Interviews

ANTI-RIGHTS BACKLASH: 'Now is not the time to back down; we must defend the gains we have made'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the backlash against women's and girls' rights with Rym Badran, Valeria Colunga, My Lo Cook and Julie Willig, members of the intergenerational leadership team of Girl Up, a girl-centred organisation that gives girls worldwide the mentorship, resources and training to lead and drive collective action.

SINGAPORE: 'The government retains the death penalty and shuts down critical views'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses activism against the death penalty and the criminalisation of activists and journalists in Singapore with Kirsten Han, a journalist and member of the Transformative Justice Collective, a group that campaigns for abolition.

INDIA: 'It used to be the state's job to enrol every eligible adult. Now people have to prove they belong'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses protests sparked by the mass removal of voters from India's electoral rolls with Sanjana, a young development professional based in New Delhi who has joined the protests and volunteered at a voter helpdesk.

DISINFORMATION: 'Fact-checking is not censorship, but a tool to provide context and evidence'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the arrival of Meta's Community Notes in Latin America and the risks of replacing professional fact-checking with Franco Piccato, Executive Director of Chequeado, an Argentine civil society organisation that combats disinformation through civic technology, education and fact-checking.

MOROCCO: 'For some young people, staying away from the polls was a form of protest'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses low turnout among young people in Morocco's September legislative election with Zakaria El Hamel, founder and president of Youth for Peace and Dialogue Between Cultures, an organisation that works on human rights education and youth peacebuilding.

GERMANY: 'The firewall has failed to curb the far right's rise and won it protest votes'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the far right's rise in Germany with Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, a veteran US journalist and host of Common Ground Berlin, a non-profit English-language podcast that promotes public debate and transatlantic dialogue on divisive issues.

PRIVACY RIGHTS: 'Smart glasses are covert recording devices'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the dangers of smart glasses with Tom Sulston, Head of Policy at Digital Rights Watch, a civil society organisation that works to protect and promote digital rights as fundamental human rights.

GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: 'A new world order is going to emerge, whether we like it or not'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the case for United Nations (UN) reform with Heba Aly, director of the Article 109 Coalition, an international civil society network that calls on states to review and update the UN Charter.

MALAWI: 'Gender-based violence is a national crisis that has turned deadly'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses gender-based violence (GBV) and femicides in Malawi with Tisekere Kelsie Kang'oma, Admin and Operations Officer at The Youth Agenda, a civil society organisation that works to protect and promote young people's access to economic, political and social opportunities.

USA: 'Sexual violence is happening every single day on college campuses across the country'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses campus sexual violence in the USA with Mona Sinha, Chief Executive Officer of Equality Now, an international human rights organisation that advocates for the rights of women and girls.

FRANCE: 'The government should learn to respect its people, listen to them and consult them'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses France's student protest movement with Aminata and Mariam Touré, two sisters involved in the protests.

INDIA: 'The protest movement refuses to die down, and the government's legitimacy is now in doubt'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses India's Gen Z-led protest movement and civic space restrictions with Avinash Kumar, National Co-convenor of Wada Na Todo Abhiyan, a network that works on government accountability.

POVERTY: 'Lack of resources and exclusion hinder the exercise of civic freedoms'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the struggle against poverty and inequality with Elena Carolina Díaz Galán, the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights.

CUBA: 'For many political prisoners, leaving prison has meant shifting to other forms of state control'

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Camila Rodríguez, director of Justicia 11J, about Cuba's political prisoners.

UGANDA: 'When governments know people will push back, they respond differently'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses accountability and citizen engagement in Uganda with Michael Katagaya, co-founder and team leader of Evidence and Methods Lab (EML), a civil society organisation (CSO) that uses technology to collect people's feedback on public services.

YEMEN: 'The world now faces a problem it lacks a strategy to address'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses escalating conflict in Yemen with Yasmeen Al-Eryani, executive director for Knowledge Production at the Sana'a Center, an independent Yemeni think tank that amplifies Yemeni voices.

YEMEN: 'The world now faces a problem it lacks a strategy to address'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses escalating conflict in Yemen with Yasmeen Al-Eryani, executive director for Knowledge Production at the Sana'a Center, an independent Yemeni think tank that amplifies Yemeni voices.

TANZANIA: 'The government should recognise the Maasai as conservationists rather than a threat'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the eviction of Indigenous Maasai communities for conservation and tourism in Tanzania with Odero Odero, a trainer at the Civic and Legal Aid Organization, a civil society group that provides civic and legal education to rural and urban communities in mainland Tanzania.

THAILAND: 'By excluding lèse-majesté cases, the amnesty turns back the clock'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Thailand's new political amnesty law with Anon Chawalawan of the Internet Dialogue on Law Reform (iLaw), a civil society organisation that works on democracy, freedom of expression and government accountability.

TÜRKİYE: 'Devlet politikası, LGBTİQ+'ların varlığını dahi suç sayıyor'

Interviews
CIVICUS, Türk hükümetinin LGBTİQ+ haklarına yönelik baskılarını, hak temelli sosyal politikaların geliştirilmesi ve LGBTQİ+'lar için eşitliğin sağlanması amacıyla çalışan bir sivil toplum kuruluşu olan Sosyal Politika, Cinsiyet Kimliği ve Cinsel Yönelim Çalışmaları Derneği'nde avukat olarak görev yapan Umut Rojda ile konuştu.

TURKEY: 'State policy is criminalising the existence of LGBTQI+ people'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the Turkish government's crackdown on LGBTQI+ rights with Umut Rojda, a lawyer at the Social Policies, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Studies Association, a civil society organisation that works to advance rights-based social policies and equality for LGBTQI+ people.

YEMEN: 'Attacks on civilians won't stop as long as perpetrators go unpunished'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses mass displacement caused by escalating war in Yemen with Khawla Al-Rowaishan, Director of Accountability and Redress at Mwatana for Human Rights, an independent Yemeni organisation that documents human rights violations and provides legal support to victims.

ARTIVISM: 'We need digital spaces that maximise positive impact and protection'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses artivism and how to keep it safe online with Razali Samsudin, an artivist, civic technologist and founder of Manifest Studio, a privacy-first studio that builds toolkits for social movements.

USA: 'Rights can be hollowed out one procedure at a time until they survive in name only'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses voter suppression ahead of the USA's 2026 midterm elections with Aklima Khondoker, an Atlanta-based civil and voting rights attorney, civil society organisation executive and founder and principal of Atabey Strategies, a consultancy firm that advises civil society organisations on democracy and electoral participation.

VIETNAM: 'We hope young people who have voiced their anger and frustration will turn it into activism'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Gen Z protests in Vietnam with Angelina Huynh, co-founder and executive director of Vietnam Rise, a civil society organisation that incubates decentralised civic and social movements across Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

VENEZUELA: 'Protests are becoming more frequent because society has lost its fear'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses protests and the prospects for a democratic transition in Venezuela with Andrés Cañizález, director-general of Medianálisis, a civil society organisation (CSO) dedicated to strengthening democracy, providing training and studying media and journalism.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: 'We are part of this country and we have the right to nationality'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses statelessness affecting many Dominicans of Haitian descent with Miguelito Lafler, communications and advocacy officer at Reconoci.

ECUADOR: 'We'll continue to reject oil extraction, but resistance alone is not enough'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Indigenous resistance to oil expansion in the Ecuadorian Amazon with Uyunkar Domingo Peas Nampichkai, an Achuar leader and president of the Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance, a coalition of Amazonian Indigenous peoples from Ecuador and Peru.

HONG KONG: 'The message is chilling: cut every tie with those abroad or become the next target'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the latest national security case against democracy activist Joshua Wong with Frances Hui, a Hong Kong activist in exile and policy and advocacy manager at the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation.

PERU: 'Publicly identifying as an LGBTQI+ person still has consequences'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the criminalisation of LGBTQI+ people in Peru with Lucía Santos, a lawyer and president of Proyecta Igualdad, a feminist organisation that works to overcome gender inequality.

NICARAGUA: 'The constitutional amendment has eliminated any legal possibility of a change in government'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the elimination of electoral competition and closure of civic space in Nicaragua with Claudia Pineda, director of Asociación Memoria y Justicia, a civil society organisation that documents human rights violations and provides legal support.

EL SALVADOR: 'We who defend human rights also want security, but with justice'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses El Salvador's state of emergency and the criminalisation of human rights defenders with Zaira Navas, a lawyer at Cristosal, a human rights organisation that was forced to leave El Salvador in 2025.

PERU: 'Politics is becoming entangled with criminal organisations to attack the press'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses attacks on press freedom in Peru with Renzo Chávez, general secretary of the National Association of Journalists of Peru, a trade union that represents media workers.

CHINA: 'My sister has been in a Chinese prison for eight years because I exercised my freedom of speech'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the persecution of Uyghurs and activism in exile with Rushan Abbas, an Uyghur American activist, founder and executive director of Campaign for Uyghurs and chair of the Executive Committee of the World Uyghur Congress.

USA: 'From the perspective of migrant defence and advocacy, the border is now everywhere'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the crackdown on immigrants in the USA with Camilo Pérez-Bustillo, co-chair of the National Lawyers Guild's Task Force on the Americas, a civil society organisation that supports migrants and refugees through advocacy, border support and legal resources.

AFGHANISTAN: 'The key principle should be do no harm'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses artivism, resistance and the politics of representation with Mina Jawad, a Berlin-based artist, theatre-maker and writer who works with Afghan artists in the diaspora and in Afghanistan.

NEPAL: 'We are demanding compensation, not climate loans'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Nepal's recent disaster and civil society's push for climate justice with Prajwol Bickram Rana, Asian Front Convenor at World's Youth for Climate Justice, a global campaign that pushed for the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion on climate change.

THE GAMBIA: 'The main obstacle to resolving the electricity crisis is a lack of political will'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses recent protests against prolonged power cuts in The Gambia with Madi Jobarteh, a human rights defender and executive director of the Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice, a civil society organisation that promotes and protects human rights in The Gambia and across Africa.

MYANMAR: 'We share what's happening in Myanmar through art, telling our stories with as much dignity as possible'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the role of art and storytelling in Myanmar's diaspora resistance movement with Ma Hnin, founder and executive director of A New Burma, an international collective of exiled activists, artists and young people from Myanmar who use creative resistance and community-building to advocate for a democratic, free and inclusive future for their country.

DRC: 'We defend the principle that rules apply to everyone, including the president'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses proposed constitutional amendments and an upcoming referendum in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with Jacques Issongo, an activist with Lutte pour le Changement (LUCHA), a citizen movement for democracy.

SDGs: 'The post-2030 framework has to be transformative in scope and bold in ambition'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the state of multilateralism with Ali Jillani, Co-Chair of the Karachi Research Chair at Greenwich University, Pakistan, Advisory Group member of the Asia Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism and Co-lead of the Advocacy Group of the Major Groups and other Stakeholders Coordination Mechanism.

INDONESIA: 'Authorities see protest and criticism of the government as a threat to national stability'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the repression of protests and police violence in Indonesia with KontraS, the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence, an Indonesian human rights organisation that documents abuses of state power.

SUDAN: 'It's shocking to be forced into silence simply because you are a refugee'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses life as a refugee with an exiled Sudanese civil society activist who has asked to remain anonymous for security reasons.

BRAZIL: 'Resistance is intergenerational, and art is how energy gets renewed'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the role of art in climate and rights struggles in the Brazilian Amazon with Tom Wheeler, executive director and co-founder of Treesistance.

SOCIAL MEDIA: 'Fundamental rights are not optional for technology companies'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses legal action against Meta in the Netherlands with Martha Dimitratou, Executive Director of Repro Uncensored, a global civil society organisation that focuses on digital censorship and freedom of expression.

NEPAL: 'Continued international cooperation and support remain essential'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the humanitarian response to the Nepal-Tibet floods with Prasansha Singh, Programme Coordinator at Hamro Prayas (Our Effort), an organisation led by women and girls that works with marginalised women, young people and children across Nepal's Madhesh Province to advance their dignity, rights, leadership and opportunities, and works with communities to address the inequalities and social barriers that affect their lives.

BANGLADESH: 'Financial institutions should divest from projects that harm the Sundarbans'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses civil society action over the impacts of a power plant in Bangladesh with Sharif Jamil, an environmental activist, coordinator of Waterkeepers Bangladesh and board member of the Waterkeeper Alliance.

IRAQ: 'Art is the only weapon that doesn't hurt or kill'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses public art, gender-based violence and censorship in Iraqi Kurdistan with Tara Abdullah, a multidisciplinary visual artist from Sulaymaniyah who is currently based in Oslo, Norway as part of the Safemuse – Safe Havens for Artists residency.

SOUTHEAST ASIA: 'The cyber-scam industry was never about computers. It's about people'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the cyber-scam industry in Southeast Asia with Judah Tana, founder and director of Global Advance Projects, an anti-trafficking organisation that has helped thousands of people escape scam compounds in the region.

MYANMAR: 'This is a historic moment and it needs to be recorded'

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the risks and purpose of art under military rule with a Myanmar-based documentary filmmaker, multimedia artist and poet who asked to stay anonymous for security reasons.

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