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April 2012
Issue:



Welcome to Civil Society Watch Bulletin, an e-newsletter of updates and analyses concerning civil society's rights to freedom of association, assembly and expression around the world. The Bulletin is compiled by the staff at Civil Society Watch, a programme of CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation. Please feel free to forward the Bulletin to friends and colleagues. We welcome your comments and contributions!
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CIVICUS State of Civil Society 2011 Report - Chapter on civil Society space and the disenabling environment
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Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Second Report on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in the Americas
View report


International Journal of Civil Society Law newsletter
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Reporters Without Borders 2012 report on online surveillance and content filtering
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Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition - Global Report on the Situation of Women Human Rights Defenders
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CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is an international movement of civil society with members and partners in over a hundred countries. CIVICUS nurtures the foundation, growth and protection of citizen action throughout the world especially in areas where participatory democracy and citizens' freedom of association are threatened. The Civil Society Watch Project of CIVICUS seeks to mobilise quick, principled and effective responses to events that threaten civil society fundamental freedoms of expression, association and assembly.

 

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights releases report on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in the Americas after a gap of six years
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UN, African and Inter-American Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights Defenders urge governments to stop reprisals
Read


















Highlights

Time for a new social contract: CIVICUS’ inaugural State of Civil Society Report suggests a generational opportunity for civil society in the face of multiple global crises
Read press release | View full report

Appeal for support to the CIVICUS Crisis Response Fund from outgoing Secretary General, Ingrid Srinath
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CIVICUS and the Arab NGO Network for Development highlight Syrian crisis and demand a political solution
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CIVICUS calls attention to restrictions on Malawian civil society
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CIVICUS joins national and international civil society in demanding freedom of association from the Angolan government
Read

CIVICUS statement at the UN Human Rights Council on an enabling environment for civil society
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CIVICUS analysis piece: Israel severs ties with the UN Human Rights Council: what might the implications be?
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CIVICUS analysis piece: strengthening civil society voices at the UN Human Rights Council
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CIVICUS analysis piece: unresolved concerns on the freedoms of association, assembly and expression in Uganda as Universal Periodic Review report is adopted
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CIVICUS analysis piece: adoption of Zimbabwe’s report at the UNHRC won’t improve civil society rights to exist, express and engage
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CIVICUS analysis piece: a slippery slope on freedoms in Southern Africa

Read

 





ALGERIA: Continued harassment of activists one year after repeal of emergency
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ANGOLA: Pro-democracy protestors brutalised and independent newspaper raided as civil society space is threatened
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BAHRAIN: Demands to release human rights defender on hunger strike increase
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BURUNDI: Murder trial of Burundian human rights defender reopened
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CAMEROON: LGBT rights workshop shut down    
Read
                                              
COLOMBIA: Paramilitaries threaten son of human rights defender accused of having links with guerrillas
Read

EGYPT: Civil society fact finding mission finds significant deterioration in the freedom of association and assembly
Read

IRAN: Renewal of the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran welcomed
Read

KAZAKHSTAN: Police prevent activists from participating in planned protest
Read

SAUDI ARABIA: Head of Saudi Association for Civil and Political Rights on hunger strike to protest against arbitrary detention and ill-treatment
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SOUTH KOREA: Civil society expresses grave concern on persecution against environmental activists
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SRI LANKA: Smear campaign launched against civil society members active at the UN Human Rights Council
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Jose Muvango, co-founder of the Proclamation of Mpalabanda from the Cabinda region of Angola speaks to CIVICUS about the challenges faced by civil society in Angola, and Cabinda in particular. His organisation has been denied permission to operate by the Angolan government, yet his resolve to stand up for what he believes in is strong.
Read

DISCLAIMER
The views expressed in this bulletin are a reflection of those contained in the original reports to which they are linked here, and are not necessarily those of CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation.

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