electoral fraud can inspire others in the region’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the regional implications of post-election protests in Mozambique with human rights defender and political activist Brisky Fanuel Ncube.
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GLOBAL: ‘While the Pact for the Future has fallen short, it’s still a vital safeguard against regression’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the recently agreed Pact for the Future with Enyseh Teimory, Head of Policy at United Nations Association-UK (UNA-UK), a civil society organisation that promotes human rights, peace and global cooperation.
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PALESTINE: ‘The international community has failed to stop the genocide, not because it can’t, but because it won’t’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the situation in Palestine, the impacts on women and girls and the prospects for a ceasefire with Taheer Araj, executive director of the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH).
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GLOBAL: ‘AI-powered weapons depersonalise the violence, making it easier for the military to approve more destruction’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the dangers arising from military uses of artificial intelligence (AI) with Sophia Goodfriend, Post-Doctoral Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Middle East Initiative.
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TURKEY: ‘Anti-rights pressure on activists defending gender equality has reached dangerous levels’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Turkey’s crackdown on LGBTQI+ rights with Gökçe Baltacı, LGBTQI+ activist and general coordinator of Tarlabaşı Toplum Merkezi (TTM), a civil society organisation that defends the rights of excluded groups.
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ITALY: ‘The security bill will have far-reaching implications for the right to protest’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Italy’s new anti-protest law with Erasmo Palazzotto, activist and member of ARCI, a civil society organisation (CSO) that promotes democracy, active citizenship and human rights.
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HAITI: ‘Land grabbers benefit from an extraordinarily slow and complicit justice system’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Sinomme Saint Claire (Dieubon) about attacks on his organisation, Green Alternative Action (Alternatif Action Vert, AVV), a grassroots peasant organisation that supports farming communities in Haiti’s southern peninsula region.
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BOTSWANA: ‘This election showed the strength of people’s voice when they refuse to serve the interests of a few’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the opposition’s victory in Botswana’s recent election with Dumiso Gatsha, founder of Success Capital, a local LGBTQI+ grassroots organisation led by young people.
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GERMANY: ‘Europe is implementing policies of deliberate neglect leading to avoidable deaths at its external borders’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses migration policies and civil society responses across Europe with Janna Sauerteig, Mobilisation and Advocacy Manager at SOS Humanity.
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ITALY: ‘No migration policy should be based on fear and punishment’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Italy’s policy of outsourcing the management of asylum seekers to Albania with Valeria Carlini, Deputy Director of the Italian Council for Refugees, a civil society organisation (CSO) that defends the rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Italy and Europe.
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GLOBAL: ‘The Global Digital Compact could have been stronger on human rights and accountability, particularly in relation to big tech’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the Global Digital Compact (GDC) recently adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly with Peter Micek, General Counsel and UN Advocacy Manager of Access Now, an international civil society organisation working to defend and extend the digital rights of people and communities at risk.
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GERMANY: ‘Real social problems must be addressed through social policy, not by restricting migrants’ human rights’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Germany’s tightening of border controls with Meral Zeller, Policy Officer with the European Department of PRO ASYL, a civil society organisation (CSO) defending the human right to asylum in Germany and Europe.
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MOLDOVA: ‘The authorities could have done more to protect our democracy and stability’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Moldova’s referendum on its plans to join the European Union (EU) with Ion Manole, human rights defender and Executive Director of Promo-LEX, a civil society organisation working for democracy and human rights in Moldova.
Featured

SUDAN: ‘The international community must stop turning a blind eye to the suffering of Sudanese women’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Sudan’s civil war and its impact on women with Sulaima Elkhalifa, a Sudanese human rights defender and expert on gender-based violence.
Featured

GEORGIA: ‘We were prepared for a crisis, but the sheer scale of electoral manipulation and vote-rigging took us by surprise’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Georgia’s election results with Eduard Marikashvili, human rights defender and executive director of the Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI), an independent organisation working for democratic development and Euro-Atlantic integration.
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PALESTINE: ‘Ending impunity for violations of Palestinians’ rights would strengthen global norms that protect all humanity’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the gender dimensions of genocide in Gaza with Kifaya Khraim, International Advocacy Coordinator at the Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC).
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POLAND: ‘The new migration strategy is more political posturing than a real plan’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Poland’s new migration control strategy with Marcin Sosniak, coordinator of the Migration Unit at the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR), a civil society organisation working to protect human rights in Poland and Eurasia.
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MOZAMBIQUE: ‘The next president must listen to a younger generation that’s increasingly vocal about its democratic aspirations’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses post-election violence in Mozambique with Zenaida Machado, senior researcher and human rights defender at Human Rights Watch.
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LEBANON: ‘The humanitarian emergency is escalating as local communities struggle to support the displaced’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the crisis in Lebanon with Zaher Sahloul, co-founder of MedGlobal, a US-based civil society organisation (CSO) that provides relief to victims of war, disaster and displacement, and supports excluded communities worldwide.
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FRANCE: ‘Civil society questions the government’s willingness to respect international human rights law’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the call to halt arms sales to Israel with Benoît Muracciole, President of Action Sécurité Éthique Républicaines (ASER), a civil society organisation (CSO) working to promote human rights in the area of peace and security.
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EL SALVADOR: ‘We are shifting from gang violence to state violence’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the challenges facing El Salvador’s media under the government of populist authoritarian President Nayib Bukele with Laura Aguirre, co-founder and strategic director of the Salvadoran feminist digital media outlet Alharaca and development director of the SembraMedia media directory.

TURKEY: ‘Environmental movements are increasingly being targeted as they pose a stronger challenge to corporations’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the challenges of environmental activism in Turkey with Süheyla Doğan, activist and president of the Kazdağı Association for the Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritage.

SRI LANKA: ‘People expressed at the ballot box their frustration over the economic crisis and political corruption’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Sri Lanka’s recent presidential election with Freddy Gamage, an independent journalist and human rights defender.

LEBANON: ‘Civil society has once again stepped in to fill the gaps left by the state in this crisis’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon with Ziad Abdel Samad, Executive Director of the Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND), an independent network working to strengthen civil society and promote democracy, human rights and sustainable development in Arab countries.

MEXICO: ‘Despite the stated aim of democratising the judiciary, the government seeks to undermine its independence’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses constitutional amendments affecting the judiciary in Mexico with Carlos Pelayo Moller, constitutional lawyer, human rights expert and Doctor of Laws from the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

‘The closure of the last coal-fired power station marks a crucial shift from fossil fuels to renewable energies’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Anne Harris, a campaigner with Coal Action Network, which works to end the use, mining and importation of coal and to secure justice for communities affected by the UK’s current and historic involvement with coal.

GHANA: ‘We demand an immediate ban on illegal mining and strict enforcement of environmental laws’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses recent protests in Ghana with Jeremiah Sam, executive director of Pen Plus Bytes, a Ghanaian civil society organisation (CSO) working to promote effective governance through technology on a range of issues including climate change and environmental protection.

KENYA: ‘The protests mark the beginning of a new era in which Kenyans refuse to remain silent’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the recent impeachment of Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua with Nerima Wako, political analyst and Executive Director of Siasa Place, a youth-led civic tech organisation that promotes young people’s engagement in politics, governance and civic life.

GLOBAL: ‘Civil society will help bring the UN Declaration on Future Generations to life’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the recently adopted Declaration on Future Generations with Cecilia Schirmeister, youth lead and representative of the Baha’i International Community United Nations (UN) Office, an international civil society organisation with a long history of cooperation with the UN.

GLOBAL: ‘Civil society must be alert to the warning signs of autocratisation and respond with mass mobilisation’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the state of democracy around the world with Staffan I Lindberg, professor of Political Science and director of the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.

MYANMAR: ‘Genuine peace cannot be achieved as long as the military remains in control’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the conflict in Myanmar with Kyaw Win, founder and executive director of the Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN).

GAMBIA: ‘We must remain vigilant against patriarchal attempts to assert control over women’s bodies’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the role of civil society in defeating a recent attempt to make female genital mutilation (FGM) legal in The Gambia with Isatou Touray, co-founder of the Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (GAMCOTRAP), a leading Gambian women’s and children’s rights civil society organisation.

MOZAMBIQUE: 'For a genuine democratic transition to take place, young people must have a real voice in decision-making’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Mozambique’s recent election with Umar Aly, a development specialist and member of the National Union of Students (UNE), a platform of Mozambican student associations and a CIVICUS Digital Democracy Initiative partner.

SOUTH FRICA: ‘Civil society has a voice within BRICS, but its influence remains limited’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the upcoming BRICS summit with Gustavo de Carvalho, Senior Researcher at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), an independent public policy think tank.

‘States must take action to ensure effective implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the upcoming biodiversity summit with Ximena Barrera Rey, Director of Governance and International Relations at the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), one of the world’s largest conservation organisations.

PARAGUAY: ‘The new law’s purpose is to increase government control over civil society’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses a recently passed law regulating civil society organisations (CSOs) in Paraguay with Marta Ferrara and Olga Caballero, executive directors of Semillas para la Democracia (Seeds for Democracy) and Alma Cívica (Civic Soul), two of the organisations leading the civil society response to the closing of civic space.

TUNISIA: ‘Political choices were so limited that most people saw no point in voting’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Tunisia’s recent presidential election with Siwar Gmati of IWatch, a Tunisian civil society organisation (CSO) and CIVICUS Digital Democracy Initiative partner.

COTE D’IVOIRE: ‘The new decree restricts freedom of association, including by allowing the authorities to dissolve organisations’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the challenges facing civil society in Côte d’Ivoire with Marthe Coulibaly, National Coordinator of the Ivorian Coalition of Human Rights Defenders (CIDDH).

HONDURAS: ‘Violence ensures that extractive activities can continue unchallenged’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the dangers of environmental activism in Honduras with Carlos Leonel George, communications officer for the Municipal Committee in Defence of the Commons and Public Goods of Tocoa, a Honduran organisation fighting against mining and for the protection of the Guapinol and San Pedro rivers.

AFGHANISTAN: ‘We continue working to make sure Afghan girls and women are heard and not forgotten’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Afghanistan’s system of gender apartheid with Shaharzad Akbar, Executive Director of Rawadari, a human rights organisation founded by Afghans in exile.

ALGERIA: ‘Fear of repression prevents the formation of a united opposition that could challenge the government’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Algeria’s recent presidential election with a member of the Independent Commission for Human Rights in North Africa (CIDH), a regional human rights organisation based in Morocco.

UNITED KINGDOM: ‘By supporting its domestic arms industry, the UK is enabling Israel to commit war crimes in Gaza’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the UK’s partial ban on arms sales to Israel with Emily Apple, Media Coordinator at the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), a UK-based civil society organisation working to end the international arms trade.

ASIA: ‘This ASEAN summit matters because it will set priorities and policies’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the latest summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with Cornelius Damar Hanung, Southeast Asia Programme Manager at the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), a regional human rights organisation.

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