CIVICUS delivers Major Group statement on Rio+20 'My message to civil society is that you are vitally needed': interview with Nikhil Seth, Head of the Rio+20 Secretariat CIVICUS global consultations - new dates confirmed Weekly webinar: Finding common ground - a global civil society alliance and faith based civil society, Wednesday 30 May Hockey federation turns blind eye to human rights by confirming 2014 championships in Belarus Brazil lowers exorbitant hotel costs for delegates going to Rio+20 UNESCO-MOST Conference 2012: Labour Rights as Human Rights? Migration, Labour Market Restructuring, and the Role of Civil Society in Global Governance, Sweden, 30 May to 1 June 2012 New study on aid transparency and climate finance Azerbaijan: authorities violently disperse peaceful rallies Read Online now | Subscribe to the e-CIVICUS here

A statement of the nine Major Groups involved in the Rio+20 sustainable development process was delivered to a special session of the UN General Assembly this week by CIVICUS’ UN New York representative, Jeffrey Huffines.

Register Now! Faith-based CSOs have the potential to harness the energy and passion of people of faith and access large pockets of social capital.

The 2012 CIVICUS World Assembly programme is now available.

La serie de consultas globales de la alianza CIVICUS, están llegan a tu región.

A serie de consultas globais da CIVICUS está chegando a uma localidade perto de você.

Portuguese  | Spanish    The CIVICUS alliance's series of global consultations is coming to a locale near you.

Eight human rights organisations in the Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland are deeply disappointed that the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has confirmed at its general assembly in Helsinki that the Republic of Belarus will host the 2014 IIHF World Championship.

A virtual consultation hosted by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Wednesday 23 May, 2012 at 1 pm UTC/GMT The global economic crisis has been a devastating blow for many civil society organisations.

“CIVICUS has directly contributed to freedom of expression and citizen participation in Yemen”- Yemen Portal In January 2011 the Yemeni people rose up and demanded change, calling for an end to Ali Abdullah Saleh’s dictatorship and the establishment of a democratic state.

CIVICUS has called on the Ethiopian Government to ensure that its land investment policy does not undermine the rights of small-scale agriculturalists to an adequate standard of living including access to adequate food.

24 April 2012, Johannesburg.

Members of the CIVICUS alliance have made submissions to the next meeting of UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review process, which reviews countries’ human rights records.

Bahrain Grand Prix ignores human rights abuses and heightens tensions 'What is needed is a monitoring and accountability system for governments North and South' - Rio+20 interview with Roberto Bissio, Coordinator, Social Watch (Feature) 'International civil society should spread awareness of the devastating effects of Ethiopian law': interview with Endalkachew Molla, Director, Human Rights Council, Ethiopia (Interview) CIVICUS expresses its condolences at the passing of JCIE President, Tadashi Yamamoto United Nations Voluntary Fund 2013 Call for Applications (Opportunity) Online discussion: tactical dialogue on working with corporations to assess and improve human rights impact (Event) Make your actions count at Rio+20 - VolunteerActionCounts (Take action) Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies: International Advocacy Programme Coordinator (application deadline 5 May 2012) Read Online now | Subscribe to the e-CIVICUS here

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is working towards Rio+20 on several fronts, including by acting as an organising partner of the NGO Major Group and co-organising critical meetings and workshops around the world.

In this issue: Time for a new social contract: CIVICUS’ inaugural State of Civil Society Report suggests a generational opportunity for civil society in the face of multiple global crises CIVICUS and the Arab NGO Network for Development highlight Syrian crisis and demand a political solution CIVICUS analysis piece: strengthening civil society voices at the UN Human Rights Council ALGERIA: Continued harassment of activists one year after repeal of emergency BAHRAIN: Demands to release human rights defender on hunger strike increase IRAN: Renewal of the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran welcomed Read this issue online | Subscribe and never miss a future issue

Time for a new social contract: CIVICUS report suggests a generational opportunity in the face of multiple crises Turning principles into practice: a successful platform strengthening CSO transparency and accountability practices in Latin America A slippery slope in Southern Africa Bahrain: UNESCO head condemns killing of citizen journalist India: civil society seeks effective use of Right to Information Act Mexico: our future lies in nature CIVICUS interview with Jose Muvango Roundtable discussion between CSOs and members of the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Group on Sustainable Energy for All Introducing Bribespot Job: CIVICUS seeks a Senior Executive Assistant (application deadline 16 April 2012) Job: Human Rights Advisor (application deadline 21 April 2012) Read Online now | Subscribe to the e-CIVICUS here

The South Africa Forum for International Solidarity (SAFIS) yesterday issued a letter to the Prime Minister of Swaziland requesting that he reverse the decision to deregister the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA).

Since 2004, through its Legitimacy, Transparency and Accountability (LTA) programme, CIVICUS has been working to improve public trust and the credibility of civil society organisations (CSOs) and their activities through the enhancement of their accountability systems and structures.

Civil society faces a generational opportunity to prove its value as a source of alternatives at a time of profound global crisis.

International civil society alliance CIVICUS and the University of the West Indies are working together to consult on the emerging challenges civil society in Trinidad and Tobago faces, Thursday 5 April.

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is an international alliance of members and partners dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society around the world, with a secretariat based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Rio+20: help shape the CIVICUS alliance message Support CIVICUS’s CivNet proposal Jamaica, the Caribbean and global governance CIVICUS to launch first annual State of Civil Society report in April 2012 The Value of Community Philanthropy: Results of a Consultation Malaysian civil society's growing importance acknowledged New EU-Kazakhstan agreement offers scope to push for human rights progress Malaysian CSO wins annual UN population prize Job - Legislative Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs (open until position filled) Read Online now | Subscribe to the e-CIVICUS here

Campaigners around the world will today (Thursday 15th March) mark one year of violence in Syria by calling on Russia to back UN Security Council action to end the crisis.

March 14th marks the 8th anniversary of the “Proclamation of Mpalabanda”.

How does one bid farewell to the job I believe is the best in the world? Regrettably, that is what I must do.

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed an agreement to implement the new Civil Society Index Rapid Assessment (CSI-RA) in Tunisia.

Greenpeace today issued an open letter to world leaders calling for an end of the Threat of nuclear power.

Defining a new social contract - making the future together - CIVICUS board The 11th CIVICUS World Assembly: why participate? -  Malorie Flon 2012 Call for activity proposals - Be part of the programme! 2012 World Assembly programme Register today! Support the CIVICUS World Assembly This year receive a free CIVICUS Citizen Membership Read online in: English, French and Spanish | Subscribe to the e-CIVICUS here

Johannesburg.

Interview with an Azerbaijan civil society activist Dr Leila Alieva, President of the Center for National and International Studies in Baku, Azerbaijan, speaks to CIVICUS about the deteriorating civil society environment in her country.

Dr Leila Alieva, President of the Center for National and International Studies (CNIS) in Baku, Azerbaijan, spoke to CIVICUS recently about the deteriorating civil society environment in her country and what international civil society can do to assist colleagues in Azerbaijan.

27 February 2012 Statement by David Bonbright, Board Chair, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation After four highly successful years as Secretary General of CIVICUS, Ingrid Srinath has, reluctantly, resolved to leave us in order to address pressing family matters at the end of her current contract in March 2012.

Invitation to participate in a webinarDate and time:  Thursday 1 March 2012, 12:00 -14:00 GMT Despite the existence of a vast body of national and international law guaranteeing the freedoms of association, assembly and expression, civil society organisations often find themselves impeded from carrying out their mandates.

24 February 2012 The Cassation Bench of the Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia is expected to hear a petition by the Human Rights Council (HRCO) on 27 February 2012 to admit an appeal against the freezing of its bank accounts.

Will business as usual trump transformational change at Rio+20? Bringing it together: organising for civil society effectiveness in Cameroon Submit an activity proposal for the 2012 World Assembly CIVICUS plays hosts to young activists for democratic change Etherington fears emergence of 'fourth sector' Belarus dissidents defy KGB and the threat of jail in latest crackdown January 2012 Violations Report Vacancy: Youth Development Officer for Rio+20 Read this issue online | Get all future issues | Explore archive of old issues

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is an international movement of civil society dedicated to strengthening freedom of association and citizen’s participation across the globe.

CIVICUS has added it is voice to those of Burundi CSOs to urge the president to release arrested anti-corruption activist and CSO leader Faustin Ndikumana, who faces a prison sentence of up to ten years.

2012: A Civil Society Agenda NGOs around the world condemn persistent crackdowns on Egyptian civil society and reject disabling draft NGO law CIVICUS advocates South Africans’ ‘Right to Know’ What does the activism surrounding SOPA reveal about the future of online organising? Democracy does not apply to Aboriginal people Human Rights Officer (application deadline 4 March 2012) Read this issue online | Get all future issues | Explore archive of old issues

Guide on Reporting Violations to UN  special procedures CIVICUS deplores sustained harassment of Belarusian NGO Freedom House: Freedom in the world in 2012? Interview with a civil society activist: Dale McKinley Myanmar: More political prisioners released Read this issue online | Get all future issues |  Explore archive of old issues

  Busan, Republic of Korea.

Responding to Increasing Demands of CSO Accountability: Reflections from Phnom Penh and Manila 2012 CIVICUS World Assembly - Registration Now Open Broadening civic space through voluntary action: Lessons from 2011 Governance advisor: Affiliate support (Application Deadline 24 January 2012) Fighting hunger & malnutrition: The HUNGaMA survey reportSystemic peacebuilding, conflict transformation & post-war recovery, and reconciliation (OCTR) Read this issue online | Get all future issues | Explore archive of old issues

Johannesburg.

What a year 2011 was! Reporting human rights violations to UN Special Procedures: An Introductory Guide Parents Forum gets Digital Book World Award Rio+20: Making it Happen Human rights defender Azimzhan Askarov goes on termless hunger strike in Kyrgyzstan Discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity Director General Oxfam Hing Kong (Application deadline 31 January 2012) Read this issue online | Get all future issues | Explore archive of old issues

CIVICUS and the Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO), our partner organisation in the Philippines, co-organised a two-day workshop titled, "Strengthening Accountability of the Civil Society Sector on the 14th and 15th of December 2011 in Manila.

Dear friends, partners and supporters, What a year 2011 was! Often I found myself quoting Lenin: 'Sometimes decades pass and nothing happens, then weeks pass and decades happen.

The regional workshop on democratising governance through citizen participation brought together representatives of civil society organisations, international organisations and participatory governance practitioners from Ethiopia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, South Africa and Zimbabwe to share experiences in advancing participatory governance, identify key gaps in participatory governance processes at local, national and continental levels and propose solutions aimed at filling these gaps and making participatory governance effective at all levels.

1 November was the official close of the call for submissions to the compilation document for Rio+20.

Dear Friends and Partners, From the Arab Spring to the Occupy Wall Street protests, 2011 will be remembered as the year we realised the power we hold to change the world.

A propos de l’ISC-Rapide L’auto-évaluation de la société civile contribue à renforcer les bases factuelles pour le rôle plaidoyer de la société civile, fournissant une plateforme pour la société civile pour identifier les besoins communs, et pour aider à la planification et l'élaboration de stratégies autour des défis et des opportunités communes.