Interviews

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PAKISTAN: ‘Protecting Afghan refugees is not merely a humanitarian gesture – it is a legal obligation’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with human rights lawyer Moniza Kakar about Pakistan’s controversial campaign to expel Afghan refugees.
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SOUTH SUDAN: ‘The risk of a return to full-scale war is very high – it’s only a matter of time’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about an escalating crisis in South Sudan with Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) South Sudan.
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SOUTH AFRICA: ‘The recent attacks on activists echo apartheid-era repression, although this is supposedly a democracy’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the dangers facing civil society activists and whistleblowers in South Africa with Corlett Letlojane.
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UKRAINE: ‘The international response should follow the principle of ‘nothing about us, without us’’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Ukrainian gender rights activist Maryna Rudenko about the gendered impacts of the war in Ukraine and the importance of including women in peacebuilding efforts.
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FRANCE: ‘As civil society, we must mobilise our forces to defend the democratic principles of our country’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses recent changes in the French political landscape with Valentin Stel, Co-Director of SOS Racisme, a civil society organisation that has been working for 40 years to improve public policy and tackle racism, antisemitism and racial discrimination in France.
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NORTH MACEDONIA: ‘Protesters are calling for immediate justice and long-term reforms’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses recent protests in North Macedonia with Borjan Eftimov, a student activist from the local group YOUth Choose.
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BOTSWANA: ‘Political leadership may have changed, but the state still controls the narrative and excludes civil society’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Botswana’s new government with Dumiso Gatsha, director of Success Capital, a local youth-led LGBTQI+ organisation.
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USA: ‘Rebuilding trust in democracy requires reclaiming power from the few to ensure it delivers for all’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses global democratic decline with Soheïla Comninos, consultant at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University and lead author alongside Scott Warren, Fellow at the Institute, of its new report, Global Democracy Theory of Change.
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MEXICO: ‘The discovery of the torture centre exposed the state’s complicity with organised crime’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses enforced disappearances in Mexico with Anna Karolina Chimiak, co-director of the Justice Centre for Peace and Development (CEPAD).
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TURKEY: ‘This new law will push LGBTQI+ people and communities into deeper invisibility and precarity’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Turkey’s proposed law targeting LGBTQI+ rights with an activist from Women for Women’s Human Rights Association, a civil society organisation fighting for equality and non-discrimination in Turkey.
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PHILIPPINES: ‘Duterte’s arrest reinforces the principle that leaders are not above international law’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the arrest of former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte with Maria Sol Taule, deputy secretary general of the human rights organisation Karapatan.
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GLOBAL: ‘Energy Transfer’s lawsuit against Greenpeace is an attempt to drain our resources and silence dissent’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Daniel Simons, Senior Legal Counsel Strategic Defence for Greenpeace International, about the lawsuit brought by an oil and gas company against Greenpeace and its broader implications for civil society.
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BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: The new foreign agents’ law isn’t about transparency – it’s about silencing dissent’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the foreign agents’ law recently adopted in Republika Srpska, one of the two main political entities that make up Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Damjan Ožegović, Senior Researcher and Legal Affairs Associate at Transparency International (TI) Bosnia.
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SERBIA: ‘Student protests have sparked solidarity, empathy and a renewed belief in collective action’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses recent protests in Serbia with Alma Mustajbašić, researcher at Civic Initiatives, a Serbian civil society organisation that advocates for democracy, human rights and citizen engagement.
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GLOBAL: ‘Civil society is pushing for transparent, rights-centred AI governance’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses military applications of AI and the urgent need for regulation with Franco Giandana Gigena, Policy Analyst at Access Now, a digital rights organisation that advocates for human rights in the technological age.
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KOSOVO: ‘Civil society works day in and day out to build democracy’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses challenges following Kosovo’s election with Taulant Hoxha, Executive Director of the Kosovar Civil Society Foundation (KCSF), an independent civil society organisation (CSO) that supports local groups to develop a more participatory and democratic society.
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AMERICAS: ‘The exclusion of women limits the options and talent available to lead the OAS’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the election of the next Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General with Viviana Krsticevic, Executive Director of the Centre for Justice and International Law (CEJIL), a civil society organisation that works to ensure the full enjoyment of human rights in the Americas through the use of the inter-American system and other international mechanisms.
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DRC: ‘If the root causes of the conflict are not addressed, the cycle of violence is likely to persist’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses recent developments in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with Reagan Miviri, researcher and analyst at Ebuteli (‘staircase’), a Congolese research institute focused on issues of politics, governance and conflict.
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NAMIBIA: ‘Legal rights must translate into real protections, and the fight for marriage equality must continue’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses LGBTQI+ rights struggles and the backlash in Namibia with Miguel Gomes Antonio, Executive Director of the Southern African Christian Initiative (SACHI), a regional civil society organisation (CSO) that advocates for social and political development, democracy and good governance, social and economic justice and peace, religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue.
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GUYANA: ‘Journalists often avoid critical reporting to protect themselves from harassment’

Interviews
Tensions between Guyana and Venezuela have escalated following an alleged attack on Guyanese soldiers near the Cuyuni River.
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NEPAL: ‘The Social Network Bill is part of a broader strategy to tighten control over digital communication’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Nepal’s Social Network Bill with Dikshya Khadgi, a Nepali feminist digital rights lawyer and activist and a member of AALAWYA, a feminist advocacy and movement lawyering collective rooted in the values of justice, equality, radical care and cross-movement building.
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KENYA: ‘The Family Protection Bill threatens to escalate violence against LGBTQI+ people’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Kenya’s proposed Family Protection Bill with Arsenekah Ezekiel, executive director of World Post Changers Network, a Kenyan civil society organisation (CSO) that advocates for LGBTQI+ rights.
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UKRAINE: ‘Civil society remains resilient and responsive, but financial constraints now hamper its efforts’

Interviews
After three years of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, CIVICUS discusses the civil society response with Mykhailo Savva, member of the Expert Council of Ukraine’s Center for Civil Liberties, a civil society organisation (CSO) dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights.
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GAZA: ‘True peace requires an inclusive approach, where everyone involved has a voice’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas with Yossi Mekelberg, Professor of International Relations and Senior Consulting Fellow at Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa Programme.
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MYANMAR: ‘The junta’s sham election cannot pave the way for real political change and should not be legitimised’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Myanmar’s upcoming election with Nyein, a human rights advocate and researcher with the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma).
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GREENLAND: ‘Greenland’s people have the right to decide the nature of their relations with other countries’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the USA’s ambitions towards Greenland with Rachael Lorna Johnstone, Professor of Law at the University of Akureyri in Iceland and the University of Greenland, and Fulbright Arctic IV Scholar.
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INDIA: ‘The new criminal laws mark a shift from a ‘rule of law’ to a ‘rule by law’ model that prioritises state control’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses India’s new criminal laws with Aditya Shrivastava, a human rights lawyer, civil society activist and researcher with the Contested Democracy Platform at Södertörn University in Sweden.
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AUSTRALIA: ‘Attacks on the right to protest are escalating’

Interviews
Brenna McNeil is coordinator of Melbourne Activist Legal Support (MALS), an all-volunteer organisation that provides training for protest movements, offers information and resources on the right to protest and trains and fields legal observer teams that monitor and report on the policing of protests in Australia’s Victoria state.
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INDONESIA: ‘The transmigration plan threatens Papua’s autonomy and Indigenous ways of life’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks to Budi Hernawan, human rights defender and senior lecturer at Driyarkara School of Philosophy in Jakarta.
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ETHIOPIA: ‘Reconciliation will require robust transitional justice and accountability mechanisms’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia’s Amhara region with Hone Mandefro, advocacy director at the Amhara Association of America, and Henok Ashagray, PhD candidate and project officer at the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria.
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‘Areas essential to the global climate are being threatened by economic projects’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses activism against oil auctions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with François Kamate, founder and coordinator of the young environmental volunteer movement Extinction Rebellion Rutshuru.
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VENEZUELA: ‘Each failed attempt at democratic transition reinforces the power of the authoritarian government’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the expectations of Venezuelan civil society following Nicolás Maduro’s inauguration with Carlos Torrealba, a Venezuelan academic and researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
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ARGENTINA: ‘The closure of Meta’s US fact-checking programme is a major setback in the fight against disinformation’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Olivia Sohr about the challenges of disinformation and the consequences of the closure of Meta’s fact-checking programme in the USA.
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THAILAND: ‘Once-safe havens for political exiles have become dangerous territories’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses ongoing repression in Southeast Asia with Phil Robertson, director of Asia Human Rights and Labor Advocates.
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SRI LANKA: ‘Journalists who challenge authority continue to face potentially deadly consequences’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses restrictions on press freedom in Sri Lanka with human rights defender and journalist Sunanda Deshapriya.
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KENYA: ‘The goal is clear: to silence those who demand accountability and cower others into submission’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses protests in Kenya with human rights defender Maxie Daniel.
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NICARAGUA: ‘With the new financial law the Ortega-Murillo regime consolidates its absolute control’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Nicaraguan lawyer and activist Juan Barberena about recent legal changes and their impact on civil society in Nicaragua.
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PERU: ‘They’re trying to restrict us because our criticisms of rights violations make those in power uncomfortable’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses a proposed NGO law in Peru with Susana Chávez, Director of Advocacy at PROMSEX, a Peruvian feminist organisation that promotes autonomy, dignity, justice and equality in decisions about sexuality and reproduction.
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GUINEA: ‘The international community can support a democratic transition by backing a truly participatory process’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Guinea’s delayed democratic transition with Alix Boucher, assistant research fellow at the US-based Africa Center for Strategic Studies.
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SYRIA: ‘Syria’s recovery and democratic transition require a combination of international solidarity and local ownership’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the future of Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s authoritarian regime with Alaaiddien Ayoub, founder and director of EPISA, a civil society organisation (CSO) that supports sustainable development, democratic approaches, peacebuilding processes and inclusion in Syria.
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POLAND: ‘Legal gaps make it difficult to prosecute anti-LGBTQI+ hate crimes’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses an initiative to recognise hate speech against LGBTQI+ people as a hate crime with Olga Pawłowska-Plesińska, Advocacy Coordinator at the Campaign Against Homophobia, a Polish civil society organisation.
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URUGUAY: ‘The far right is still marginal; there’s a majority commitment to democracy’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the results of 2024 presidential elections and the imminent inauguration of a leftist government in Uruguay with Alicia Lissidini, professor and researcher at the School of Politics and Government of the National University of San Martín in Argentina.
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MONTENEGRO: ‘To block the foreign agents bill, we must counter demonising narratives and highlight the positive impact of civil society’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses moves to restrict civil society in Montenegro with Petar Knežević, Project Coordinator at the Centre for the Development of Non-Governmental Organisations, a local civil society organisation (CSO) working to defend democracy and civic freedoms.
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GLOBAL: ‘Achieving the SDGs will require systemic reforms, greater financial commitments and inclusive partnerships’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses this year’s High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) with Arjun Bhattarai, Secretary General of the NGO Federation of Nepal, the platform that coordinates civil society efforts to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nepal.
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ROMANIA: ‘People saw this election as an opportunity for change and expressed their dissatisfaction with the status quo’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Romania’s elections with Iuliana Iliescu, Secretary General of Asociatia Pro Democratia, a civil society organisation working to strengthen democracy through civic participation.
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PALESTINE: ‘Digital platforms amplify the Israeli narrative while systematically silencing Palestinian voices’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the challenges Palestinian civil society faces in resisting digital suppression and advocating for justice with Palestinian lawyer and researcher Dima Samaro.
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THAILAND: ‘The NGO bill would give the government sweeping powers over civil society organisations’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Thailand’s new NGO bill with a legal advisor from the Asia and the Pacific programme of the International Center for Non-Profit Law (ICNL), an organisation working to improve the legal and digital environment for civil society.
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RUSSIA: ‘The ban on ‘child-free propaganda’ imposes a patriarchal family model and undermines women’s autonomy’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses proposed restrictive legislation in Russia with Eva Levenberg, a lawyer with the independent human rights group OVD-Info.
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AFGHANISTAN: ‘The Gaza Biennale seeks to connect global audiences with the lived experiences of Palestinians’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the Gaza Biennale project with Omaid Sharifi, president of ArtLords, a grassroots artivist collective seeking to harness the transformative power of art.
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GLOBAL: UN Plastics Treaty: ‘We face the daunting challenge of taking on the fossil fuel industry’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses ongoing negotiations for a global plastics treaty with Graham Forbes, Global Campaign Lead for the Plastic Free Future project at Greenpeace and head of the Greenpeace delegation to the treaty negotiations.

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