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Democracy and human rights debated at Oslo Freedom Forum side event

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  Summary Report: Roundtable on Democratic Decline and the Establishment of a UN Mandate on Democracy A roundtable convened by CIVICUS and Democracy Without Borders in collaboration with the Human Rights Foundation on the margins of the Oslo Freedom Forum (25–28 May 2025) brought together around twenty participants with experience in international civil society, intergovernmental organisations, academia, human rights monitoring mechanisms, and national governments.

CIVICUS at the 59th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council

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59th Session of UN Human Rights Council (16 June to 11 July 2025) Overview Structural Issues Thematic Priorities Country-Specific Priorities ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Overview As civic space continues to shrink globally, the Council remains a vital platform for defending human rights and raising the voices of those most affected.

El Salvador: Free detained activists and end crackdown on civil society

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Amid growing repression, a collective of civil society organisations call on El Salvador government to immediately and unconditionally release detained human rights defenders and protesters, repeal repressive legislation, and stop assault on civic space.
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USA: Stop protest and migrant rights violations and abuse of Presidential powers

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CIVICUS global civil society alliance urges the United States of America (USA) authorities to respect the constitutional right to peaceful protest.

Time to build a wider and bolder global peoples' movement for civic freedoms – New CIVICUS Secretary General

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CIVICUS global civil society alliance announced today the appointment of Mandeep Singh Tiwana as its new Secretary General (SG).

Italy’s New Security Decree Threatens Democracy, Say Over 70 NGOs

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More than 70 civil society organisations—including CIVICUS—have sounded the alarm over Italy’s new Security Decree, warning it poses a serious threat to democracy amid a systemic deterioration of the rule of law.

CIVICUS at ACHPR83: A Recap of Outcomes and Next Steps

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From 2–22 May 2025, CIVICUS participated in the 83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and the preceding NGO Forum held in Banjul, The Gambia.
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El Salvador: International Organizations Condemn the Detention of Human Rights Defender Ruth López

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Global Call to UN: Stop Iran’s Execution of Political Prisoners

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CIVICUS has joined over 300 global leaders, human rights experts, and organisations in a collective appeal urging the United Nations to act urgently to stop the execution of political prisoners in Iran.
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Nicaragua: La Prensa wins World Press Freedom Prize braving severe retribution

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We congratulate the Nicaraguan newspaper La Prensa for receiving the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano 2025 World Press Freedom Prize.

Peru: APCI Law threatens civic space and human rights defenders’ work

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CIVICUS joins national and international civil society organisations in expressing grave concern over recent legislative amendments in Peru that threaten civic space and the work of human rights defenders.
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CIVICUS at the 83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights

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At CIVICUS, we believe in the fundamental importance of human rights and are dedicated to advancing the work of human rights defenders and protecting civic space.
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Bangladesh: Stop criminalising student leaders’ peaceful protests

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Criminalising student human rights defenders (HRDs) protests shows a disturbing continuation of repression of right to peaceful assembly and protest in Bangladesh.
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Global civil society report 2025: threats to human rights grow, but there’s hope in grassroots action

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Democracy faces existential threats, but civic action remains a powerful force for renewal.
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CSW69: A Pivotal Moment for Women’s Rights Amid Growing Global Challenges

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The 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women marks important milestones, with the 80th UN anniversary and the 30th Beijing Platform anniversary, amid growing threats to women's rights.
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Letter to the U.N. Secretary-General in advance of his visit to Bangladesh

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CIVICUS and fellow human rights organisations have issued an urgent appeal to the United Nations, calling for immediate and sustained support for Bangladesh during this pivotal moment of political transition.
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Trump administration puts US civic freedoms under severe threat – CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist

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The United States of America is added to the CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist due to threats to civic freedoms under Trump administration.
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Deadly conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) culls human rights and civic freedoms - CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist

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The escalating conflict between M23 and DRC forces has cost thousands of lives since January, induced widespread displacement, and a humanitarian crisis.
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“Anti-Gandhi bill” will worsen Italy’s faltering civic space – CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist

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The “anti-Gandhi bill” (Bill 1236) will worsen country’s already declining respect for freedoms of expression, assembly, and association.
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Serbian civil society under pressure as country sees biggest protests in decades – CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist 

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Civic space is rapidly faltering amid massive protests against government corruption that led to a train station disaster.
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Activists targeted, protests stifled, digital spaces gagged in Pakistan – CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist

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Pakistan is added to civic space watchlist with authorities targeting activists, stifling protests and restricting digital spaces.
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Bahrain: Free Human Rights Defender Ali Al Hajee

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CIVICUS joins 23 organisations in urging Bahraini authorities to immediately and unconditionally release human rights defender Ali Al Hajee, who was arrested on 1 March 2025 in connection with his peaceful social media comments.

EU must demand progress on human rights in India – Human rights organisations

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CIVICUS joined 11 human rights organisations in a joint letter urging the European Union (EU) to take action on human rights concerns in India, ahead of the College of Commissioners visit to India.

Bahrain/EU: 31 rights organisations call for release of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and Sheikh Mohammed Habib Al-Muqdad.

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CIVICUS joined 31 human rights organisations in a joint letter urging the European Union (EU) to engage Bahraini authorities to call for the immediate and unconditional release of EU-Bahraini nationals Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and Sheikh Mohammed Habib Al-Muqdad.
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US Funding Cuts: Philanthropy must step in to support locally-led development

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The US Government’s abrupt 90-day foreign aid pause and uncertainty about the US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) future are hurting Global South civil society hard.
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ASEAN: End complicity with Myanmar junta, demand democracy and human rights

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  CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance calls on ASEAN to stop enabling Myanmar junta’s continuing brutal oppression against its citizens.
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Civil society launches new initiative to strengthen the enabling environment

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Johannesburg, South Africa Civil society organisations come together on 29 January 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa to launch a new initiative to anticipate and react to changes in the enabling environment - an environment where civil society can thrive, express itself freely and actively engage in shaping its context.
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United States: Reverse Executive Orders threatening global progress on climate, human rights, and civic freedoms

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CIVICUS, a global alliance of civil society organisations, calls on the United States to reverse the executive orders by  President Donald Trump that undermine and threaten global progress.
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Global Stand As My Witness Campaign calls for freeing Arnon Nampa

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Read the statement in Thai As Arnon Nampa's fourth anniversary as a Gwangju Prize for Human Rights winner dawns, he still unfairly languishes in prison for his activism.
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Sri Lanka: Joint letter calling on President to uphold press freedom

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President Anura Kumara Dissanayake Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Re: Press Freedom Protections in Sri Lanka Dear President Dissanayake, Congratulations on your recent election as president of Sri Lanka.
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Kenya: End Abductions and Ill-Treatment of Human Rights Defenders

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  CIVICUS global civil society alliance calls on President William Ruto and the government of Kenya to immediately and unconditionally free 20 protestors still missing.
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Cameroon: Reverse the suspension of Civil Society Organisations

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Johannesburg, 6 January 2025: Cameroon authorities must immediately reverse the suspension of civil society organisations (CSOs) protecting human rights defenders in Central Africa, said CIVICUS today.
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Joint Statement: After 5,000 Days of Arbitrary Detention, Bahrain Must Immediately Release Danish-Bahraini Citizen and Human Rights Defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja

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Today, 16 December 2024, Danish-Bahraini human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja has endured 5,000 days of arbitrary detention in Bahrain.
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Laos: States should ask “Where is Sombath?” at upcoming review of human rights record

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On the 12-year anniversary of the unresolved enforced disappearance of Lao civil society leader Sombath Somphone, we, the undersigned civil society organizations and individuals worldwide, urge United Nations (UN) member states to express their concern over this continuing crime and to call for the prompt resolution of Sombath’s case at the upcoming review of the human rights record of Laos.
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Announcing International Civil Society Week (ICSW) 2025

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The next edition of International Civil Society Week (ICSW), the flagship event bringing together and celebrating global civil society, is slated for November 2025.
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CIVICUS and Resilience Pathways Stand in Solidarity with Palestinian People and Civil Society Organisations

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As we observe International Palestinian Solidarity Day, CIVICUS and Resilience Pathways stand together in unyielding solidarity with Palestinian people and the civil society organisations that continue to champion human rights, justice, and dignity, in the face of overwhelming adversity.
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Thailand: Immediately Repeal the Draft Act on Associations and Foundation 2024

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The undersigned organisations express concern over the Thai Government’s recent attempt  to pass the Draft Act on Associations and Foundations 2024, which, if adopted, would lead to violations of  the right to freedom of association and further undermine democracy in the country.
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Membership Engagement Month 2024 is here!

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Membership Engagement Month 2024 (#MEM24) is a special time for the CIVICUS global civil society alliance to connect, celebrate, learn, and collaborate.
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India: End the prolonged imprisonment of Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez

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  On 22 November 2024, Khurram Parvez, a prominent Kashmiri human rights defender, will mark three years of wrongful incarceration on unsubstantiated charges of terrorism and related offences.
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Hong Kong: Release 45 democracy activists jailed on bogus national security charges

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The 45 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists convicted in a sham trial must be released immediately, said CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance today.
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Azerbaijan: Stop assaults on civil society and climate justice as COP29 starts today

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Azerbaijan must curb increasing assaults on civil society and stop harassing peaceful protesters and journalists, said CIVICUS today.

Open Call for a Ceasefire in Gaza, Lebanon and Israel and End to Impunity amid a Spiralling Humanitarian Catastrophe and Escalating Regional Conflict

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We, the undersigned organisations, appeal to all UN member states to secure an immediate ceasefire across Gaza, Lebanon, Israel and the region, and to end the impunity that has allowed atrocities by Israeli forces against civilians to continue and escalate.

Joint Statement Urging World Bank Action on Cambodian Civil Society Reprisals

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We, the undersigned organisations, call upon World Bank President Ajay Banga to condemn the Cambodian government's assault on human rights groups, including reprisals against World Bank project stakeholders.

Guatemala: International organizations demand due process guarantees at key hearing for Jose Rubén Zamora’s release

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18 October 2024 19 international civil society organisations demand due process at the review of journalist Jose Rubén Zamora’s detention due on Friday 18 October 2024.

Tanzania: End activist, media, and opposition crackdowns

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CIVICUS calls on Tanzanian authorities to immediately end all systematic repressions and crackdown of media outlets, journalists, civil society activists, and politicians.

Saudi Arabia's failure to win seat on UN Human Rights Council demonstrates disregard for upholding basic human dignity

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[Geneva] - Responding to Saudi Arabia's failure to win a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council, Sigrid Lipott, United Nations Advisor at CIVICUS, said: "Saudi Arabia’s abysmal human rights record over the past few years demonstrates it has no intention of upholding basic human dignity anytime soon.

Act now: Join our Global Call for for Solidarity with Palestinian civil society

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Despite the devastation in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, as well as the ongoing challenges in Lebanon, Palestinian civil society remains steadfast and resilient.

Solidarity with Palestine repressed: Trends and case studies

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Pro-Palestinian protests met with restrictions: bans, arrests, excessive force Student pro-Palestine activism repressed, particularly in western countries Activists, CSOs, journalists targeted with reprisals for expressing solidarity with Palestine On 7 October 2023, Hamas forces launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing over 1,100 people and taking more than 200 hostages.

Honduras: Deliver Justice for Juan López

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September 18, 2024 CIVICUS mourns the assassination of environmental defender and community leader Juan López, of the Municipal Committee of Common and Public Goods of Tocoa (CMDBCPT).

Global Leaders to Adopt 'UN 2.0' Blueprint as Civil Society Remains Cautiously Optimistic

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Civil society invested significant time and energy in the Summit of the Future.

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