Opening Plenary: The Global Context for Civil Society by Ingrid Srinath Where do we, civil society, find ourselves as we near the end of 2011? The heady optimism of the 1990s following the fall of the Berlin wall and its promise of a global wave of democracy and freedom, and the growing power of citizen action symbolized by the protests at the WTO in Seattle were quickly followed by a decade of the “war on terror” used as an excuse by many governments around the world to restrict freedoms of information, expression, and assembly.

Uganda was reviewed recently by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) as part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process.

People power for aid effectiveness CIVICUS Secretary General at Commonwealth People's Forum Joint Open Letter on Bahrain Cuba 'Ladies in White' founder Laura Pollan dies Bahrain: Repression against workers and attacks against Trade Union Rights are still going on G20 finance ministers face growing public anger for failing to reform financial system Civil Society at a Crossroads? Read this issue online now.

Dear Commonwealth Heads of Governments, This letter follows an earlier letter on this subject that many of us jointly wrote to Commonwealth Foreign Ministers, prior to their meeting in New York on 22 September 2011.

Opening Up Uganda’s Civil Society Space at the United Nations Human Rights Council Together with our colleagues from Uganda, Civicus organized a side event at the United Nations Human Rights Council on October 10, 2011, focusing on Civil Society Space in Uganda.

CIVICUS Secretary General Ingrid Srinath is travelling to Perth, Australia, from 25-28 October 2011, to take civil society messages to Commonwealth decision-makers.

The Conference on Volunteer Action for Development will be taking place from the 17 – 19 of October at the FNB Learning Centre, Sandton, Johannesburg.

Authoritarian regimes, co-opted institutions, the absence of enabling legislation and a persecuted civil society are some of the central factors holding back the fulfilment of the fundamental rights of freedoms of many an African citizen.

South Africa fails an ethical test: Dalai Lama cancels planned visit Q&A: Africa's legislated civil society crackdown Comments and proposals on the second draft of the Busan draft outcome document Civic Engagement Measurement System Bahrain medical staff sentenced for treating protesters Civil society comes of age in Jamaica World Bank-IMF annual meetings 2011 Online Consultation on the CFS Global Strategic Framework Read this issue online.

Following the publication of the revised Busan Outcome Document (BOD), CIVICUS has raised several concerns regarding the  global trend of the increasing dis-enabling environment for CSOs that affects their effectiveness and role as independent development actors.

Trying to use a water pistol to stop a charging rhino IMF-World Bank civil society town hall meeting Joint letter to Secretary of State Clinton regarding Uzbekistan Busan CSO pre-event; Register now Africa's energy future heading down a dark tunnel Sentencing to prison of lawyer Moses Richards, a chilling message to the Gambian human rights community Read this issue online or subscribe to receive future issues in your inbox

Cyril Ritchie* The  world  is  today  a  poorer  place,  following  the  immensely  regretted  death  of  Wangari  Maathai,   an  outstanding  woman,   an  outstanding  humanist,   an outstanding  innovator,   an outstanding  civil  society  activist,   an  outstanding  leader.

Remarks by Laila Iskandar, Chairperson, CID Consulting (a social enterprise in Cairo, Egypt), Board Chair, Spirit of Youth NGO in Cairo (situated in the garbage collectors’ neighbourhood of Manchiyet Nasser), and Member, Global Recyclers without Borders Network Thank you for the invitation to this Town Hall meeting.

Defining civil society CIVICUS call for papers: 10th International Society for Third Sector Research conference, Siena, Italy  Sign the petition to free Ales Bialiatski MDGs: Time to get it rightWhen the road to democracy gets hijacked Aid transparency campaigners welcome new ‘open-government’ initiative And loads more! Read this issue online or subscribe to receive future issues in your inbox.

By Mr Letshego Mokeki, National TISDA Coordinator, Transparency International (TI) Following up on findings of their research report, TI is currently undertaking two campaigns in South Africa to strengthen civil society and capacity in financial management in primary education.

The 10th International Society for Third Sector Research (ISTR) on the theme “Democratisation, Marketisation and the third sector’, will take place during July 10-13, 2012 in Siena, Italy.

The special issue of the e-CIVICUS, highlighting happenings, news and opinions from the just concluded CIVICUS World Assembly in Montreal.

Civil society is undergoing its most significant crisis and change for a generation.

The dialogue stretches beyond Montreal! The spirit of the CIVICUS World Assembly is reaching far beyond the Palais Des Congres in Montreal.

This is the final instalment of our conversation with Ms.

On Friday 2 September in Johannesburg, CIVICUS will  launch  our new report on the health of civil society, Bridging the Gaps: citizens, organisations and dissociation.

Français From 2010 to 2012, the CIVICUS World Assembly is being co-hosted by the Institut du Nouveau Monde (INM) in Montreal, Canada.

Mario Lubetkin is Secretary General for Inter Press Services (IPS), a communications institution with a global news agency at its core and is dedicated to raising the voices of the South and of civil society.

Ales Bialiatski, a prominent civil society activist in Belarus, was arrested on 4 August 2011.

Social activist, Makoma Lekalakala*, recently sat down with Elizabeth Hira, of CIVICUS’ Policy Unit, to discuss climate change from the perspective of South Africans, the task of mobilisation, and the role of women in climate justice.

CIVICUS recently joined several international civil society organisations in writing to the Government of Angola to draw attention to a number of concerns and to present urgent requests with regard to the humanrights situation in Angola.

Melita Steele has been with Greenpeace Africa as a climate and energy campaigner for a year and a half.

Click to view on YouTube Click to listen/download from iTunes store On Wednesday 20 July, 2011, CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation, hosted a webinar, geared towards developing policy recommendations for civil society organisations (CSOs), public and private sector donors and governments to enable them to bridge the gap between traditional CSOs and online activists.

A teleconference hosted by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation 14:00 – 16:00 GMT on Friday 12 August 2011 It is my pleasure to invite you to participate in a regional consultation geared towards identifying and better understanding the key issues and state of civil society in the region, as well as how governments, CSOs and the private sector can better support the strengthening of civil society in the region.

Analysis Faith-based economics.

Melita Steele, Climate and Energy Campaigner, Greenpeace Africa, speaks to Elizabeth Hira of CIVICUS Melita Steele has been with Greenpeace Africa as a climate and energy campaigner for a year and a half.

Analysis The sanctity of life: Norway and Somalia - a study in contrast Civil Society and post-disaster reconstruction: the case of Japan  The Making of Social Justice: Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture News Egypt civil society decries decision to ban international monitoring of the elections Time for democratic dialogue in Malawi - not death threats and unfounded treason charges After Sri Lanka polls, civil society groups say 'voters were threatened'

NEWS RELEASE – Statement by the Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Trust (SAHRDT)            Johannesburg, July 26: In the wake of last week’s bloody demonstrations in Malawi, the Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Trust (SAHRDT) calls on President Bingu wa Mutharika to engage in an open, national debate about the country’s future – rather than resorting to more inflammatory attacks on civil society leaders and pro-democracy activists.

CIVICUS invita a activistas, investigadores y profesionales de la sociedad civil, a líderes empresariales responsables y a representantes de agencias de desarrollo a compartir ideas y experiencias sobre el fortalecimiento de la participación ciudadana y a vincularse con representantes de organizaciones donantes y  gobiernos.

Analysis 2011: Can it be the Year of Reckoning - ingrid Srinath Food insecurity and the future News Zimbabwe: Inconsistency of charges against activists highlight deteriorating human rights situation (Press release) Malawi erupts in anti-government protests

Interview by: Elizabeth Hira, Human Rights Activist and Policy Unit Intern, CIVICUS With: Kelly Dent, Senior Climate Change Policy Advisor for Oxfam International Kelly Dent is Oxfam International’s resident expert on climate change.

PRETORIA – “South Africa is a champion of institutionalizing social, economic and cultural rights such as the human right to food, but it has yet to prove it can deliver results for 12 million poor food insecure people, 70 per cent of which live in rural areas,” said Olivier De Schutter, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, on the last day of his official mission to South Africa*.

A virtual consultation hosted by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen ParticipationWednesday 20 July, 2011 at 1 pm UTC/GMT The purpose of this thematic consultation is to develop policy recommendations for civil society organisations, public and private sector donors and governments to enable them to bridge the gap between traditional CSOs and online activists.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Excellencies and colleagues; I thank you for this opportunity you gave me to address you on this distinct and historical occasion.

Analysis Co-operation for effective development: Looking to Busan Voices on the road to COP 17: Who should lead the fight on climate change? You should News US violated Egypt’s sovereignty by offering funds to NGOs, says minister Rich nations risk breaking their pledges on farming aid, says anti-poverty group

Interview by: Elizabeth Hira, Human Rights Activist and Policy Unit Intern, CIVICUS Mandeep Tiwana, Policy Manager at CIVICUS, discusses climate change, COP17, and why ordinary people need to lead the fight.

CIVICUS is looking to develop a comprehensive intranet and knowledge management system using Microsoft’s SharePoint 2010 and associated software including: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 (email) Microsoft Project (Project management) Microsoft Lync/Communication Server (IM Chats, Group chat, VOIP and conference calling) Visio (on-going work flow designs) CIVICUS is seeking proposals from consultants to implement this solution between August and October 2011.

Challenges Facing Women Human Rights Defenders in Africa: Building Momentum for Mobilisation On the 27 July 2011, a webinar was held on building momentum for mobilisation to address the challenges facing women human rights defenders in Africa.

In this article, CIVICUS' Ingrid Srinath spoke with Justin Kilcullen of Trócaire at “If We Were Brave – Leadership Beyond Budget Cuts”, the first Masterclass organised by DTALK Learning, the Irish Aid mandated development training centre at Kimmage Manor Development Studies Centre.

If We Were Brave… Ingrid Srinath, Secretary General - CIVICUS “NGOs should be involved in renegotiating the social contract, joining with states and markets to redefine what kind of society we want nationally and globally.

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation at the 8th Regional Conference of the International Society for Third Sector Research (ISTR) for Latin American and the Caribbean Conference, Buenos Aires, Argentina – 12- 14 July, 2011.

From a country so repressed that a dissenting word against government will result in a prison sentence, Yuri Dzhibladze*, Founder and President of the Center for the Development of Democracy and Human Rights in Moscow, writes why the international community must not forget Belarus.

Geneva, 7 July 2011 “First of all let me thank you most sincerely for your very kind words and also your strong support and warm welcome on my reappointment as the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

 Below are the questions asked by parties who wanted additional information re our request for proposals for the implementation of our CRM strategy using CiviCRM.

CIVICUS' UN Representative in Geneva, Renate Bloem, made an intervention today that the UN Economic and Social Council reaffirming that "CIVICUS believes that UN member states and global civil society need to work together to ensure quality education for all, in accordance with international norms and best practices.