Civil Society and Member States Dialogue
On the 5th of May 2026, CIVICUS hosted the New York launch of the State of Civil Society Report 2026, convening representatives of UN Member States and civil society organisations for an interactive dialogue on the report’s key findings and emerging global trends affecting civic space and citizen action.
The 2026 State of Civil Society Report, the 15th edition in CIVICUS’ annual series, identifies major developments shaping civil society and citizen-led action across the world. It captures trends across multiple arenas, from responses to conflict and authoritarianism to struggles for democracy, inclusion, and climate justice, alongside growing demands for stronger and more accountable global governance.
Drawing from CIVICUS’ rolling analysis and commentary initiative, CIVICUS Lens, the report is informed directly by the perspectives of civil society actors confronting the world’s most urgent crises. It reflects insights from over 250 interviews and 100 articles published by CIVICUS, covering approximately 100 countries and territories.
The report highlights a global context in which unaccountable power is increasingly on the offensive. It documents how powerful states are undermining the international rules-based order, while impunity is becoming normalised in conflicts from Gaza to Sudan. It also underscores how an emerging alliance of tech oligarchs and authoritarian leaders is leveraging online influence to spread disinformation and expand surveillance. The report further identifies the withdrawal of funding from multilateral institutions, the weaponisation of artificial intelligence, and the deliberate obstruction of climate action as interconnected elements of a wider political moment in which elites are consolidating power at the expense of human rights. Those most affected are communities already facing structural exclusion and limited access to rights.
At the same time, the report affirms that resistance is growing. Across regions and contexts, people are choosing courage over compliance. A new generation is mobilising, and civil society advocacy, evidence collection, and litigation are pushing back against regression and securing meaningful victories. In an era of manufactured hopelessness, the report makes a strong case for sustained collective action and resistance.
Highlights from the Dialogue
The event opened with remarks by Jesselina Rana (CIVICUS), followed by a presentation of the report’s key findings by Mandeep Tiwana (CIVICUS).
A panel discussion featured perspectives from civil society and Member States, including:
- Sherine Tadros (Amnesty International) reflected on the growing risks civil society faces, noting how the landscape has shifted dramatically over the past year. She emphasised the increasing need for accessible emergency support, including legal defence funding, and highlighted the reality that civil society is often forced to continuously recalibrate what constitutes a “win” amid widespread impunity.
- Louis Charbonneau (Human Rights Watch) underscored the erosion of civic space and the rule of law, including increasing efforts to dilute commitments within UN forums on issues such as sexual and reproductive health and rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, and migrant rights. He also highlighted examples of democratic wins, including in Hungary and Nepal.
- Katarina Clifford (European Union) shared concerns about troubling civic space trends within parts of Europe, while reaffirming the EU’s commitment to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and strengthened monitoring of Member States. She highlighted the development of a new EU civil society engagement strategy, including annual reporting and guiding principles to promote meaningful participation. She also referenced increased budget commitments for civil society in the EU’s 2028 to 2034 planning period, and the EU’s intention to strengthen coalitions of groups of friends among civil society and member states.
- Mr. Gyan Bahadur Magar (Nepal) called for Member States to show courage in confronting double standards in multilateralism and stressed the importance of the “power of law, not the law of power.” He emphasised the need for coordinated solutions and proposed innovative approaches such as online universities to support least developed countries in strengthening multilateral engagement.
The discussion concluded with an open roundtable dialogue among participants, allowing Member States and civil society representatives to reflect on the report and share experiences from diverse contexts. Closing reflections were delivered by Brenda Mofya (Oxfam).
