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Afghanistan: Assault on peaceful protests highlight deteriorating space for civic freedoms

Global civil society alliance CIVICUS condemns the excessive use of force and arbitrary arrests by Taliban security forces as they crack down on protests in Afghanistan.
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Uganda: Lift restrictions on NGOs and respect freedom of assembly and expression

🇺🇬#Uganda: The closure & suspension of over 50 #NGOs is a new low for human rights in a country with a history of severe restrictions on civil society groups.
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Zambia: New government must lift restrictions on civil liberties

🇿🇲#Zambia: We urge President @HHichilema to undertake commitments for a bold human rights agenda & revive civil liberties.
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Pakistan: Three years on, Prime Minister Imran Khan has overseen an assault on civic freedoms

Three years after Imran Khan took office as Pakistan’s Prime Minister in August 2018, global civil society alliance CIVICUS has documented an ongoing assault on civic freedoms.
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CIVICUS stands with indigenous peoples and calls for a new social contract

#IndigenousDay: Across the world, indigenous peoples continue to face marginalisation & exclusion.
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Thailand: Immediately repeal emergency regulation that threatens online freedoms

🇹🇭#Thailand: Joint statement by 1⃣7⃣ international CSOs calling on the authorities to immediately repeal emergency regulation that threatens online freedoms.
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Cambodia: A year on, the persecution of human rights defender Rong Chhun and other activists continue

CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, calls on the Cambodian authorities to drop the baseless charges against trade union activist and human rights defender Rong Chhun and to release him immediately and unconditionally.
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India: Death of priest highlights persecution of human rights defenders under Modi government

"Human rights activism should not amount to the equivalent of a death sentence,” says CIVICUS, after receiving the devastating news that #Indian activist, Fr.

Cambodia: Government must end the persistent judicial harassment of environmental defenders

The Government of Cambodia must drop the charges against Mother Nature Cambodia (MNC) environmental defenders and immediately release them, said human rights groups Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), Asia Democracy Network (ADN), CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Earth Rights International (ERI), and Front Line Defenders.
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Bangladesh: Hold security forces accountable for torture

Rights Groups Call for Decisive Action on International Day for Victims The Bangladesh government has failed to address widespread allegations of torture and ill-treatment by its security forces, ten rights groups said on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
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Malaysia: Authorities reverting to repressive tactics of former governments to throttle expression online

🇲🇾#Malaysia: Authorities have launched a systematic campaign to silence critical voices online.
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Call on UNHRC to adopt a resolution on human rights situation in Occupied Palestine

HRC 30th Special Session: Call on the United Nations Human Rights Council to adopt a resolution on the grave human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and in IsraelOn 27 May 2021, the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) will hold a Special Session in relation to the escalating human rights violations against the Palestinian people on both sides of the Green Line.
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Cambodia: Stop silencing critical commentary on COVID-19

🇰🇭#Cambodia: Government authorities have arrested dozens of individuals for expressing critical opinions about the government’s response to #COVID19.
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Indonesia: Activists at risk in the Papua region

Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS is extremely concerned about the risks facing activists in the region of Papua following new counter-insurgency operations in the region since late April 2021.
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Uganda: Stop arrests, detention, and targeting of opposition leaders and activists ahead of inauguration

🇺🇬#Uganda: Over 40 activists have been arrested ahead of today's presidential inauguration of @KagutaMuseveni Our statement on the arrests and the continued targeting of opposition leaders: https://t.

A year after imprisoned Saudi activist Abdullah al-Hamid’s passing, NGOs call for accountability & release of all HRDs

April 24, 2021 marks one year since prominent Saudi human rights defender Dr Abdullah al-Hamid passed away, while serving an 11-year prison sentence on politically motivated charges.
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ASEAN summit must call on Myanmar's military to end the violence and restore elected government

  Re: ASEAN summit must address grave violations in Myanmar by security forces To: H.
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Thailand: NGO law would strike ‘severe blow’ to human rights

The Thai authorities’ adoption of a draft law to regulate non-profit groups would strike a severe blow to human rights in Thailand, several international organizations said today.
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Bangladesh: Authorities must conduct investigations into death of protesters

The Bangladeshi authorities must conduct prompt, thorough, impartial, and independent investigations into the death of at least 14 protesters across the country between 26 and 28 March, and respect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, said 11 human rights organisations in a joint statement today.
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Pakistan: Chronology of harassment against human rights defender Muhammad Ismail

Pakistani human rights defender Professor Muhammad Ismail, aged 69, is a prominent member of Pakistani civil society and the focal person for the Pakistan NGOs Forum (PNF), an umbrella body of civil society organisations (CSOs) in Pakistan.
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Poland: Escalating threats to women activists

Investigate, Protect Rights Defenders, End Hateful Rhetoric
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India: Women human rights defenders still in pre-detention after 300 days

Global civil society alliance CIVICUS and Front Line Defenders call for the immediate release of women human rights defenders Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal who have now spent 300 days in pre-trial detention.
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Algeria: Assertive public position from international community crucial to protecting Algerians on Hirak anniversary

#Algeria: 16 February 2021 marked the two year anniversary of the start of the Hirak protests and the ensuing violent crackdown on civic freedoms.
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Civil society letter to U.S. State Dept on Human Rights Defenders

80 civil society organisations from 30+ countries urge Honarable Secretary of State, Antony Blinken to strengthen U.

Cambodia: Drop charges against union leader Rong Chhun and other activists

On Wednesday, prominent trade unionist and labour activist Rong Chhun will again appear before the trial court in Cambodia in one of a series of high-profile trials being carried out in Cambodia in an ongoing crackdown on activists which escalated significantly over the past year.
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Uganda: Egregious measures threaten free and fair elections

🇺🇬🗳️President @KagutaMuseveni has ruled #Uganda for 35 years.
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Hong Kong: Crackdown on democratic freedoms continues with mass arrests

Global civil society alliance CIVICUS condemns the mass arbitrary arrests in Hong Kong this week in an unprecedented crackdown on democratic freedoms and calls for the immediate release of all those detained.
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Poland: concerns over intimidation, violence and detentions of peaceful protesters

Joint letter to: Clement Voule, UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Assembly and Association Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders Irene Khan, UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Opinion and Expression Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Physical and Mental Health Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Palais Wilson, 52 Rue des Pâquis 1201 Geneva, Switzerland
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India: Human rights body must raise concerns over crackdown

To: Hon’ble Justice (Retd.

16 Rights Groups Raise Bahrain Human Rights Concerns with Formula One

Rights watchdogs tell F1 leaders to use their leverage to compensate victims of abuse & ensure right to protest ahead of two Grand Prix races in Bahrain

Thailand: Government must respect and protect the rights of demonstrators

We, the undersigned organizations, condemn the Thai police’s unnecessary and excessive use of force against peaceful protesters marching to the national parliament in Bangkok on November 17, 2020.
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Morocco: End intimidation and harassment campaign against rights defender Maati Monjib

The undersigned civil society organisations call on the Moroccan authorities to immediately end their intimidation and harassment campaign against academic and human rights defender Maati Monjib and drop all baseless charges leveled against him.
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Sri Lanka: A year after Presidential elections, civic freedoms under increasing assault

A year on from the election of Gotabaya Rajapaksa as President of Sri Lanka, global civil society alliance CIVICUS is extremely concerned about the country’s regression in civic freedoms.
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Appointment of UAE Ministry of Interior Official to the Presidency of INTERPOL

العربية Dear Secretary General, We, the undersigned, are writing to express our deep concern over recent reports announcing the candidacy of Major General Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi, the General Inspector of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Ministry of Interior, for the presidency of the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL).
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Civil Society Organisations Call for the Draft Law on Public Order to be Immediately Discarded

Phnom Penh, 13 August 2020 – We, the undersigned national and international organisations and communities, call on the Royal Government of Cambodia (“RGC”) to immediately discard the repressive draft Law on Public Order and uphold its obligations under international human rights law.

Malaysia: End harassment and intimidation of media workers and critics

Joint Statement with Amnesty International and the International Commission of Jurists The Malaysian authorities must immediately put an end to their increasing attacks on freedom of expression, especially the media, international non-governmental organisations Amnesty International, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) said today.
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Increased targeting of members of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission

Front Line Defenders, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, FIDH - International Federation for Human Rights, in the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), in the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and the International Service for Human Rights, condemn the killing of two employees of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), Fatima Khalil and Ahmad Jawed Folad, on 27 June 2020.
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Singapore: Open letter to parliamentary candidates and political party leaders to prioritise fundamental freedoms

🇸🇬Singapore: Three civil society organisations call on parliamentary candidates and political party leaders to commit to respecting and protecting human rights, particularly fundamental freedoms, during and after the #SGElection https://t.
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Malaysia: Drop contempt proceedings against online news outlet Malaysiakini

Joint statement by Article 19 and CIVICUS
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India: Two more women activists arrested as crackdown on protesters continue

Human Rights Defenders Alert – India and global civil society alliance CIVICUS call for the immediate release of two women activists who were arrested last week for their involvement in mass protests against the discriminatory citizenship law.
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Judicial harassment of human rights defender Muhammed Ismail persists amid pandemic

The Pakistan authorities must halt their judicial harassment of human rights defender Muhammed Ismail and his wife Uzlifat Ismail and drop all charges against them, said CIVICUS, FIDH, the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and Front Line Defenders.
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Bangladesh: Stifling expression using Digital Security Act must not be the norm to address COVID-19 pandemic

    A Joint Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission and CIVICUS The Bangladesh government has resorted once again to its notorious Digital Security Act-2018 to muzzle freedom of expression, arresting 11 individuals following criticism of the governments’ handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Urgent call to release 19 detained members of the LGBTI community in Uganda

CIVICUS calls on the Ugandan authorities to release 19 members of the LGBTI community who have been arrested on trumped up charges, under the pretext of curbing the spread of COVID-19.

Bahrain: Free Imprisoned Rights Defenders and Activists

Extend Releases to Those at Special Risk of COVID-19
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Cambodia and COVID19: State of Emergency draft law will put civic freedoms at further risk

Cambodia and COVID19: State of Emergency draft law will put civic freedoms and human rights defenders further at risk CIVICUS, FORUM-ASIA, Frontline Defenders and Civil Rights Defenders are seriously concerned about draconian provisions in Cambodia’s draft State of Emergency Law which mandates unfettered power to the executive, undermining fundamental freedoms with no defined endpoint.
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Ladies European Tour community should #StandWithSaudiHeroes

In December 2019, the Ladies European Tour announced that it would hold a tournament in Saudi Arabia from the 19th to the 22nd March 2020 in collaboration with Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation.
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Myanmar: Lift Internet Restrictions in Rakhine and Chin States

Mobile internet blackout in four townships in Rakhine State among the world’s longest running.
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Dakar Rally community must #StandWithSaudiHeroes

The Dakar Rally (formerly known as the Paris-Dakar Rally) is an annual off-road endurance rally organized by the French company Amaury Sport Organisation (A.
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Urgent Request for UN Intervention in the case of activist in Tanzania

Mr.
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Cambodia: Charges against journalists must be dropped

Joint Statement: Civil society organizations call for all baseless charges against journalists to be dropped We, the undersigned media institutions and local and international civil society organizations call for charges against two former Radio Free Asia (RFA) journalists, Mr.

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