Interviews

Featured

SYRIA: ‘Syrians want peace and a chance to live a normal life, free from oppression and constant fear’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria with independent journalist Abdelaziz Al-Hosse.
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JAPAN: ‘If mainstream parties fail to address voter frustration, right-wing populism could grow’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Japan’s recent election with Akio Takayanagi, a policy advisor with the Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation, a network of 100 civil society organisations working to eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice.
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SAUDI ARABIA: ‘Saudi Arabia hosts major international events to distract from its serious human rights abuses’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the implications of Saudi Arabia hosting the 2034 World Cup with Khalid Ibrahim, Executive Director of the Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR), an independent civil society organisation that promotes human rights and defends human rights defenders in the Middle East and North Africa.
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BELARUS: ‘The election is just another tool to keep Lukashenko in power for as long as possible’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the ongoing crackdown on civil society in Belarus with Natallia Satsunkevich, human rights defender and interim board member of the Viasna Human Rights Centre.
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GHANA: ‘Many saw the election as a referendum on unmet expectations and poor governance’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the election results in Ghana with Evelyn Olukeye, Programme Officer at BudgIT, a civil society organisation that uses technology for civic engagement.
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NAMIBIA: ‘The election of our first female president is an achievement, but the ruling party’s continued dominance raises concerns’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Namibia’s election results with Namibian human rights defender and political activist Joram Useb.
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SOUTH KOREA: ‘South Korea’s democracy once again proved its strength in the face of an authoritarian challenge’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses reactions to the unconstitutional declaration of martial law in South Korea with Soo Suh, Senior Program Manager at the Asia Democracy Network.
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GUATEMALA: ‘My father was arbitrarily arrested and convicted for denouncing government corruption’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Ramón Zamora, son of Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora, about restrictions on press freedom and the challenges of defending human rights in Guatemala.
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SOUTH AFRICA: ‘If the G20 doesn’t shift to a bottom-up approach, the cycle of empty promises and limited impact will continue’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the recent G20 summit with Yanga Malotana, project manager of the Emerging Scholars Initiative at the University of Pretoria and South Africa’s network coordinator for the Indian Ocean Rim Association Academic Group.
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NETHERLANDS: ‘Instead of outsourcing migration management, the government should address the root causes of migration’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the Dutch government’s new migration plan with Femke de Vries, coordinator for European Union (EU) policy and advocacy at the Dutch Council for Refugees, a human rights organisation that supports asylum seekers in the Netherlands.
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UNITED STATES: ‘Even though Trump was democratically elected, he poses a significant threat to democracy’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the challenges posed by a new Trump presidency with Jamil Dakwar, Director of the Human Rights Program at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), one of the USA’s oldest and largest civil liberties organisations.
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IRAQ: ‘The proposed amendments to the Personal Status Law are an attack on women’s rights’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses women’s and girls’ rights in Iraq with Mohammed Juma, a lawyer and human rights defender based in Baghdad.
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GLOBAL: ‘World’s most influential urban companies are failing to take responsibility for inclusive and sustainable cities’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses corporate accountability efforts with Sibora Dhima, Engagement Manager at the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA).
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KENYA: ‘Femicides are not isolated incidents but predictable outcomes of unaddressed gender-based violence’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the rise in femicide cases in Kenya with Judy Gitau, lawyer and regional coordinator of Equality Now, a feminist organisation that uses the law to protect and promote the rights of women and girls.
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NIGERIA: ‘By framing dissent as disloyalty, the government is stifling legitimate calls for reform’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the criminalisation of protesters in Nigeria with Oluwafunke Adeoye, founder and Executive Director of Hope Behind Bars, a civil society organisation (CSO) that works to improve the criminal justice system.
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MOZAMBIQUE: ‘This exercise of people power against systemic electoral fraud can inspire others in the region’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the regional implications of post-election protests in Mozambique with human rights defender and political activist Brisky Fanuel Ncube.
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GLOBAL: ‘While the Pact for the Future has fallen short, it’s still a vital safeguard against regression’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the recently agreed Pact for the Future with Enyseh Teimory, Head of Policy at United Nations Association-UK (UNA-UK), a civil society organisation that promotes human rights, peace and global cooperation.
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PALESTINE: ‘The international community has failed to stop the genocide, not because it can’t, but because it won’t’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the situation in Palestine, the impacts on women and girls and the prospects for a ceasefire with Taheer Araj, executive director of the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH).
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TURKEY: ‘Anti-rights pressure on activists defending gender equality has reached dangerous levels’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Turkey’s crackdown on LGBTQI+ rights with Gökçe Baltacı, LGBTQI+ activist and general coordinator of Tarlabaşı Toplum Merkezi (TTM), a civil society organisation that defends the rights of excluded groups.
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ITALY: ‘The security bill will have far-reaching implications for the right to protest’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Italy’s new anti-protest law with Erasmo Palazzotto, activist and member of ARCI, a civil society organisation (CSO) that promotes democracy, active citizenship and human rights.
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HAITI: ‘Land grabbers benefit from an extraordinarily slow and complicit justice system’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Sinomme Saint Claire (Dieubon) about attacks on his organisation, Green Alternative Action (Alternatif Action Vert, AVV), a grassroots peasant organisation that supports farming communities in Haiti’s southern peninsula region.
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BOTSWANA: ‘This election showed the strength of people’s voice when they refuse to serve the interests of a few’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the opposition’s victory in Botswana’s recent election with Dumiso Gatsha, founder of Success Capital, a local LGBTQI+ grassroots organisation led by young people.
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GERMANY: ‘Europe is implementing policies of deliberate neglect leading to avoidable deaths at its external borders’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses migration policies and civil society responses across Europe with Janna Sauerteig, Mobilisation and Advocacy Manager at SOS Humanity.
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ITALY: ‘No migration policy should be based on fear and punishment’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Italy’s policy of outsourcing the management of asylum seekers to Albania with Valeria Carlini, Deputy Director of the Italian Council for Refugees, a civil society organisation (CSO) that defends the rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Italy and Europe.
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GLOBAL: ‘The Global Digital Compact could have been stronger on human rights and accountability, particularly in relation to big tech’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the Global Digital Compact (GDC) recently adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly with Peter Micek, General Counsel and UN Advocacy Manager of Access Now, an international civil society organisation working to defend and extend the digital rights of people and communities at risk.
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GERMANY: ‘Real social problems must be addressed through social policy, not by restricting migrants’ human rights’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Germany’s tightening of border controls with Meral Zeller, Policy Officer with the European Department of PRO ASYL, a civil society organisation (CSO) defending the human right to asylum in Germany and Europe.
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MOLDOVA: ‘The authorities could have done more to protect our democracy and stability’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Moldova’s referendum on its plans to join the European Union (EU) with Ion Manole, human rights defender and Executive Director of Promo-LEX, a civil society organisation working for democracy and human rights in Moldova.
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SUDAN: ‘The international community must stop turning a blind eye to the suffering of Sudanese women’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Sudan’s civil war and its impact on women with Sulaima Elkhalifa, a Sudanese human rights defender and expert on gender-based violence.
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GEORGIA: ‘We were prepared for a crisis, but the sheer scale of electoral manipulation and vote-rigging took us by surprise’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Georgia’s election results with Eduard Marikashvili, human rights defender and executive director of the Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI), an independent organisation working for democratic development and Euro-Atlantic integration.
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PALESTINE: ‘Ending impunity for violations of Palestinians’ rights would strengthen global norms that protect all humanity’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the gender dimensions of genocide in Gaza with Kifaya Khraim, International Advocacy Coordinator at the Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC).
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POLAND: ‘The new migration strategy is more political posturing than a real plan’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Poland’s new migration control strategy with Marcin Sosniak, coordinator of the Migration Unit at the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR), a civil society organisation working to protect human rights in Poland and Eurasia.
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MOZAMBIQUE: ‘The next president must listen to a younger generation that’s increasingly vocal about its democratic aspirations’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses post-election violence in Mozambique with Zenaida Machado, senior researcher and human rights defender at Human Rights Watch.

TUNISIA: ‘Political choices were so limited that most people saw no point in voting’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Tunisia’s recent presidential election with Siwar Gmati of IWatch, a Tunisian civil society organisation (CSO) and CIVICUS Digital Democracy Initiative partner.

AFGHANISTAN: ‘We continue working to make sure Afghan girls and women are heard and not forgotten’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Afghanistan’s system of gender apartheid with Shaharzad Akbar, Executive Director of Rawadari, a human rights organisation founded by Afghans in exile.

GERMANY: ‘Democratic parties must take a firm stand against far-right anti-democratic and hateful politics’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses far-right successes in recent regional elections in Germany with Viktoria Kamuf, research associate at the Institute for Democracy and Civil Society, a research organisation based in the German state of Thuringia.

‘It’s easier and cheaper than ever to spread disinformation on a massive scale’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses online disinformation and hate speech, and the role of civil society in combating them, with Imran Ahmed, founder and CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH).

‘Whether the Cybercrime Convention will do more good than harm will hinge on implementation and monitoring’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the recently approved United Nations (UN) Cybercrime Convention with Pavlina Pavlova, a cyber policy expert and a #ShareTheMicInCyber fellow at New America, who took part in the negotiations.

‘The Cybercrime Convention risks becoming a tool for global surveillance and cross-border human rights violations’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the recently approved United Nations (UN) Cybercrime Convention with Deborah Brown, deputy director of the Technology, Rights and Investigations division of Human Rights Watch, who took part in the negotiations.
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‘We urge governments not to authorise, sponsor or subsidise deep-sea mining’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the role of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and the implications of the agency’s new leadership with Juressa Lee, Deep-Sea Mining Campaigner at Greenpeace Aotearoa, New Zealand’s national office of the global environmental organisation Greenpeace.
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TIMOR-LESTE: ‘Restrictions on solidarity protests are unconstitutional’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses restrictions on civil society activism in Timor-Leste with human rights activist Nelson Roldão.
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ZIMBABWE: ‘The government is using widespread intimidation to silence pro-democracy voices’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the challenges for civil society in Zimbabwe with Tapiwanashe Chiriga, Advocacy and Communications Officer at Heal Zimbabwe Trust, a local human rights organisation.
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INDIA: ‘Civil society organisations are at the forefront of the fight against gender-based violence’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the recent wave of protests against gender-based violence (GBV) in India with Dr Kavitha Ravi, a member of the Indian Medical Association (IMA).
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PHILIPPINES: ‘Increased US military aid will worsen the already dire human rights situation’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the human rights impacts of US aid to the Philippines with Cristina Palabay, Secretary General of Karapatan.
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Climate Activists Target Culture Greenwashing

Interviews
Civil society is working on all fronts to tackle the climate crisis.
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BULGARIA: ‘This new law disguises the suppression of LGBTQI+ rights as a measure to protect children’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses LGBTQI+ rights in Bulgaria with Manuela Popova, co-director of the Bilitis Foundation, the country’s oldest active LGBTQI+ organisation.
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BANGLADESH: ‘The interim government must ensure justice for the wrongs of the past regime’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about protests, their repression and the changes they’ve brought about in Bangladesh with human rights defender and student leader Nahid Islam.
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GLOBAL: ‘There are multiple paths to justice and accountability for violations of international law’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Rebecca Shoot, Executive Director of Citizens for Global Solutions, about the advisory opinion recently issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
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SUMMIT OF THE FUTURE: ‘Civil society has been vocal in urging that the summit address the real needs of people’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the upcoming Summit of the Future with Julie Murray, Advocacy Advisor at Save the Children International, a global organisation advocating for children’s rights and interests worldwide.
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SUMMIT OF THE FUTURE: ‘The UN Secretary-General underestimated the difficulty of reaching consensus’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the upcoming Summit of the Future with Renzo Pomi, who represents Amnesty International at the United Nations (UN) in New York.
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USA: ‘The framers of the constitution envisioned an accountable president, not a king above the law’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the recent US Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity and its potential impact on the 5 November presidential election with Praveen Fernandes, Vice President at the Constitutional Accountability Center, a US think tank and public interest litigation organisation dedicated to studying and applying the constitution’s text, history and values.

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