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3 June 2015 - Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, condemns South Korea’s on-going persecution of civil society groups and protestors calling for transparent and independent investigations into the sinking of the Sewol Ferry on 16 April 2014 in which 304 people, mostly school students lost their lives.
Media & Resources
This toolkit is designed to stimulate a reflection around the potential and limits of multi-stakeholder processes in promoting socio-political change, and provides practical tools and resources to facilitate the use of dialogue processes in new ways.
Background
At CIVICUS, we believe that society will achieve large-scale progress in solving the complex challenges of our time only if a collective, citizen-powered approach is utilised.
Insights on the current protests in Macedonia: An interview with two leading civil society activists
Emina Nuredinoska (left) of the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation and Tanja Hafner Ademi (right) of the Balkan Civil Society Development Network speak to CIVICUS about ongoing protests against the Government and the current state of civil society in Macedonia.
21 May 2015 - From Mexico to Mongolia, thousands of citizens around the world gathered last Saturday to exercise their fundamental rights to speak out, organise and take action on a wide-range of social issues.
10 years removed from the massacre in Anadijan, Uzbekistan, which left hundreds of civilians killed by security forces, the country remains one of the most persistent human rights violators in the world.
Following the second UPR of Belarus, CIVICUS has produced a summary of the country's current human rights situation, associated recommendations from member states, and recent civil society advocacy activities that have taken place at the UN in Geneva.
Savaş Metin, the General Secretary of Kimse Yok Mu Association (KYM) in Turkey, speaks to CIVICUS about the ongoing judicial harassment of their organization and the Turkish government’s systematic crackdown on Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Turkey.
Abdel-Rahman El Mahdi, Director of the Sudanese Development Initiative (SUDIA), speaks to CIVICUS about escalating restrictions on civil society and the prospect of engaging in a multi-stakeholder national dialogue to address pressing human rights issues in Sudan.
Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, expresses grave concern over the arbitrary suspension of fundamental civil liberties and the targeted judicial persecution of persons arrested for participating in ongoing demonstrations in Baltimore, USA.
Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, urges Burundi’s government to respect civic freedoms and end violence against protesters.
An upcoming global event will seek to engage citizens around the world on a set of human rights we don’t often hear much about: “civic space”.
Side Event during the 22nd UPR Session
When: Monday, 4 May 2015, 12:45-14-15
Where: Palais des Nations Room
While Belarus accepted a number of recommendations on improving the environment for freedom of association during its initial UPR review in 2010, little appreciable impact has been observed in this field.
15 April 2015 - The rise in bureaucratic harassment and demonisation of civil society organisations and activists in India is raising increasing concern.
13 April 2015 - We in the Bahrain and international human rights NGO community condemn thearrest and detention of Nabeel Rajab, a prominent human rights defender in the Kingdom ofBahrain.
Intimidation Undermines Independent OversightVenezuela is intimidating and harassing human rights defenders, and making unsubstantiated allegations that they are seeking to undermine Venezuelan democracy, 28 international and Latin American human rights organizations said today.
During the 28th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, 2-27 March 2015, CIVICUS and its partners made several high-level interventions to support the creation and maintenance of a safe and enabling environment for civil society across the world.
30 March - Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, and the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) express grave concern over the unabated incursions on fundamental human rights and democratic freedoms in Bangladesh amid the on-going political violence in the country.
ARTICLE 19, CIVICUS and Publish What You Pay have submitted a joint letter to the steering committee of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) calling on them to ensure that civil society organisations can participate in and influence Azerbaijan’s OGP action plan.
Delivered by Okwaraogoma Ononuju Silver, CIVICUS
CIVICUS welcomes the decision by the Gambian government to accept several recommendations aimed at improving the environment for the respect of fundamental freedoms including those to fully protect and promote freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly for all without fear of arbitrary detention or harassment and to continue to improve the protection and promotion of human rights.
In advance of the 23rd Session (November 2015) of the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR), CIVICUS has made five joint and stand-alone submissions on the rights to freedom of assembly, association, expression and the environment for human rights defenders (HRDs) in Mauritania, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman and Rwanda.
On March 4, 2015, the FATF Secretariat shared a section of the draft Best Practice Paper on Combating the Abuse of Non-Profit Organisation (BPP), requesting input from non-profit organizations (NPOs) to be submitted before the consultation on March 25 or by April 10.
Cambodian Center for Human Rights is a leading non-aligned, independent, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect democracy and respect for human rights – primarily civil and political rights - in Cambodia.
Formed in March 2001, Gender Links (GL) is a Southern African NGO headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa that promotes gender equality and justice across the fifteen countries of the region.
OFOP (Polish National NGO Federation) was established in 2003 as a representation body for the third sector in Poland.
Established in 1968, Cooperation Canada is Canada’s only national umbrella organisation for Canadian civil society organizations involved in international development.
CIVICUS secretary general Danny Sriskandarajah, together with the leaders of ActionAid (Adriano Campolina), AWID (Lydia Alpízar Durán), Greenpeace (Kumi Naidoo) and Oxfam (Winnie Byanyima), have made a joint call for unity against the 1% ahead of the World Social Forum in Tunis.
CIVICUS welcomes with horror the detailed report of the Commission and deplores once more the dire situation of the Syrian People.
The fundamental and necessary conditions which allow for the creation and maintenance of a safe and enabling environment for civil society are being systematically threatened across the globe.
Civicus in partnership with 25+ organisations have produced a joint press statement (see below) on the detention and hunger strike of the Bahraini human rights activist, Abdulhadi Al Khawaja.
CIVICUS applauds the very principled stand of the High Commissioner in addressing the challenges to human rights to counter terrorism.
Yes Theatre for Communication among Youth (YT) is a Palestinian non-governmental organization that was established in 2008.
CIVICUS welcomes the first report of the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children and congratulates her innovative road map to implement her mandate.
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.
Ravi Nitesh of the Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign (SSSC) speaks to CIVICUS about the vicious cycle of judicial harassment Manipuri activist Irom Sharmila faces merely due to her peaceful resistance to India’s draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act of 1958, (AFSPA).
On March 3rd in Geneva, Switzerland at the 28th session of the UN Human Rights Council, CIVICUS in cooperation with UNDP and the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner, hosted the 'Annual High-Level Panel on Human Rights Mainstreaming'.
CIVICUS has submitted recommendations on Ireland's national plan to implement UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
11 international organisations call on the UN to address restrictions on civil society in Azerbaijan
Ahead of the 28th Session of the UN Human Rights Council (UN HRC), 11 human rights organisations are calling upon the intergovernmental body to address Azerbaijan's rapidly deteriorating environment for human rights defenders (HRDs), civil society organisations (CSOs) and independent media.
Hussein Magdy of the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF) speaks to CIVICUS about how Egyptian civil society is dismayed at the ongoing crackdown on fundamental freedoms which are guaranteed by Egypt’s national and international human rights obligations.
Soliyana Gebremichael, founding member of the Zone9 bloggers collective and Coordinator of the Ethiopian Human Right Project, speaks to CIVICUS about the Ethiopian government's ongoing persecution of civil society and independent media in the run-up to general elections scheduled for May 2015.
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.
Since International Civil Society Week (2014) was such a big success with more than 40 partner-led workshops and more than 630 inspired participants, CIVICUS is excited to continue the conference's legacy by convening the next International Civil Society Week (2016) in Latin America.
International civil society is raising the alarm over attacks on independent civil society groups and critical voices in advance of Sudan’s general elections scheduled for April 2015.
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.
27 January 2015 - International civil society is calling on Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena to put civic freedoms and civil society participation at the heart of his 100 day plan.
Interview with Mireille Delmas-Marty, Emeritus Professor at Collège de France
This interview seeks to comment on the innovating potential of local democratic practices presented in the CIVICUS- FACTS Report on “Stories of Innovative Democracy at Local Level: Enhancing Participation, Activism and Social Change Across the World".
Joint Brief by CIVICUS and the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP)
21 January 2015 - Ahead of Kenya’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the UN Human Rights Council tomorrow, CIVICUS and the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP) urge the government to stop its onslaught against civil society and urgently address backsliding on civic freedoms.
20 January 2015 - Civil society in Pakistan, which already faces severe restrictions, is facing further threats to its freedom, following the horrific terrorist attack on a school in Peshawar last December.
The objective of the event organised by CIVICUS, in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) was to share information and discuss the potential roles of data revolution and the work of human rights mechanisms in the implementation and monitoring of the SDGs.
Dans ce document, CIVICUS fait état de ses inquiétudes concernant l’environnement dans lequel les organisations de la société civile, les défenseurs des droits de l’homme et les journalistes travaillent en Côte d’Ivoire ; CIVICUS y relève aussi les menaces auxquelles font face ces individus et organisations dans l’exercice de leur liberté d’expression, d’association et d’assemblée.
15 January 2015 – This week, 16 human rights organisations have written to 47 States to express grave concern ahead of a 20 January verdict in the trial of Nabeel Rajab, a prominent Bahraini human rights defender.
Almost a billion lives hang in the balance at crucial summits in New York & Paris
Famous names back one of the biggest campaigns ever launched
New figures show poverty could increase for the first time in a generation
According to new research, almost a billion extra people face a life of extreme poverty if leaders duck key decisions on poverty, inequality and climate change due to be taken at two crucial summits in New York and Paris later this year, with billions more continuing to face a life of hardship.
Background
Special Procedures is the name given to the mechanisms established by the UN Human Rights Council to address country or thematic issues in all parts of the world.
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.
5 December 2014: Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, is dismayed over the politically motivated sentences handed down this week to Bahraini human rights activists Maryam al-Khawaja and Zainab al-Khawaja.
4 December 2014: In response to the UN Secretary General's highly anticipated post-2015 synthesis report 'The road to dignity by 2030: ending poverty, transforming all lives and protecting the planet', CIVICUS issued the following statement:
On 22 November 2014, Bahrain’s citizens will be called to cast their votes for legislative and municipal elections.
Turkish Translation of Media Statement
11 November, 2014 - Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS is deeply concerned with the proposed “Security Package” before the Turkish Parliament, which if approved will warrant abusive policing practices, such as the ability to disperse public assemblies with physical force and to use firearms against protesters.
Name: Osama Al-Najjar
Location: United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Reasons Behind Bars:
Human rights defender and online activist Osama Al- Najjar, was arrested on 17 March 2014 in Abu Dhabi by state security forces.
Hundreds of activists and prominent members of civil society from more than 100 countries will gather in Johannesburg for International Civil Society Week (ICSW) from 19-25 November.
Joint Statement
CIVICUS: WORLD ALLIANCE FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
EAST AND HORN OF AFRICA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS PROJECT
ETHIOPIA HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT
31 October 2014.
Name: Irom Sharmila
Location: India
Reason Behind Bars:
Irom has been on a hunger strike since 2000 to highlight persistent human rights abuses committed by Indian security forces under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act of 1958 (AFSPA).
Turgut Gambar, founding member of NIDA Civic Movement, speaks to CIVICUS about the growing restrictions on civil society in Azerbaijan and the government’s ongoing judicial harassment of activists.
The upcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Egypt on 5 November 2014 comes at a critical time for human rights, freedoms and independent Egyptian civil society, including rights defenders and democracy activists.
Qamar Naseem of the Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network (PCSN) speaks to CIVICUS about growing restrictions imposed on civil society organisations and the Pakistani government’s attempts to curb access to funding from international sources.
English | German
A vibrant civil society contributes significantly to a living democracy, social cohesion and social innovation.
10 October 2014: Set against a background of endemic corruption, unsustainably low wages and impoverishing confiscations of land, Cambodia is considering a series of laws that will severely restrict human rights and the activities of civil society organisations working on these issues, according to a team of international experts visiting the country.
Pro-democracy protests continue in Hong Kong as protesters remain steadfast in their calls for fair and transparent elections of the Chief Executive and for China to stop meddling in the political affairs and electoral processes.
6 October 2014 - Civil society organisations are calling on South Sudanese authorities to stop the adoption of a restrictive NGO bill amidst fears that it could severely hinder civil society activities and undermine efforts to address the continuing humanitarian crisis in the country.
BACKGROUND INFORMATIONThe legal, regulatory, and policy environment in which Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) operate is key to their ability to register, operate, access resources, and effectively engage in advocacy, all of which are key to civil society’s ability to flourish and be successful.
"We write to you as the Post-2015 Human Rights Caucus, a cross-constituency coalition of development, environment, trade union, feminist and human rights organizations worldwide.
During the 27th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, 8-27 September 2014, CIVICUS and its partners made a number of interventions to promote the creation of a safe and enabling environment for civil society and human rights defenders.
WAVE Foundation is a civil society organization established in 1990 in Darsana town under Chuadanga district, situated in the south-western part of Bangladesh.
We write to you as members of the Civic Space Initiative, a global program jointly implemented by the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, ARTICLE 19, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, and the World Movement for Democracy, who are committed to the creation of an enabling environment for civil society.
Over 40 civil society organisations have sent a joint letter to members of the UN Human Rights Council to support a landmark resolution on civil society space.
CIVICUS and a number of national and international civil society groups have urged the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group to ensure that the Government of Sri Lanka upholds Commonwealth values on democracy and human rights.
In advance of the 22nd Session of the UN Universal Period Review (UPR), which examines each countries human rights record every 4 and a half years, CIVICUS has issued six joint and standalone submissions.
Update: 19 September 2014: We are happy to let you know that detained Bahraini activist, Maryam Al-Khawaja is no longer in custody.
CIVICUS on behalf of the Civic Space Initiative welcomes OHCHR’s Summary Report on the Civil Society Space Panel and we once again express our sincere thanks to the Panel’s organizers.
The Indian Dreams Foundation (IDF) is a non-profit organisation founded in the year 2005 with a mission to develop, build and strengthen individual, family, institutional and community initiatives for overall development through meaningful partnership.
CIVICUS and its partners have produced joint and stand-alone UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) submissions on 11 countries.
27nd Session of the Human Rights Council
Item 2Opening Statement of the new High Commissioner for Human RightsGeneral Debate 9 September 2014 Delivered by Renate Bloem
Thank you Mr.
Arabic
Verdict Scheduled in Charges Before Anti-Terrorism Court
Geneva, September 5, 2014.
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.
MAXIM
“Better Life NGO!!! We seek a Benin of social justice where poverty has been overcome and children, women and all social groups live with security in a sustainable environment”.
Prominent Bangladeshi civil society activist and Secretary of Odhikar, Adilur Rahman Khan, speaks to CIVICUS about growing restriction on civil society in Bangladesh and his continued judicial harassment under the Cyber Crimes Tribunal.
CIVICUS welcomes the establishment of this Special Session and applauds the Council’s proactivity in promptly addressing the grave human rights violation committed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and associated groups.
28 August 2014 - Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, has expressed solidarity with 127 community health workers and members of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) who will be appearing in court on 1 September in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
The representatives of international human rights organisations write to urge the Bahrain government to comply with its international treaty obligations to provide victims of torture with physical and psychological rehabilitation.
Veronika Mora, of the Okotars Foundation( Hungarian Environmental Partnership Foundation) speaks to CIVICUS about the Orban government’s clampdown on Hungarian civil society and their sources of funding.
This e-newsletter will share with you the latest updates on our SD2015 projects and the most recent information on different post-2015 activities and processes.
Professor Mohammed Ismail of the Pakistan NGOs Forum (PNF Pakistan), speaks to CIVICUS about the overall operating environment of civil society in Pakistan and the recent bills which severely curb civic space.
Mark Heywood is the Executive Director of SECTION27 and a national executive member of the Treatment Action Campaign, an activist movement formed in 1998 that fights for the rights of people living with HIV (PWAs).
French | Spanish
Dear friend,
Six decades after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, creating a global covenant affirming the fact that ‘all human beings are born equal in dignity and rights,’ the vision lies in tatters, made worthless by the ever-increasing chasm between haves and have-nots.
31 July 2014 – Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS is shocked over moves in Sri Lanka to stifle civil society and muzzle democratic freedoms, particularly the rights to freely express, associate and assemble.
Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Office of the Prime Minister
P.
16 July 2014, London – A group of 29 NGOs have sent a letter to the newly appointed Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Phillip Hammond, urging a shift in UK policy towards the situation in Bahrain.
Name: Lu Maw Naing
Location: Myanmar
Reason Behind Bars:
On 25 January 2014, Burmese journalist Lu Maw Naing and several of his colleagues at Unity newspaper published the article, “A secret chemical weapons factory of the former generals, Chinese technicians and the commander-in-chief at Pauk Township”.
Name: Mahienour El-Masry
Location: Egypt
Update:
CIVICUS was informed by a partner in Egypt that on December 27 2015, Mahienour El-Masry second demurrer was rejected by the court.
Name: Pierre Claver Mbonimpa
Country: Burundi
Update:
He was provisionally released from jail but is in exile at the moment.
Name: Alaa Abdel Fattah
Country: Egypt
Update:
He was again sentenced to 5 years in prison by a Criminal Court in Cairo during a re-trail of the case on 23 February 2015 for participating in a protest and assaulting a policeman.
Name: Xu Zhiyong
Country: China
Reason Behind Bars:
Civil society activist and public-interest lawyer Xu Zhiyong was arrested in Beijing on 22 August 2013 in apparent reprisal for his role in the “New Citizens’ Movement,” a network of human rights defenders which advocates for greater democratic freedoms and rule of law in china.
Laurent Munyandilikirwa, former president of Rwandan CSO, LIPRODHOR, speaks to CIVICUS about the state of civil society in Rwanda and the government’s continued targeted harassment of LIPRODHOR.
We, the undersigned civil society organizations from Brazil, India and South Africa, call upon our governments to ensure that the Fortaleza Declaration addresses the following issues: 1) the Syrian crisis and the urgent need to secure greater humanitarian aid; 2) the Implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT); and 3) the role of civil society in BRICS agenda setting.
During the 26th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, 9-27 June, CIVICUS organized eight joint or stand-alone panel discussions on pressing thematic and country specific human rights situations:• Civil Society Space: Addressing the Implementation Gap• East Africa: Civil Society and Human Rights Defenders : Regional Challenges• Repression, Reprisals and Detained Human Rights Defenders in the Gulf Region: Kuwait and Qatar in Focus• Rule of Law in Bangladesh• Re-Imagining Global Governance: CIVICUS’ 2014 State of Civil Society Report• Human Rights in Eritrea• Voices from Uzbekistan – An Atrocious Human Rights Record and the Lack of Effective Cooperation with the UN• Bahrain: Empty Promises, crowded prisonsCIVICUS also delivered ten joint and individual oral statements to highlight ongoing restrictions on fundamental freedoms:• Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights to Freedom of Opinion and Expression and the Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association• General Debate on the Human Rights Situation in South Sudan• Final Update of the High Commissioner for Human Rights• Interactive Dialogue on UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women• Interactive Dialogue on the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprise• Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention• Adoption of the UPR outcome report of Cambodia• Adoption of the UPR outcome report of Eritrea• Adoption of the UPR outcome report of Vietnam • Adoption of the UPR outcome report of Yemen
26 June 2014 - Independent civil society groups and journalists exposing human rights violations are coming under increasing pressure by Bangladeshi authorities warns CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance.
2 July 2014 - Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, is urging the international community to isolate Egypt’s repressive regime as it escalates its campaign against democratic dissent and the rights of its people.
Today, 26 June 2014, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”) and CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, condemn the Royal Government of Cambodia’s (the “RGC”) decision to reject key recommendations on the human rights situation in the Kingdom of Cambodia put forward by United Nations member States during Cambodia’s 2nd Universal Periodic Review (the “UPR”).
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.
25 June 2014 - Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS is shocked at the ongoing media and civil society crackdown in Nigeria.
In advance of the 21st Session of the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) which examines the human rights records of a country every 4.
In light of the ongoing threats faced by civil society activists, journalists and ordinary citizens in Egypt from state and non-state actors, CIVICUS interviews Amal Elmohandes, Director of the Women Human Rights Defenders Program at Nasra for Feminist Studies, to get a better understanding on the current situation.
Danny Sriskandarajah , Director-General of CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, joins Breaking Views with UNICEF to talk about the role of civil society in Africa, social engagement, social challenges and the impact communities can have in the world.
13 June 2014: The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) must act to address the shrinking space for civil society across the globe, urged member organisations of the Civic Space Initiative* (CSI) at a side event in Geneva on 12 June.
ARTICLE 19 on behalf of the Civic Space Initiative* congratulates Frank La Rue on his final thematic report to the Human Rights Council.
Introducing two new practical guides for good advocacyThursday 12 June 2014Webinar [in English]: 10am (EDT- New York) / 3pm (BST- London) Webinar [in French]: 10am (CEST- Central Europe) / 10am (CAT- Central Africa) Thursday 19 June 2014Webinar [in Spanish]: 4pm UTC+2
SD2015 has produced an Advocacy Toolkit and Media Guide for civil society and other stakeholder organisations, coalitions and individuals that want to influence the post-2015 development agenda, including the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
4 June 2014 - More than 20 countries around the world will participate in the first ever 'Global Day of Citizen Action’ on Saturday 7 June as part of a campaign to raise awareness about threats to freedom of expression, association and assembly.
The letter, endorsed by 11 civil society organizations from across the globe, urges the UN Human Rights Council to adopt a resolution during its 26th Session (9-27 June 2014) condemning ongoing restrictions on the rights to freedom of assembly, association and expression and ensure accountability for grave human rights violations in Egypt.
02 Junho 2014- Protestos públicos em massa têm ocupado as manchetes ao redor do mundo durante os últimos anos, refletindo uma falha de governança a nível nacional e internacional, diz o novo relatório da aliança global de sociedade civil, CIVICUS.
02 Haziran 2014 - Küresel sivil toplum ittifakı CIVICUS tarafından yayınlanan yeni rapor, geçtiğimiz birkaç senede dünya genelinde manşetleri yakalayan kitlesel protestoların, ulusal ve uluslararası seviyede gerçekleşen yönetişim hatalarını yansıttığına dikkat çekiyor.
French | Spanish
Mass public protests that have grabbed headlines around the world during the last few years reflect a failure of governance at the national and international level, says a new report by the global civil society alliance, CIVICUS.
In Yemen, CIVICUS, ANND and HRITC highlight the need to ensure the full realization of explicit commitments made by the government of Yemen during its UPR examination, including implementing legislation to create a safe and enabling environment for civil society.
Following the release of the reports of the Open Working Group and the Experts Committee on SD Financing this summer, we invite you to prepare for the 65th Annual UN DPI/NGO Conference on "2015 and Beyond: Our Action Agenda" taking place at UN HQ (NY), 27-29 August 2014.
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 (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.
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.
The undersigned NGOs remain deeply concerned by ongoing serious human rights violations in Bahrain, including the politically motivated imprisonment of high-profile opposition activists and human rights defenders after grossly unfair trials, continued reports of torture, excessive use of force, regular denial of freedom of association and assembly, and a persistent failure to hold government actors to account for violations.
We are writing to encourage your office to make the conclusions of its mission public and to clearly identify key human rights concerns that should be addressed in priority by your office and by the Government of Bahrain.
State of Civil Society Report 2014
The State of Civil Society Report 2014: Reimagining Global Governance draws on contributions from more than 30 of the world’s leading experts on civil society as well as on inputs from our members, partners, supporters and others in the global CIVICUS alliance.
CSI Reports
Country Reports
Africa Country Reports
Americas Country Reports
Asia Country Reports
Europe Country Reports
Oceania Country Reports
Other Reports
CSI Pilot Phase (2000 – 2002)
CSI Phase 1 (2003 – 2006)
CSI Phase 2 (2008 – 2010)
Foreword by Amina Mohammed | Foreword by Mo Ibrahim
From the CIVICUS Secretary-General
In 2013, I flew tens of thousands of miles.
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.
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.
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 University of Waterloo is pleased to announce that it has signed a five-year partnership agreement with CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance.
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.
6 May 2014 – The global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, and several NGO networks are calling for the release of the imprisoned Palestinian civil society leader, Ameer Makhoul, on the 4th anniversary of his arrest.
In the lead up to Ethiopia’s second examination under the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on 6 May 2014, PEN International, ARTICLE 19, Freedom Now and CIVICUS are hosting a panel discussion, at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland to examine the latest human rights developments in the country.
4 MAY 2014 - Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS and the US-based Defending Dissent Foundation are alarmed at proposed legislation in the United States to reduce official funding to academic institutions that support the boycott of Israel.
In December of last year, we came together as human rights, social and environmental justice and trade union organizations worldwide to lay out a roadmap for embedding all human rights into the core of the post-2015 sustainable development agenda.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s authoritarian rule in Belarus, the “last dictatorship of Europe.
"CIVICUS, an international movement dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society throughout the world, expresses its appreciation for this opportunity to address the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights during the 55th Ordinary Session.
Dear CIVICUS friends,As Chair of the CIVICUS Board of Directors, I am delighted to share with you some results of our Board of Directors meeting held in Istanbul, Turkey at the end of March, 2014.
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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.
Background
As civil society organisations (CSOs) often assert that they speak on behalf of minority voices, regularly demand greater accountability from other sectors and manage increasing volumes of public funds, they are being asked to improve their practices internally, among themselves and in their relations with other stakeholders.
I am looking forward to joining some 100-odd civil society colleagues in Mexico City next week to attend the first High Level Meeting of the Global Partnership on Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC).
CIVICUS and the Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA) express shock at the continued harassment and re-arrest of Swazi journalist Bheki Makhubu and human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko.
The undersigned civil society organizations express their serious concern for the health and well-being of imprisoned Bahraini human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja.
This article captures the background and events of November 2013 in Kenya.
Mozynah is currently participating in CIVICUSs UN learning Exchange program for citizens of an African country.
The 25th UN Human Rights Council session, 3-28 March 2014, marked the first-ever formal panel discussion at the UNHRC on the promotion and protection of civil society space.
By Danny Sriskandarajah
There is a new weapon of choice for governments that want to undermine bits of civil society that irritate them - restricting funding from foreign sources.
Civil society urges States to oppose proposed amendments that would weaken the Human Rights Council resolution on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protests (HRC/25/L.
Geneva, Switzerland – The government of Syria should immediately and unconditionally release the arbitrarily detained human rights defender Mazen Darwish and his colleagues Hani Al-Zitani and Hussein Ghareer, 61 human rights organizations said today.
20 March 2014 – The release of Sri Lankan Human Rights Defenders Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen Mahesan must be met with substantive reform to advance human rights say CIVICUS, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) and the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice (SLCPJ).
In advance of the 20th Session of the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which scrutinizes each country's human rights record every four years, CIVICUS has made four submissions on unwarranted restrictions on the right to freedom of expression, association and assembly and human rights defenders in Bolivia, Egypt, Iran and The Gambia .
CIVICUS is deeply concerned about the situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), its unparalleled human rights violations, about the governments terrorization, murder, torture, mass starvation, lack of freedom of movement for its citizens both within the country as well as abroad.
CIVICUS welcomes the Human Rights Council’s report on the Seminar on effective measures and best practices to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protest.
Delivered by Renate Bloem
"Thank you Mr.
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.
During the 25th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, member organizations of the Civic Space Initiative, including CIVICUS, International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), Article 19, and World Movement for Democracy, issued an oral statement calling on the international community and national governments to take immediate steps to further articulate and codify the creation of a free and enabling environment for civil society.
CIVICUS is supporting a new campaign to raise awareness about the ongoing crisis in Syria.
Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, and the Pakistan Development Alliance (PDA) express strong reservations about the proposed Foreign Contributions Bill to regulate international funding for civil society activities in Pakistan.
Civil society relies on physical and digital spaces to perform their functions.
4 March, 2014
Feliciano Reyna is a human rights advocate working on HIV and AIDS related issues in Venezuela since 1995.
As civil society from around the world we express support for those struggling for a future in Egypt based on human rights and democracy.
Over 50 people from 6 continents and representing more than 30 key platforms and organisations engaged in civil society-led campaigns relating to sustainable development gathered in Istanbul, Turkey on 23-24 February 2014.
By Danny Sriskandarajah
Last weekend, I took part in two back-to-back meetings in Istanbul on the post-2015 sustainable development agenda.
Member organizations of Foro por la Vida, together with other Venezuelan organizations, have made the following statement in light of events in the country.
4th February 2014
The Government of Eritrea should accept recommendations to cooperate fully with the United Nations human rights system, said Human Rights ConcernFEritrea, the East and Horn of Africa
Human Rights Defenders Project and CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, following its examination at the Universal Periodic Review yesterday.
CIVICUS and the World Movement for Democracy (WMD) have submitted a written statement to the 25th Session of the UN Human Rights Council (3 – 28 March 2014).
February 14, 2014
Ethiopia’s renewed push for admission to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) should be closely scrutinized due to the limited role Ethiopia has granted to civil society and a hostile legal environment that minimizes meaningful debate, Freedom House and Civicus World Alliance for Citizen Participation said.
CIVICUS is currently in the process of developing the content for our flagship State of Civil Society Report.
On 28th January 2014, I attended the 18th Session of the United Nations Universal Period Review (UPR) on Cambodia.
Mauricio Alarcón-Salvador of Fundamedios speaks to CIVICUS about civil society conditions in Ecuador
As part of our regular interview series, CIVICUS speaks to Mauricio Alarcón-Salvador about threats to human rights activists and NGOs in Ecuador.
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CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is pleased to announce the selection of 8 convening partners to conduct local multi-stakeholder dialogues between January and June 2014, as part of its action-based research project, the New Social Contract.
On 29 January 2014, I attended the side meeting on Yemen, organized by CIVICUS and its partners, as well as the 18th Session of the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on Yemen.
Global Update by the Civic Space Initiative
As he concluded his official visit to Rwanda, the UN Special Rapporteur (UNSR) on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association Maina Kiai urged the government of Rwanda to lift restrictions on peaceful assembly and association.
4th February 2014
The Government of Eritrea should accept recommendations to cooperate fully with the United Nations human rights system, said Human Rights Concern-Eritrea, the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project and CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, following its examination at the Universal Periodic Review yesterday.
Uganda’s draconian Anti-homosexuality Bill is currently awaiting President Yoweri Museveni’s signature.
22 January 2013
The annual gathering of world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos lacks any meaningful citizen engagement and is a shameful reinforcement of the status quo it purports to change, says the global civil society alliance, CIVICUS.
21 January 2013
To the political and business leaders gathering at the World Economic Forum in Davos
As representatives of civil society organisations attending the World Economic Forum, we are writing to urge you to ensure that the following issues of critical global importance are central to discussions at the forum and that, as per its stated purpose, the forum helps to deliver the insights, initiatives and actions necessary to respond to them
Securing a safer world: As the forum takes place thousands of innocent people in Syria, including many children, continue to die.
Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, has released a revised version of what is probably the world’s most comprehensive compilation of commitments made by governments on civil society rights.
Zambia’s government and its international development partners must support not undermine the country’s harassed NGOs say global civil society alliance, CIVICUS and the Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD).
Following the election of a new president in the Maldives in November 2013, national and international civil society groups hope the new government will respect the fundamental rights of its citizens and ease restrictions on citizens' rights which characterised the outgoing regime.
Global Civil Society Alliance CIVICUS joins other international, national and Syrian CSOs in condemning the gunpoint kidnapping of four Syrian human rights defenders including internationally acclaimed activist Razan Zaitouneh, the General Coordinator of the Violations Documentation Centre.
International Civil Society Week
CIVICUS is the only global network of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society around the world.
The Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND), CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, and SOLIDAR, join in strongly condemning attacks on fundamental freedoms in Egypt.
CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, joins hundreds of millions of people around the world in extending its deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of former South African president Nelson Mandela and to the people of South Africa and all those inspired and touched by his humanity.
Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS urges the international community and South Sudan's trading and development partners in particular to question official moves to push through a repressive civil society draft law in Parliament.
11 November 2013 – A new report finds shocking threats to civil society in Sri Lanka, amidst growing protests about the Commonwealth's decision to host its Summit there despite strong criticism of the country's human rights abuses.
After an energetic and engaging Board Meeting we are proud to announce new Board Officers for the term of 2013-2016 below.
CIVICUS interviews Andrew Khoo, Co-Chairperson of the Malaysian Bar Council’s Human Rights Committee
Andrew Khoo, the Co-Chairperson of Malaysian Bar Council's Human Rights Committee (BCHRC), speaks to CIVICUS about the growing restrictions on civil society and obstacles to realizing UPR recommendations in Malaysia.
It is with extreme alarm that CIVICUS demands the Bangladeshi government halt its campaign of harassment against Odhikar, Bangladesh’s leading human rights organization.
A Global Update by the Civic Space Initiative
The Civic Space Initiative (CSI) welcomes the recent report on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of elections by Mr.
112 civil society organizations based in over 46 countries have endorsed a letter calling on the Zambian President to refrain from implementing the restrictive 2009 NGO Act.
In June 2013, protesters took to the streets in Brazil to protest against increases in the prices of bus tickets in the major cities.
Dear CIVICUS member,
I am writing to you as the current Chair of CIVICUS Board of Directors.
A report by CIVICUS, reveals a pattern of sustained attacks on civil society organisations (CSOs) around the world.
A new report released today by the global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, reveals a pattern of sustained attacks on civil society organisations (CSOs) around the world.
Ahead of the release of her next report due to be presented at the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2014, CIVICUS speaks to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights - Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona.
When: 12PM GMT, 23 October 2013 Where: Online
CIVICUS is pleased to invite you to webinar on "a new paradigm shift for development" which will bring together representatives of civil society organisations to discuss the need for a new approach to development and key reforms needed in global governance.
On October 11th, Adilur Rahman Khan, Secretary of Bangladeshi human rights organization Odhikar, was released on bail following over one month in pre-trial detention.
What follows is an open letter from Victor Ochen, a Ugandan civic leader and victims' rights advocate.
Action For Fundamental Change and Development (AFFCAD)Enhancing Religious Pluralism and Tolerance - Multi Stakeholders' Meetings and Dialogue in Kawempe MunicipalityMay - June 2013Kampala, Uganda
This project was motivated by the perceptions that the many faith-based organisations in Kawempe Municipality tie their humanitarian assistance to the faith they profess, which has created tensions, mistrust and hatred within the local communities.
10 October 2013 - Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, denounces the South Korean government’s unjustified arrest and detention of eleven environmental and civil society activists for exercising their right to freedom of assembly.
Niger Delta Women's Movement for Peace and Development (NDWMPD)Stakeholders forum on building citizen engagement and participation5 June 2013Ughelli, Nigeria
The forum was conceived as a one day capacity building workshop and engagement forum for citizens from the Niger Delta communities, multinationals companies, local governments and civil society organisations.
Centro Ecuatoriano de Derecho Ambiental (CEDA)Social responsibility: a commitment to cross learning20 June 2013Quito, Ecuador
CEDA sought to promote innovation in the management of civil society organisations (CSOs) based on the experiences of the private sector and through the creation of new channels of dialogue and learning between them.
8 October 2013 - Global civil so ciety alliance, CIVICUS strongly condemns the government of Sudan’s brutal response to on-going protests in the country.
CIVICUS recently published its new Enabling Environment Index, showing that many governments around the world are failing to keep their promise to create an environment that allows citizens to mobilise and participate in civil society.
In partnership with Saudi civil society, global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, is urging the Saudi Arabian government to draft an NGO law that will guarantee legal status and protection for civil society organisations (CSOs).
During the 24th UNHRC Session, 9-27 September 2013, CIVICUS facilitated the participation of a number of human rights defenders to discuss the challenges faced by civil society across a range of countries.
A new index published today by the global civil society network, CIVICUS, shows that many governments around the world are failing to keep their promise to create an environment that allows citizens to mobilise and participate in civil society.
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and the Expert Working Group, a human rights policy organization based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan released a joint statement to the 24th Session of the HRC on the human rights session in Uzbekistan.
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Application deadline: 15 October 2013
We are living in an age characterized by climate change, financial collapse, resource depletion and a growing gap between rich and poor, amongst other factors.
CIVICUS welcomes the release of prominent human rights defender Nasrin Sotoudeh and at least ten Iranian prisoners of conscience on 18 September 2013.
Through the New Social Contract project, CIVICUS seeks to find new ways of partnerships, engagements and commitments around collective goals for society.
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, FORUM-ASIA, Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice and Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative would like to draw the attention of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) to the human rights situation in Sri Lanka.
CIVICUS urges the Syrian government to give finally access to the Commission to hold perpetrators of crimes against humanity to account.
Maryam Alkhawaja, CIVICUS member and acting president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights speaks on the human rights sitiuation in Bahrain
My name is Maryam Alkhawaja, acting president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, speaking on behalf of our partners CIVICUS and CIHRS.
CIVICUS member Nada Dhaif speaks at the 24th Session of the UN Human Rights Council on the human rights situation for women in Bahrain.
CIVICUS makes interventions for the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which scrutinizes each country's human rights record every four years.
A group of international civil society organisations has called on the Bangladeshi Prime Minister to immediately release advocate Adilur Rahman Khan.
Report of the Independent Expert on the promotionof a democratic and equitable international orderInteractive Dialogue, 10 September 2013
We wish to comment on the report on 'promotion of a democratic and equitable international order.
DEADLINE for NOMINATIONS 8 September: Expert Group meeting on Mainstreaming Sustainable Development in National Development Strategies
UN DESA is inviting each Major Group to nominate up to 3 people each to participate in the following national capacity building Workshop and Expert Group Meeting on mainstreaming sustainable development in developing countries.
Today, on 1 September, Nabeel Rajab, the prominent Bahraini activist and president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and Director of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, spends a second birthday behind bars.
Public and media freedoms are increasingly under threat in Uganda, says CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance.
Activists are increasingly being targeted as freedom of expression is threatened in Fiji.
Major Groups and Other Stakeholders Briefing Days20 and 22 September 2013 New York City, USA
The United Nations Department of Social and Economic Affairs (UNDESA) in partnership with Stakeholder Forum and CIVICUS is organising two briefing days for Major Groups and other stakeholders in preparation for the High Level Segment of the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly taking place in New York this September.
The Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme says the Pacific’s development goals beyond 2015 will be more ambitious and deal with unfinished business.
Key report to General Assembly outlines Secretary General's vision of 'a world we have a right to expect'
The UN has just released the Secretary General’s report to the forthcoming General Assembly on progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals and recommendations for what should replace them in 2015.
22 August 2013 – CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, has welcomed the UN Secretary General’s recently released report on the post-2015 development agenda.
22 August 2013: Bangladesh's persistent onslaught on democratic freedoms will seriously undermine development gains warns CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance.
Johannesburg, 19 August 2013 - Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, and the Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD) are alarmed at attacks on the independence of the NGO sector and the media in Zambia.
Name: Adilur Rahman Khan
Country: Bangladesh
Update:
The Attorney General's office at the instruction of the government, has filed an appeal at the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court against the order of stay and the matter is now waiting to be heard by the Appellate Division.
Johannesburg, Jakarta, 18 August 2013: The decision by Indonesian President Yudhoyono to approve a highly restrictive NGO has been condemned by civil society in Indonesia and abroad.
Johannesburg, 14 August 2013: Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, is deeply concerned about the proposed legislative changes to the Non-Profit Organizations Law in Israel and the effect this will have on civil society space and the right to express dissent in the country.
Acting President Adly Mansour,Magles El Shaab St.
Saira Rahman, wife of detained activist Adilur Rahman Khan speaks to CIVICUS about the circumstances surrounding his arrest and detention and the on-going persecution of his Bangladesh-based organisation, Odhikar.
International Civil Society Week: Citizen Action, People Power
8th - 15th November, Johannesburg, South Africa
CIVICUS and its partners will host a series of events from 8-15 November in Johannesburg, South Africa, which will bring civil society organisations and activists together to address some of the most important issues facing global civil society today.
CIVICUS expresses shock at the arrest and subsequent detention of Adilur Rahman Khan, Secretary of the prominent Bangladeshi human rights NGO, Odhikar, a CIVICUS member.
Name: Abdulhadi Abdulla al-Khawaja
Country: Bahrain
Update:
Mr.
In commemoration of "International Day of Solidarity with Civil Society of Belarus", CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation reiterates its call for the immediate release of imprisoned Belarusian activist, Ales Bialiatski.
Name: Tran Thi Thuy
Country: Vietnam
Reason Behind Bars:
The prominent land rights activist, Tran Thi Thuy, was arrested in August 2010 on charges of ‘subversion’.
Name: Agnes Uwimana Nkusi
Location: Rwanda
Update:
On 18 June 2014, Rwandan journalist Agnès Uwimana Nkusi was released from prison after completing a four-year sentence on spurious charges of defamation and harming state security motivated by her independent reporting.
Names: Dr Mohammed Al Qahtani and Dr.
Name: Jabeur Mejri
Location: Tunisia
Update:
On 3 March 2014, Tunisian cartoonist, Jabeur Mejri was released from prison following nearly two years in prison for publishing cartoons of the prophet Muhammad on his Facebook page.
Global Civil Society Alliance, CIVICUS, is shocked and saddened by the deaths of at least 51 pro-Morsi supporters in the early hours of 8 July.
24 de junio 2013
CIVICUS: Alianza Mundial para la Participación Ciudadana está buscando candidatos a la elección de su nuevo Consejo de Administración.
CIVICUS Guest Column by John Coonrod, PhD, Executive Vice President, The Hunger Project
All politics is local.
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CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation would like to invite you to a series of civil society events taking place between 10th and 15th November 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
In the submission, CIVICUS argues that meaningful development cannot be achieved without the realisation of human rights as both are intertwined.
24 juin 2013
Veuillez télécharger et compléter le formulaire de mise en candidature en Anglais, Espagnol, Français.
by Marlyn Tardros, PhD Executive Director of Virtual Activism
The world watched the January 25th revolution which ousted long-time president Hosni Mubarak.
Ahead of the mass protests expected in Egypt on Sunday, CIVICUS spoke with Hicham Ezzat, an activist for Egypt’s pro-revolution movement.
CIVICUS looking for nominations for its new Board of Directors
Civil Society and Significant Change—Are We Ready?
"The arrival of a new political generation"- Brazilian human rights advisor speaks on the Brazil protests
Curb attacks on Civil Society and the media in Mali – CIVICUS
Words from a Syrian prison
America’s Worst Charities
Azerbaijani MP proposes vote on greater role for civil society
Canada: Canada puts development on equal footing with trade, diplomacy
Global protest grows as citizens lose faith in politics and the state
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In advance of the 18th Universal Periodic Review session of the UN Human Rights Council, CIVICUS made two independent submissions and three joint submissions on threats to freedoms of expression, association and assembly in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Eritrea, Vietnam and Yemen.
FRENCH
Johannesburg, 26 June 2013 - Global civil society alliance CIVICUS is deeply concerned at the intimidation and harassment of civil society members in Mali in the run up to the July 2013 elections.
Mazen Darwish, president of the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression, has been held in detention for more than a year by the Syrian authorities.
Read this call in French or Spanish
Download forms (English, Spanish, French).
Maurício Santoro, human rights advisor at Amnesty International Brazil speaks on the on-going protests in his country and what they mean for civil society.
Aysegul Ekmekci and Semanur Karaman from Third Sector Foundation of Turkey (TUSEV) speak to CIVICUS about the on-going protests in the country and what they mean for the youth, politics and civil society in Turkey.
Statement by Jeffery Huffines, CIVICUS, NGO Major Group Organizing Partner on behalf of Major Groups and other Organizations
HLPF Informal Informals, 14 May 2013
Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to OP 16 on Major Groups and other stakeholders that includes “enhanced consultative role and participation of the Major Groups”.
Modalities for Stakeholder Engagement in the high level political forum 14 May 2013
This document reflects an ongoing discussion among Major Groups (MGs) and relevant stakeholders on modalities for MG/CSO participation in the HLPF and builds on modalities granted the major groups by the UNGA and in general decisions taken at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) in Rio, June 2012 (also called Rio+20) and found in the Outcome Document, “The Future We Want.
Draft Inputs from the Food and Agriculture Cluster of the NGO Major Group for upcoming thematic discussion at the third session of the Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in New York, 22-24 May, 2013The Food and Agriculture Cluster was formed in New York to support messages from Major Groups and Civil Society before, during and following the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development.
Major Groups/Post 2015 constituency consultation on post Rio+20/Post 2015 16 April 2013, NY
Submitted by Jeffery Huffines (CIVICUS) and Debra Jones (Save the Children), Meeting Co-Facilitators
The meeting co-facilitators opened the meeting highlighting the objectives of the meeting which focused on bringing together Major Groups and Civil Society Organizations (MG/CSOs) that are engaged with post Rio+20 and post 2015 processes.
Converting Africa’s impressive economic performance over the past decade into greater gains on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) remains a primary challenge for Africa, according to a new report.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), recognized Wednesday that Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and Peru are the only countries in Latin America to have already achieved the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) related to reducing poverty and malnutrition.
Jordan was among 38 countries worldwide that were able to halve the proportion of hungry people between 1990-92 and 2010-2012, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said Wednesday.
The Women Deliver 2013 Global Conference in Kuala Lumpur concluded with a united call for continued investment in girls and women at a time when the world critically needs to prioritize girls and women in the lead up to the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDG) deadline and beyond.
On 30 May 2013, the High-Level Panel assembled by the UN Secretary General published its recommendations for the post-2015 development agenda.
United Nations officials today highlighted the need to recognize the vital role of culture in poverty reduction and sustainable growth, and to ensure that it is integrated into the post-2015 development agenda.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has endorsed the replenishment of funding for the Global Fund and the Roll Back Malaria Partnership.
The High-Level Global Cooperation for Development Symposium is happening in Ethiopia 6 to 7 June 2013.
Anti-corruption and governance are undeniably key factors for achieving and sustaining development, globally as well as nationally.
May was a great month for showcasing the centrality of women to every single goal on the international agenda for development and poverty eradication.
New global partnership for development - Global partnerships in development could work for Africa if they were aligned with the strategic vision of the continent and buttressed by a unified continental voice, Carlos Lopes, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), said here Thursday.
MTN Ghana has pledged to work with the government in attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on education.
Graham Stuart MP is encouraging charities and not-for-profit groups in Beverley and Holderness to bid for money from a £4m fund to support efforts to reduce global poverty.
The report, compiled by the High-Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, co-chaired by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia and Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom, was presented last week to Secretary-General with a focus on assisting the poorest and most marginalized, a disproportionate number of whom are women.
From defunding civil society to defending civil society - Enrica Barago and Tchamba Olivia, CIVICUS Geneva Interns
Youth unemployment in Sub-Saharan Africa is cancerous
General debate on human rights situations that require the council’s attention
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression Interactive Dialogue
Submission on an Enabling Environment for Civil Society to the UN High Level Panel on the Post 2015 Development Agenda
Beyond 2015 - Aid alone cannot eradicate poverty
Cuba: Importance of Civil Society Highlighted
Egypt: Memoir author talks about a life spent fighting for civil society
India: Uttarakhand NGO gets French award
USA: Revelations about government surveillance ‘raise red flags’
The $1 Trillion corporate heist
UNRWA launches teacher toolkit for Human Rights, Conflict Resolution and Tolerance
Reagan-Fascell democracy fellowships at the National Endowment for Democracy
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Report on the 16th Session of the UPR Working GroupReview of Azerbaijan (Tuesday 30 April 2013, 14:30 ~ 18:00)Led by H.
This June, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the World Conference on Human Rights and the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action (VDPA).
23rd Session of the United Nations Human Rights CouncilGeneva, 10 June 2013General Debate Item 8
Joint Statement on behalf of Norway, the United States of America and Germany
H.
23rd session of theHuman Rights CouncilItem 6
Universal Periodic Review General Debate
Delivered by Olivia Tchamba
I thank you Mr President,
Founded on a consensus-based decision-making process, the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) provides a legitimate platform to request the responses to human rights issues by the state under review.
23rd session of theHuman Rights CouncilItem 7
Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territoriesGeneral Debate Statement delivered by Enrica Barago
Thank you Mr President,
CIVICUS warmly welcomes Israel’s decision to pursue its dialogue with the HumanRights Council and hopes it will cooperate with its mechanisms in a positive and meaningful spirit.
23rd session of theHuman Rights CouncilItem 8
Follow up to and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action
Delivered by Renate Bloem
Thank you Mr.
Awa Ndah is the Founder and Executive Director of Impact Creators, a youth educational and professional development organisation based in Cameroon.
Pluralism: a key challenge of the 21st century - Koffi Annan
A global debate needs local voices - Jay Naidoo
Listen to, not attack Turkey protestors: CIVICUS
The deteriorating situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic and the recent killings in Al-Qusayr
A new global partnership: eradicate poverty and transform economies through sustainable development - The Report of the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda
Africa: West African civil society leaders meet in Accra
Egypt: NGO law becomes test for Egypt’s Morsi
Russia: Who's next? Putin critics worry as Russia clampdown spreads
Canada: Tell the Prime Minister that you care about global poverty reduction and human rights
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai
Open Budgets: The Political Economy of Transparency, Participation, and Accountability
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Oral StatementItem 4 General Debate5 June 2013
Statement delivered on behalf of:
Human Rights Watch, Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS), Conectas Direitos Humanos, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), International Service for Human Rights and International Commission of Jurists,
With the support of:
African Democracy Forum; African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies; Think Centre, Singapore; Task Force Detainees Philippines (TFDP), Philippines; Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), Philippines; Taiwan Association for Human Rights, Taiwan; Judicial System Monitoring Programme (JSMP), Timor Leste; INFORM Information Documentation Centre, Sri Lanka ; People's Watch, India; People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD), South Korea; Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), Indonesia; IMPARSIAL, Indonesia; Human Rights Working Group, Indonesia; People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), India; Law and Society Trust (LST), Sri Lanka; Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC), Nepal; Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), India; Community Self Reliance Centre (CSRC), Nepal; KontraS, Indonesia; Pilipina Legal Resource Centre (PLRC), Philippines; Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD), Mongolia; Function 8, Singapore; Singapore Anti-Death Penalty Campaign (SADPC), Singapore; Project X, Singapore; Alliance National Timor Leste International Tribunal (ANTI), Timor Leste; Programme Against Custodial Torture and Impunity (PACTI), India; ***
The United States continues to detain individuals for indefinite periods without charge or trial at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and at Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan in violation of its obligations under international human rights law.
23nd session of theHuman Rights CouncilItem4
Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention, General DebateDr.
One of the final announcements at Women Deliver, the global conference on family planning, was the launch of a social network campaign to demand countries include reproductive and sexual health and rights in the UN’s new development goals.
The European Union is edging closer to its final take on the post-2015 agenda.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to receive the World Statesman Award from U.
More than 3,000 delegates including policy-makers, advocates and world leaders representing over 150 countries will convene for the Women Deliver 2013 Conference at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) here, tomorrow, the decade's largest meeting focused on girls' and women's health and rights.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator Office in Lebanon is organizing a National Consultation on the Post-2015 Development Agenda which will take place on 29 May, at the Holiday Inn Beirut-Dunes (Dunes Ballroom) at 9:00 am.
Investing in the sexual and reproductive health of women and girls will help accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the post-2015 sustainable development agenda, United Nations senior officials said on the final day of the Women Deliver Conference.
Investing in the sexual and reproductive health of women and girls will help accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the post-2015 sustainable development agenda, United Nations senior officials said on the final day of the Women Deliver Conference.
23rd session of theHuman Rights CouncilItem 3
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expressionInteractive Dialogue
Statement delivered by Enrica Barago
Thank you Mr.
23nd session of theHuman Rights CouncilItem4
Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention: Belarus
By Yuri Dzlibladze
Thank you Mr.
A one day multi-stakeholder dialogue entitled "Stakeholders Forum on Building Citizen Engagement" will be held on 5 June 2013 in Ughelli, Delta State, Nigeria.
Excellency,
The undersigned organisations are writing to urge your government to ensure that the human rights situation in Egypt is addressed by your delegation at the Human Rights Council at its upcoming twenty third session in June 2013.
As protests rage across Turkey, global civil society alliance, CIVICUS urges Turkey's government to pay heed to the protestors' demands for greater democratic and personal freedoms.
“We are writing to call on members of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) to take action during the current 23rdsession of the HRC to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea, in response to the continued appalling situation of widespread and systematic human rights violations in Eritrea and the lack of cooperation demonstrated by the Eritrean government towards international and regional human rights mechanisms.
On 29 May 2013, the UN Human Rights Council squeezed in an urgent debate on Syria into its already crowded schedule.
Saudi Arabia's dismal human and civil rights record continues as civil society members are subjected to heightened persecution in a show of blatant subversion of fundamental rights in the country.
Kenya's medical practitioners are among 3,000 guests attending an international conference on girls and women's health and human rights issues in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
As the 2015 deadline to meet up with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) approaches, the African region on Thursday called for the inclusion of all unmet health targets in the post-2015 agenda.
There is a growing push to include resilience to disaster risk in the post 2015 development agenda discussion.
A group United Nations human rights experts today called* for the post-2015 development agenda to be urgently refocused on equality, social protection and accountability.
Reproductive health is an essential right for all females and should be a major component in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, local and international experts told The Jordan Times.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that a total of 470 million new jobs, or about 32 million jobs per year, will be needed to provide employment to the world’s working age population in the 15 years from 2015 to 2030.
As the world faces growing water securitychallenges, experts are calling for better monitoring of the availability, quality and use of water, and its inclusion in the UN's Sustainable Development Goals as a key issue in the post-2015 development agenda.
“The rise of inequality has severely undermined the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals, or MDGs,” the independent experts said in their message to Member States which will meet this week in New York to discuss how to a shape a new set of global development goals for the period after the 2015 deadline of the MDGs.
African leaders and experts have called for children to be at the centre of the post-2015 development agenda.
In a new post-2015 development agenda, we must build on the achievements of the MDGs while avoiding their shortcomings.
Esther Agbarakwe is a co-founder of the Nigerian Youth Climate Coalition, the biggest youth climate movement in Nigeria.
Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS expresses deep concern about recent attempts to isolate and silence imprisoned Bahraini activist Nabeel Rajab.
As part of the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings that took place in Washington, D.
In UN corridors you'll often hear frustrated diplomats whispering that the amount of process around an issue is inversely correlated to the likelihood of achieving anything on it.
AGAINST the backdrop of the alleged inadequacies of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), experts drawn from the United Nations (UN) and Africa, among others, have urged a review of the targets for the continent’s development.
In the opening address of the event, Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala declared that Finland is strongly committed to formulating the Post-2015 development agenda and is closely involved in contributing to its progress.
UN Women have presented a report to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development that was convened on June 2012 in Brazil; this is a review of that report.
The World Health Organization’s Director General has asked the member states to ‘do everything’ they can to ensure that health occupies ‘a high place’ on the post-2015 development agenda.
Over 560,000 citizens from 194 countries have already voted for the issues that would make the most difference to their lives, providing, for the first time ever, real-time and real-world intelligence on what people think about the biggest challenges facing them and their families.
Ending extreme poverty can be achieved in this generation, United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron told journalists in New York on Wednesday.
The G8 club – France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Russia – will hold its annual summit on June 17-18 in Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.
"Culture has to feature prominently in global thinking about the world we want," Deputy Secretary-General Petko Draganov told the Hangzhou International Congress on 15 May.
A senior researcher is calling for China to play a more positive role in the agenda setting for the era of post-2015 UN Millennium Development Goals.
The High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons working on the post-2015 development agenda concluded a two-day meeting at United Nations Headquarters, New York, on May 14 - the final opportunity for the 27-member Panel to discuss pending issues before the report can be finalized and submitted to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on May 30, 2013.
A United Nations high-level panel on a post-2015 global development agenda wrapped up today with consensus emerging on how to make a more equitable world, said British Prime Minister David Cameron in his role as co-chair of the body.
The Stakeholder’s Consultations of the IBSA Women’s Forum entered its second and final day with parallel sessions on ‘Gender Responsive Budgeting’ and ‘Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality: Post 2015 Development Agenda’.
Several governments and the HFA2 Advisory Group identified the need to take advantage of the momentum for the Fourth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction to further advance the consideration of disaster risk reduction and its link to the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
Iraqis came together on Sunday to agree on their country’s most pressing needs, and send a message to the international community on what issues should be prioritised after 2015.
“As he prepares to co-chair a session of the U.
This year's forum of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), has been described as a unique opportunity to develop multi-stakeholder consensus on what is needed for the WSIS process in the future to ensure that the bottom-up approach of the process is preserved.
As we move toward the end date for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), work towards a new post-2015 global architecture to frame development outcomes and track progress is already underway.
In the consultations about what will replace the millennium development goals (MDGs) when they expire in 2015, there is pressure on politicians and political commentators to come up with the next "new" idea.
A briefing to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) addressed the position of food security and nutrition in the post-2015 development agenda, and the work of the newly-reformed Committee on World Food Security (CFS).
A large number of reports and papers have been published as part of the discussions on the post-2015 development framework.
Efforts to develop a global development framework beyond 2015 - the completion date of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) - have continued to advance in recent weeks, with the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda holding its final formal meeting in Bali, Indonesia on 25-27 March.
UN discussing role of technology, innovation for sustainable development - Senior UN officials, policymakers, civil society representatives and other stakeholders gathered on Tuesday in New York for a special UN Economic and Social Council forum on mobilizing science, technology and innovation for sustainable development.
Victor Lowilla, senior legal aid attorney at the South Sudan Law Society (SSLS), speaks to CIVICUS about the trajectory of civil society in South Sudan since independence and the growing restrictions on independent media and journalists in the country.
CIVICUS calls on the government of Bahrain to urgently disclose the whereabouts of human rights defender Nabeel Rajab.
Are NGOs whiners, winners or what? - Fraser Reilly-King
What’s ‘Development’ with Rights Abuses Along the Way?
Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and CIVICUS organise the workshop: “Holding government to account through direct citizen engagement – what works for Africa?” Johannesburg, South Africa 16-17 May 2013
The situation is becoming dire for civil society in Uzbekistan
Update from the Secretariat of the High Level Panel on the Post 2015 Agenda
Accreditation procedure threatens to undercut civil society participation at UN meeting
New global development agenda must have human rights at its core
European Commission - Progress on equality between women and men has just been released
Read this issue online or subscribe to receive all future issues
Are NGOs whiners, winners or what? - Fraser Reilly-King
What’s ‘Development’ with Rights Abuses Along the Way?
Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and CIVICUS organise the workshop: “Holding government to account through direct citizen engagement – what works for Africa?” Johannesburg, South Africa 16-17 May 2013
The situation is becoming dire for civil society in Uzbekistan
Update from the Secretariat of the High Level Panel on the Post 2015 Agenda
Accreditation procedure threatens to undercut civil society participation at UN meeting
New global development agenda must have human rights at its core
European Commission - Progress on equality between women and men has just been released
Sukhrobjon Ismoilov, the founder and director of the Expert Working Group (EWG), speaks to CIVICUS about ongoing restrictions on civil society in Uzbekistan and the need for greater international support following Uzbekistan's recent examination under the UN Universal Period Review (UPR).
Kiara Worth is one of the Organising Partners for the Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY).
Ziad Abdel Samad is the Executive Director of the Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND), based in Beirut, since 1999.
Chiara Butti joined the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) in November 2012 and currently coordinates the Building Bridges project in North Africa.
Senior UN and government officials on Monday called on countries to prioritize establishment of innovative policy and legal instruments alongside new funding kitties to eradicate slums and enable urban population have access to low cost and environmental friendly homes.
Since the Millennium Summit in 2000, the United Nations' development goals have succeeded in driving and focusing the world debate on human development.
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Finance, Kaifala Marah, has called for the implementation of the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States in the post-2015 development agenda to help Africa fulfil its potential.
Growth in Asia-Pacific remains subdued due to the impact of persistent weaknesses and uncertainties in the developed economies, the United Nations reported today, urging Governments to implement macroeconomic policies that focus more on inclusivity and sustainable development.
Hunger, malnutrition, poverty, climate change, environmental degradation - addressing these injustices is at the forefront of political meetings the world over.
Opened by Her Majesty Queen Rania al-Abdullah of Jordan on April 10th, 2013, the Arab Development Forum kicked off in Jordan, as part of the worldwide UN led consultations on the global development agenda beyond 2015, when the Millennium Developments Goals will expire.
United Nations officials, civil society groups and worldwide media coverage hailed last month's Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) for taking a significant step forward in the campaign to end gender-based violence.
Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Mr Peter Thomson convened the meeting in his capacity as the Chair of G77 and China.
Pakistan’s State Bank Governor Yaseen Anwar said Monday that poverty alleviation and enhancing energy access to people should be at the heart of the post-2015 global development agenda and goals that the U.
The Ministry of Planning and Territory Development has been working together with the UNDP meant to prepare the post-2015 Agenda, the new global development plan, Angop has learnt.
A briefing on the report from the UN High-level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda (HLP) will be given by the President of Indonesia and Panel Co-chair, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Around 400 representatives from civil society, academia, indigenous peoples and the private sector from 24 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean gathered at the conference “Realizing the Future We Want in Latin America and the Caribbean: Towards a post-2015 development agenda,” held in Guadalajara, Mexico on 17-19 April 2013.
The post-2015 development agenda should be reframed around “one-world” goals, according to a new paper issued by The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI).
The countdown to the last 1,000 days to the 2015 deadline of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has begun.
The post-MDG framework runs the risk of underachieving because “there are too many cooks in the kitchen this time around,” according to Jan Vandemoortele, one of the co-architects of the Millennium Development Goals.
Mustapha Sanah, Executive Chairman of Northern Ghana Aid (NOGAID), a development-oriented organisation, has appealed to developed nations to support poor countries to reduce poverty and disease to facilitate sustainable development and world peace.
First, rather than treating countries as finance-recipients, they need to be viewed as finance-generators.
The Federal Government has announced the release of ‘conditional grants’ to 148 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in order to improve investment at the grassroots level.
Orange Botswana has come up with an initiative concerning the second batch of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Biztech reported.
Sudan confirmed its willingness to work with the international community to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), calling for the importance of partnership and cooperation in the development agenda beyond the year 2015.
National leadership and action are crucial and governments have the primary responsibility for assuring the food security of their citizens, Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has said.
Millennium Development Goals now drawing near, the international community is looking at the path to follow to support the efforts of developing countries after 2015.
Ahead of the high-level summit on energy in the post 2015 development framework taking place in Oslo on 9-10th April 2013, The World Coal Association (WCA) has called for clear action to improve energy access and address the challenge of energy poverty affecting 1.
For the first time in history, the United Nations (UN) are engaging people all around the world in shaping a global agenda: the next development goals.
For Garry Conille, the United Nations high-level panel of eminent persons on the post-2015 development agenda will “go down in history as one of the most consultative processes ever.
The EU’s latest proposal for the post-2015 development framework is on the right track.
At the March 2013 Conference of African ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development that was held in Abidjan, African Ministers requested the Economic Commission for Africa, the African Development Bank and the African Union Commission to set up a Working Group that would come up with indicators aimed at following up on progress made in reaching the post 2015 development agenda in line with the Africa Common Position.
The United Nations General Assembly is focused on achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and fostering a successor development agenda, the President of the UN body said today, highlighting upcoming events to increase momentum as the 2015 deadline for both efforts approaches.
High-level aid officials and close to 100 people from local communities across Africa and Asia will be participating today in a conference in Dublin that aims to drive post-2015 development agenda discussions on the interlinkages among hunger, nutrition and climate change.
The United Nations General Assembly today is holding a thematic debate with the Group of 20 major economies, or G20, to strengthen interaction between the two bodies and to improve global economic governance.
Kenya will continue to support sustainable urbanization as key part of the post-2015 global development agenda.
Southern Voice, a network of 48 Think Tanks based Africa, Latin America and South Asia has recently launched its ‘Occasional Paper Series’.
In collaboration with the Berlin Civil Society Center, CIVICUS, DAWN, IBON and Social Watch, GCAP helped organize a civil society forum in Bonn, March 22 – 23, 2013 that was attended by 260 representatives from over 200 CSOs including EA SusWatch represented by UCSD, to advance the Post 2015 Sustainable Development Agenda (a successor to the Millennium Development Goals framework to end in 2015).
Following the final meeting of the U.
Insights from the 2013 State of Civil Society Report include:
Dr Danny Sriskandarajah: People power will prevail – CIVICUS #StateofCivilSociety 2013 Report
Cathy Ashton: A vibrant and independent civil society is an essential ingredient of effective and stable democracy
Jay Naidoo: Let’s find our inner fire once more
Jenny Hodgson: Tracking the Growth of Organised Community Philanathropy: Is it the missing piece in community development?
Stefania Milan and Mario Lubetkin: Messages that make an impact: Rethinking civil society communication strategies
Pearl Eliadis - Russian civil society is holding out
Entretien avec Anas Elhasnaoui, de l’ANND (Arab NGO Network for Development)
Case study - Enabling Human Rights Defenders
The year in review – An overview of key events since the State of Civil Society was published in April 2012
1.
French | Spanish
It is with great pleasure that we announce the recipients of the 2013 Nelson Mandela – Graça Machel Innovation Awards.
May 3, 2013Today, Freedom Now, Amnesty International, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, the Committee to Free Eskinder Nega, the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, English PEN, the International Press Institute, the International Women’s Media Foundation, Media Legal Defence Initiative, the National Press Club, PEN American Center, PEN Canada, and the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers, condemned the decision by the Ethiopian Supreme Court upholding the 18-year sentence imposed against independent journalist and blogger Eskinder Nega.
« Ce qui se passe aujourd’hui dans le monde arabe peut être considéré comme un laboratoire ouvert au service non seulement des sociétés arabes mais de l’ensemble des pays en développement.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, in collaboration with the UNDP, on Thursday officially launched the post-MDGs 2015 agenda at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.
The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, ARTICLE 19, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, and the World Movement for Democracy, as consortium members of the Civic Space Initiative, welcome the opportunity to make a submission on ‘Enabling Environment for Civil Society Organizations’ for inclusion in the post 2015 development agenda.
Français | Español
International development efforts are being undermined by the rising tide of legal restrictions, funding cuts and violence faced by civil society around the world, according to a new report from CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance.
I write this introduction at the end of my third month at CIVICUS.
Citizens always know better than the government or the market what works for them.
A vibrant and independent civil society is an essential ingredient of effective and stable democracy.
English | Portuguese | Spanish
Conectas Human Rights, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, CIVICUS: Worldwide Alliance for Citizen Participation and Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development invite scholars and practitioners to submit articles for Sur Journal’s Issue No.
Highlights in this issue include:
World Bank: Commit to Rights in 2030 Vision
Wrap-up by the Bretton Woods Project of 2013 World Bank-IMF spring meetings now online
Joint Civil Society Submission on Sri Lanka to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG)
Transparency International Letter to the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals
Afghanistan: The world’s most dangerous place for aid workers
Indonesia: Civil society groups flourish in Indonesia, but threatened by ‘ormas’ bill
Ukraine: Civil society needs peaceful assembly law
Zambia: CSOs demand referendum on constitution
Corporate transparency - time for G20 finance ministers to lead reforms
Guide to European Funding for the Non Profit Sector 2013-2014
Read this issue online or subscribe to receive all future issues
Sri Lanka currently faces widespread criticism for shocking human rights abuses, past and ongoing.
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative would like to draw the attention of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) to the human rights situation in the Kingdom of Swaziland.
The post-2015 framework must bring equal development as new research shows inequality holding back education, nutrition, alleviating poverty, and food security.
Is good governance the key to post-2015 growth? Craig Fagan, senior policy coordinator at Transparency International, certainly thinks so.
As we approach the target date of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015, discussions on what will replace them are gaining momentum.
In the United Nations’ first wave of global consultations, three priorities have emerged as post-2015 development goals.
Belarus participates actively in the discussions of the global development agenda post 2015, Mr.
The United Nations recently released a report entitled “The Global Conversation Begins,” which serves to illustrate progress towards universal understanding of and support for the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
On World Water Day, UN Women is calling attention to the urgent need to increase access to clean water and basic sanitation and to support the initiative of UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson to enhance progress on sanitation ahead of the 2015 target date for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
A new development framework needs new strategies for eradicating poverty.
The United Nations presented today the first findings from an unprecedented global conversation through which people from all over the world have been invited to help Member States shape the future development agenda that will build on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) after their target date at the end of 2015.
The Government of Liberia with support from the United Nations in Liberia will on March 18, 2013, hold nation-wide consultations on the Post 2015 Development Agenda.
Restless Development Zambia convened approximately 50 young people from around Zambia to provide a youth consultation supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on their vision for the Post-2015 Development Goals.
This week the United Nations is bringing experts and world leaders to Indonesia to debate development priorities beyond 2015, when the Millennium Development Goals expire.
Post-2015 goals must satisfy several conditions.
Post-2015 goals must satisfy several conditions.
Eradicate extreme poverty, achieve universal primary education and combat HIV.
The United Nations in Rwanda with support from the Government of Rwanda will hold national consultations on the Post 2015 Development Agenda called “The Future we want”.
Taxation must be central to discussions on how to finance any new development goals, ActionAid said today ahead of a meeting of the high-level panel on the post-2015 development agenda next week in Bali.
Taxation must be central to discussions on how to finance any new development goals, ActionAid said today ahead of a meeting of the high-level panel on the post-2015 development agenda next week in Bali.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf held talks with Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands on the eve of a Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Water in the Post-2015 Agenda and Discussion of the Results of the Global Thematic Consultation on Water.
As many as 30 civil society organizations under the banner of the newly established Indonesian People’s Alliance (IPA) plan to voice the unsung-aspirations of Indonesian grassroot communities at the numerous international high-level conferences in Bali this year.
Indonesia in cooperation with the United Nations will hold a High Level Panel of Eminent Persons meeting on the Post-2015 Development Agenda in Bali to discuss global partnership, Indonesia's Antara reported.
The World We Want 2015 initiative aims to create a collective vision of the most important priorities of people in every part of the world, including indigenous populations, women and youths, to ultimately inform what the development agenda should include when the current MDGs expire in 2015.
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) will on Monday, 25 March launch two Flag Ship Reports and validate the national consultations held on the Global Development Agenda Post 2015, dubbed "Our voices and aspirations for the world we want after 2015.
Next week, the High-level Panel on the post-2015 development agenda meets for the fourth time.
People want the United Nations to address challenges such as environmental degradation, unemployment and violence, according to initial findings released today from a global multi-media survey aimed at bringing the concerns of regular people to policymakers as they shape the development agenda for after 2015, the deadline to reach the Millennium Development Goals.
On the invitation extended by the Government of Bangladesh, Neomal Perera, Deputy Minister of External Affairs visited Dhaka to attend “Global Leadership Meeting on Population Dynamics in the context of Post 2015 UN Development Goals” 12-13 March 2013.
The United Nations presented today the first findings from an unprecedented global conversation through which people from all over the world have been invited to help Member States shape the future development agenda that will build on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) after their target date at the end of 2015.
Access to education and lifelong learning must be at the heart of the development agenda, global experts stressed at a United Nations-backed conference in Dakar, Senegal.
Representatives of UN agencies and the governments of France and Costa Rica held a meeting this week to look for ways to include environmental sustainability in the global development agenda from 2015.
The UK-based agency Progressio wants to see sustainability and stewardship of scarce natural resources placed at the heart of a future vision for development, when the High Level Panel (HLP) on the Post-2015 Development Agenda meet next week in Bali.
Ms Ruby Sandhu-Rojon, UN Resident Coordinator yesterday commended Ghana for tracking the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which has helped prioritise development interventions such as child mortality, maternal health and basic sanitation.
When the General Assembly unanimously adopted the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) back in 2000, water and sanitation were reduced to a subtext - never a stand-alone goal compared with poverty and hunger alleviation.
Advancing the Business and Human Rights Agenda: Key to Reform Financial Sector
The faltering dreams of Tunisian girls
CIVICUS releases an open letter requesting the Indonesian Parliament to reject the proposed ORMAS law and create an enabling environment for civil society
MDGs: The case for collective global action
Experts provide input on HLPF
Africa: WACSI Holds Policy Influence Conference
European Union: Citizens’ initiatives flounder one year after launch
World Bank Group: Access to land is critical for the poor
Leveraging private finance with public money: Positive innovation? Corporate welfare?
Citizen participation and accountability
Read this issue online or subscribe to receive all future issues.
African Ministers, parliamentarians and policymakers met in Hammamet, Tunisia, to ensure that Africa plays a proactive role in shaping the future global development agenda.
The year 2015 was set by the members of the United Nations in 2001 as the target for fulfilling the targets agreed to in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for eliminating extreme poverty.
A conference on Vietnam's national consultations for the post-2015 development agenda was jointly held by the United Nations (UN) in Vietnam and the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment here on Wednesday, the state- run Vietnam News Agency reported.
The Global Thematic Consultation on Conflict, Violence and Disaster in the Post-2015 Development Agenda has culminated with final, high-level meeting, which recognized that conflict, violence and disasters mutually reinforce each other, and recommended addressing them simultaneously within the post-2015 agenda.
GWP Southern Africa has participated in national and international dialogues focusing on water in the post 2015 development agenda.
A widely-acknowledged limitation of the Millennium Development Goals is a neglect of inequality – it is argued that the targets encouraged a focus on ‘low hanging fruit’, those people that were easiest to reach.
As debates about the post-2015 development framework rumble on, there appears to be considerable agreement that in education a refocusing from access to learning will be needed.
On the 17 of March 2013, Commissioners at the 7th Meeting of the UN Broadband Commission for Digital Development adopted a gender target on access to information and communication technologies (ICT).
The ongoing process to shape the post-2015 framework includes an interesting angle whereby citizens around the world are asked to rank their top priorities for what development goals will come after 2015.
Last month I joined a team of 13 VSO employees, partners and volunteers at the Asia Pacific Regional Thematic Consultation on Education in the Post 2015 Development Agenda in Bangkok.
The vision of education in the post-2015 development agenda must reflect two fundamental principles, said UNESCO's Assistant Director-General, Qian Tang.
A new international alliance of research institutes has identified eight major shifts that must take place for humanity to achieve sustainable development.
A group of 90 academics, economists and development experts have written to the members of the High Level Panel on the Post 2015 Development Agenda to ask that they put tackling inequality at the heart of any new framework.
The new development agenda to follow on from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which expire in 2015, should focus on how countries can achieve growth that includes everyone, going beyond poverty eradication and international aid, according to an early snapshot of consultations with people around the world.
The United Nations' Organisation (UNO) has nominated Ghana to play a lead role among 30 member-states from five regional blocks, to develop Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that will be universally applicable, through the Open Working Group (OWG) initiative.
UN Women Deputy Executive Director John Hendra participated in a panel on the “Key gender equality issues to be reflected in the post-2015 development framework” on 7 March during the 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW57).
The People's Representative Council of Republic IndonesiaGedung Nusantara IIIJl.
Emele Duituturaga (far right), Executive Director at Pacific Islands Association of Non Governmental Organisations in Fiji, sits in a plenary session with other CSO leaders at the 2nd Global Assembly of the Open Forum in Cambodia in 2011.
Matt Simmonds is the liaison officer for the platform of civil society organisations that sits in the OECD Working Party on Aid Effectiveness (WP- Eff), BetterAid in Paris.
From subjects to citizens – accountability in the post-2015 development agenda
Aspiring to greatness – little by little
Civil society and its environment – Driving sustainable development?
Civil Society communiqué: The Global CSO Forum on the Post-2015 Development Agenda
Bali Youth Multi-stakeholder Meeting on Post 2015 releases a communiqué
A red flag for the Post-2015 High Level Panel
Eradicating poverty through environmentally resilient development: the way forward Post-2015
Africa: African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) finds Zimbabwe guilty of torture
Honduras: Women raise banner of women’s rights in Honduran popular movement
Nepal: Civil society, peace process, Marx and Hegelian theory
Stop the suffering in Syria
Do One Thing for Diversity and Inclusion
Planning, Programming and Monitoring Projects: A five-day course
Transparency International: Group Director, Resource Development and External Relations (Apply by 16 April 2013)
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Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, the Voice of Women and the Maldives NGO Federation to urge the Government of Maldives to put in place measures to ensure free and fair elections later this year.
Arjan Van Houwelingen of the World Society for the Protection of Animals Netherlands shares why the Post-2015 Agenda needs to include animal welfare and detailed targets for international cooperation towards sustainable development.
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Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS and the Azerbaijan-based Center for National and International Studies (CNIS) are concerned about the increasingly hostile climate for civic activists in Azerbaijan as the October 2013 presidential elections approach.
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On Monday 8 April 2013, the CIVICUS Board of Directors invites members of the CIVICUS alliance to join and interact with them in an open online meeting.
10:00-12:00 am, Tuesday 9 April 2013, at the United Nations, New YorkConference Room 4, North Lawn Building
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation (CIVICUS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations warmly invite you to attend the presentation of findings from the forthcoming 2013 State of Civil Society Report, followed by a panel discussion on the links between an enabling environment for civil society and the successful implementation and integration of key global development agendas.
During the second week of the council, on the 6th of March, we organised a joint side event with the HRHF on the “Criminalisation of Human Rights Defenders in the Russian Federation “.
Education experts gathered in the Senegalese capital Dakar this week to discuss what priorities should look like once the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) expire in 2015.
The Global Consultation on Population Dynamics in the Post-2015 UN Development Agenda recently published its final outcome document: “A Call to Integrate Population Dynamics into the Post-2015 Development Agenda” after its Dhaka meeting in Bangladesh from the 11-12th of March 2013.
The 2015 deadline to the current Millennium Development Goals has led to a flurry of activities on what the post 2015 development agenda should look like.
African policymakers met in Hammamet, Tunisia, to put forward Africa’s voice in shaping the post 2015 development agenda.
CIVICUS is a global alliance that champions the power of civil society to create positive change.
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