Environmental activism is dangerous and too often deadly, and may worsen as the growing climate crisis fuels divides over access to natural resources Millions of people have marched this year calling for an end to climate injustice yet around the world just 4 percent of the world’s population live in countries where governments are properly respecting the freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and expression according to the CIVICUS Monitor.

The question of how grassroots groups and activists based in the global south can mobilise adequate support to overcome the growing ecological, social, political and economic challenges they face and achieve positive change is a serious one that requires our attention.

Located in the west of Central Africa between Cameroon and Gabon, and with a population of less than a million people, Equatorial Guinea is often described as one of the most censored countries in the world.

In recent years, combined with existing threats, the rise of right-wing and nationalist populism across the world has led to an increasing number of governments implementing repressive measures against the space for civil society (civic space), particularly affecting women human rights defenders (WHRDs).

Espanol | Francais Findings based on data released today by the CIVICUS Monitor a global research collaboration which rates and tracks the respect for fundamental freedoms in 196 countries.

A comparative analysis of regulation of civil society organisations’ ‘political activity’ and international funding in Ireland, Netherlands, Germany and Finland.

Repression in Paradise: Assault on fundamental freedoms in the #Maldives.

According to the policy brief, published by CIVICUS in November 2017, although civil society in India has been playing essential roles ever since the country's struggle for independence, the space for civil society - civic space - is increasingly being contested.

CIVICUS Monitor Ratings Update October 2017 Updated ratings from the CIVICUS Monitor, released 4 October 2017, provide further evidence that the space for civil society - civic space - continues to close around the world.

While threats against civic space are well documented around the world, little is said on how civic space trends are being experienced by children, and how children’s rights and abilities to be active agents for change in their countries and communities are being affected.

People’s rights to organise, speak out and take action are being extensively violated in a large number of member countries of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

People’s rights to organise, speak out and take action are being extensively violated in a large number of countries in the Americas.

The report explores key factors that contribute to or undermine the sustainability of contemporary protest movements.

According to new findings from the CIVICUS Monitor, just three percent of  people live in countries where space for civic activism - or civic space- is truly open.

This policy action brief, prepared by CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, and the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI), examines a range of restrictions on civil society’s fundamental rights recently experienced in Uganda.

  On 21 November 2016, CIVICUS together with Amnesty  International, Defence  for  Children  International,  KidsRights and World Vision convened a side event- Widening Space by Young Human Rights Defenders.

If citizens are to have strong opportunities to take part in the making of decisions that affect their lives, there needs to be space for civil society to function, flourish and play a full range of roles.

Many countries worldwide rely on the exploitation of natural resources as an important source of economic activity and public income.

Data from the CIVICUS Monitor shows that 3.

Recent  years  have  witnessed  increased  challenges  to  the  core  democratic  values  upheld  in  many  parts  of  the  world,  protest  movements  have  gathered  in  many  countries  to  call  for  greater  accountability of governments.

The current crisis in Burundi has given rise to the worst violations of human rights since the country’s brutal civil war of 1993 to 2005.

The latest CIVICUS monitoring shows that in 2015 one or more of the core civil society freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly were seriously violated in at least 109 countries.

  CIVICUS Civil Society Watch Report 2016 Countries which significantly violated fundamental freedoms of association, peaceful assembly or expression in 2015 are highlighted in blue on the map.

In this discussion paper, based on interviews with 12 innovative foundations based in the global south, CIVICUS examines the question of how philanthropists in the global south could better support the activities of human rights and social justice CSOs.

In a new report released today, “Enhancing the effectiveness of the UN Universal Periodic Review: A civil society perspective,” CIVICUS examines the experiences of civil society groups from across the world in engaging with the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

This Policy Action Brief, co-authored by CIVICUS and the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders-Kenya, presents an overview of the challenging environment for civil society in Kenya, particularly since the March 2013 elections which brought the Jubilee Coalition government in power.

By Counterpart International Armenia Download the report in English Civic engagement, participation and individual and collective activism form one of the core components of civil society as this describes the formal and informal activities undertaken by individuals to advance shared interests at different levels, from shared associational and social activity to the advancement of political interests.

By CEMEFI – Centro Mexicano para la Filantropía Download the report in English or Spanish The Enabling Environment National Assessments (EENA’s), a research tool jointly developed by CIVICUS and ICNL, aims to assess the legal, regulatory and policy environment for civil society at the national level.

by Voluntary Action Network India Download the report in English or Hindi The Enabling Environment National Assessments (EENA’s), a research tool jointly developed by CIVICUS and ICNL, aims to assess the legal, regulatory and policy environment for civil society at the national level.

Français The special issue of the FACTS Report titled, “Stories of innovative democracy at local level: enhancing participation, activism and social change across the world”, compiles ideas, stories, project evaluations and research from CIVICUS members and partners and beyond.

English | German A vibrant civil society contributes significantly to a living democracy, social cohesion and social innovation.

By Arab NGO Network for Development Download the report in English or Arabic The Enabling Environment National Assessments (EENA’s), a research tool jointly developed by CIVICUS and ICNL, aims to assess the legal, regulatory and policy environment for civil society at the national level.

 As part of its work to monitor civic space, from time to time CIVICUS produces Policy Action Briefs on countries where civil society is under increasing and or dire threat.

The CIVICUS Civil Society Index‐Rapid Assessment (CSI‐RA) project in West Africa was initiated in 2013 with financial support from Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and CIVICUS, and in partnership with the West African Civil Society Institute (WACSI).

Executive Summary (English)Resumen Ejecutivo (en Español)Résumé (Francais) A predictable backlash against dissent  |  Privileging of the private sector  |  A global governance system fit for purpose  |  Recommendations  Globally, there is a crisis in governance.

Executive Summary Executive Summary (English)Resumen Ejecutivo (en Español)Résumé (Francais)   State of Civil Society 2014: Reimagining Global Governance (full report)  Full report The Year That Was A year in civil society - citizen action to the fore   Summary of Expert Perspectives Towards a democratic multilateralism: civil society perspectives on the state of global governance   Civil Society Perspectives on Global Governance Section 1: The great challenges of the 21st century Old problems, invisible problems, new actors: Conceiving and mis-conceiving our urban centurySheela PatelSociety for the Promotion of Area Resource Centres and Shack/Slum Dwellers International Escaping the global resource curseGavin HaymanGlobal Witness Responsibility to Protect:  Can we prevent mass atrocities without making the same old mistakes?Jaclyn D.

Foreword by Amina Mohammed | Foreword by Mo Ibrahim From the CIVICUS Secretary-General  In 2013, I flew tens of thousands of miles.

 Summary  |  But why should we care about global governance  |  So what’s going wrong  |  But who gets a say in reform  |  So what’s the vision  |  And how do we get there This overview draws from the 21 guest contributions to the 2014 CIVICUS State of Civil Society Report.

A year in civil society – Citizen action to the fore Citizens’ action in 2013-2014: a second wave of dissent  |  Legal Restrictions: the onslaught on civil society continues  |  Market fundamentalism and encroachments by the private sector  |  Global potential, global challenges Our round-up of what has happened since the last CIVICUS State of Civil Society report sees a new burgeoning of public protest, state pushback against civil society in a number of regions, an increasing focus on inequality and the excesses of the market, and fresh hope being born out of global processes to develop new, comprehensive and inclusive development goals.

The Advocacy Toolkit: Influencing the post-2015 Development Agenda is for civil society and other stakeholder organisations, coalitions and individuals that wish to influence the post-2015 development agenda, including the design of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On 13 November 2013, CIVICUS and Gender Links convened a workshop in Johannesburg to discuss challenges faced by Gender and LGBTI activists in East and Southern Africa and identify ways in which activists can work together to address these challenges.

French | Spanish  CIVICUS is proud to announce the publication of its guide to help civil society organisations’ regulate their practices and operations with respect to a variety of governance issues.

As part of CIVICUS’ work to promote and protect the enabling environment for civil society in the Asia-Pacific region, CIVICUS provided Carine Jaquet from the Research Institute on Contemporary South-East Asia (IRASEC) with technical and financial support to conduct research on the changing environment for civil society in Myanmar.

A report by CIVICUS, reveals a pattern of sustained attacks on civil society organisations (CSOs) around the world.

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and RESOCIDE jointly organised a workshop on enhancing the capacity of human rights defenders to respond to threats in West Africa in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso from 2 to 3 July 2012.

Voluntary citizen participation is an essential part of civil society, which in turn is a key contributor to sustainable development, human rights, good governance and social justice.

Under the auspices of the project Strengthening Civil Society Engagement with the United Nations: Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan sponsored by the Open Society Foundations, CIVICUS engaged two activists and two regional specialists in learning exchanges with CIVICUS’ Geneva Office from November-December 2011.

An analysis of the CIVICUS Civil Society Index 2008-2011 findings on volunteerism The recently completed 2008-2011 CIVICUS Civil Society Index, a comprehensive analysis of civil society in 35 countries, offers an opportunity to assess the health of people’s participation and activism.

This report provides the first description of the quantitative data from the second implementation phase (2008 to 2011) of CIVICUS' Civil Society Index, bringing together the information from a set of 25 countries for which the data was finalised at the time of writing.

Download summary reports (English) (French) (Spanish) Bridging the gaps: Citizens, Organisations and Dissociation(function() { var scribd = document.