Civil society relies on physical and digital spaces to perform their functions. In doing so they are protected by the freedoms of peaceful assembly, association, opinion and expression. However, these freedoms are under attack through a worsening policy and legal environment that seemingly seeks to restrict civil society. Over the past year, we have witnessed a proliferation of laws that aim to: criminalise and deter peaceful protests; limit political participation and advocacy; undermine digital security and erode internet freedoms; undermine association, assembly and expression of LGBTI and other minorities; and introduce impunity for attacks on civil society actors.
This side event, paneled by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai, and civil society activists from El Salvador, Libya, Malaysia and Ukraine, will seek to identify what the emerging threats are to civil society operations, and reflect on key steps that States and the UN must take to protect the spaces in which civil society operate.
The side event is co-sponsored by, the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, European Center for Not-for-Profit Law, Article 19, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, World Movement for Democracy, and the Governments of Ireland, Sweden, Sierra Leone and Tunisia.
Wednesday, 12 March 2014
13:30 – 14:30
Room VIII (8), Palais des Nations
PANELISTS:
Maina Kiai, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association
Oleksandra Matviychuk, Ukraine, Center for Civil Liberties, Civic Initiative EuroMaidan SOS
Ahmad Fuad Rahmat, Malaysia, Projek Dialog
Patricia Galdamez, El Salvador, Fundacion DTJ
Mahmoud Bader, Libya, H2O
Moderator: Michael O’Flaherty, Irish Centre for Human Rights
Contact: Renate Bloem, CIVICUS, / +41 76 346 2310
Refreshments will be provided
#ProtectCivicSpace
