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. CIVICUS also joins Maldivian civil society in opposing the unprecedented pronouncement by Maldives Minister of State for Home Affairs (Registrar of NGOs), Abdulla Mohamed, to dissolve nearly 70 percent of the country's NGOs. The decision represents yet another setback for independent dissent and democratic freedoms in the run-up to presidential elections in the country scheduled for September 2013.

Azərbaycanca

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. Since Azerbaijan is due to undergo its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the UN Human Rights Council on 30 April 2013, the two organisations urge democratic governments to focus attention on the continuing government crackdown on the freedoms of expression, association and assembly.  

The following are some recent restrictions on civil society space and democratic freedoms in Azerbaijan.

• On 8 March 2013, three members of the non-violent pro-democracy movement NIDA were arrested by the police on charges of possession of illegal narcotics and explosives and inciting violence and civil disobedience. The arrests were carried out in advance of an upcoming protest on 10 March 2013 where the law enforcement agencies used excessive violence against protestors. The three activists, Bakhtiyar Guliyev, Shahin Novruzlu, and Mahamad Azizov have been ordered to serve three months pre-trial detention. In their joint UPR submission CIVICUS and CNIS have highlighted that a routine tactic used by law enforcement agencies against government critics is to charge them with drug related and security offences.  On 29 September 2012, Zaur Gurbanli, a NIDA member active in the ‘Sing for Democracy Campaign,’ launched in the run up Azerbaijan’s hosting of the Eurovision 2012 contest was also detained and charged with “possession of illegal documents.”
  Lire la suite : Global Civil Society Alliance condemns growing authoritarianism in Azerbaijan

Johannesburg, 27 March 2013. Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS welcomes the landmark adoption of UN Human Rights Council Resolution A/HRC/22/L.13, “Protecting Human Rights Defenders”, as a vital step in creating a safe and enabling environment in which human rights defenders and civil society organizations (CSOs) can operate free from unwarranted restrictions.

The resolution, spearheaded by the government of Norway, was adopted at the 22nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on 21 March 2013 with broad cross-regional support from 70 UN Member States. CIVICUS highlights the following provisions of the resolution codifying a number of essential protections for human rights defenders:

• The Council has called on UN Member States to guarantee that national regulations and legislation affecting human rights defenders are clearly defined, non-retroactive and consistent with international human rights law. To this end, the Council urges UN member states to immediately amend national anti-terrorism legislation to protect against the criminalisation or stigmatisation of human rights defenders including the use of arbitrary detention and detention without due process guarantees.
  
  Lire la suite : Global civil society alliance celebrates adoption of UN resolution on protecting human rights defenders

Johannesburg. 25 March 2013. Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, urges the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) to focus attention on the humanitarian crisis in Syria, corporate accountability and creating an enabling environment for civil society when they meet in Durban for the Fifth BRICS Summit from 26-27 March 2013.

The BRICS mechanism claims to “achieve peace, security, development and cooperation” and contribute significantly to “the development of humanity and establish a more equitable and fair world.” With the agenda of the BRICS meetings widening considerably to encompass various global issues and political developments,

The Ethiopian government's recent decision to prosecute several independent journalists and forcibly dissolve three civil society groups represents yet another blow to democratic freedoms under Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, says global civil society alliance, CIVICUS.

CIVICUS calls attention to the following instances of unwarranted restrictions on freedoms of expression and association in Ethiopia:

Civil Society groups strongly urged decision makers to tackle the global democratic deficit, rising inequality and abuses by transnational corporations at the recently concluded global thematic consultation on governance and the post 2015 development agenda in Johannesburg.

The consultation, organised by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Development Programme from 28 February–1 March, brought together 170 participants representing civil society, academia, international organisations, grassroots movements, indigenous groups and the private sector.

The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), ARTICLE 19, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, and the World Movement for Democracy are pleased to announce the Civic Space Initiative (CSI), a three-year project that aims to protect and expand civic space by fostering an enabling legal environment for civil society organizations. The CSI focuses on civil society legal initiatives at the global, regional, and national levels.

At the global level, the CSI seeks to strengthen the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur (UNSR) on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association by facilitating consultations with civil society, and by providing research and organizational support to the UNSR. The CSI will also enhance synergies between related UN mandate holders by helping to develop "soft norm" standards relating to the freedoms of association, assembly, and expression. In addition, the CSI will also work to promote civil society engagement with the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism and the UN Human Rights Council. Furthermore, in order to increase aid effectiveness, the CSI will develop and implement a set of indicators that measure the enabling environment for CSOs in various countries.

Johannesburg. 7 March 2013. Global civil society network, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is alarmed at the rise in incidents of judicial harassment of Turkish civil society activists and media professionals for dissenting against government policies.

• Judicial harassment of writers and advocates has reached crisis point in Turkey. Mass raids have been carried out against government critics under the guise of catching individuals with suspected links to banned organisations. Fourteen lawyers belonging to the Progressive Lawyers’ Association or Cagdas Hukukcular Dernegi (CHD), a non-profit organization providing legal support to victims of rights violations, particularly police violence, were among 85 persons arrested from the 18-21 January 2013 alone. A few days later on 24 January, four Ankara lawyers, Ms Filiz Kalaycı, Mr Hasan Anlar, Mr Halil İbrahim Vargün and Mr Murat Vargün, who had been under investigation since 2009 for their human rights activities, received jail sentences ranging from 6 years and 3 months, to seven and a half years. They were charged with membership of “an armed, illegal organization,” namely the Koma Ciwaken Kurdistan – KCK (Union of Communities in Kurdistan), under the notorious “catch all” Article 314 of the Penal Code.
  Lire la suite : End Turkish state repression: CIVICUS

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CIVICUS, the global civil society network, and the Ligue des Droits de la personne dans la région des Grandes Lacs (LDGL) warn about rising levels of harassment of civil society activists and journalists in Burundi. They urge the Government of Burundi to respect its constitutional and international law obligations on human rights.

The two bodies are concerned about several recent developments in Burundi:

• On 8 January 2013, journalist Hassan Ruvakuki was sentenced to three years imprisonment by an appeals court in Gitega. Hassan, a reporter for local Burundian radio station Bonesha FM and French broadcaster Radio France International was initially arrested and detained in November 2011. He was charged with "terrorism" in June 2012 and handed a life sentence by a court in Cankuzo in relation to an interview he conducted in November 2011 unearthing the existence of a new rebel movement along the Burundian border with Tanzania. Following a lengthy appeals process, the appeals court altered his sentence to three years in prison, replacing the "terrorism" charges with that of "working with a criminal group." This constitutes the latest onslaught on free expression and journalistic freedoms in Burundi.
  
  Lire la suite : Global body calls on Burundian government to stop harassing civil society and media

Johannesburg, 31 January 2013: Global civil society network, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation deplores Israel's failure to participate in the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR), and urges the Government of Israel to take immediate steps to restore its relations with the UN Human Rights Council.

Israel's refusal to participate in its UPR examination scheduled for 29 January 2013 marks the first instance of a UN member state declining to engage with the UN Human Rights Council on its human rights record since the UPR procedure was established in 2008. The UPR process provides a key opportunity for civil society to raise human rights concerns in a country with the national government as well as with the international community.

The current action of the Israeli government follows its March 2012 decision to sever ties with the UN Human Rights Council after a resolution (A/HRC/19.L.35) was adopted to establish an international fact finding mission to investigate the implications of Israeli settlements on the rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Territories. All UN member states are obligated to participate in the Universal Periodic Review, which scrutinizes each country's human rights record every four years.

Johannesburg, 25 January 2013: Global civil society network, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, the Zimbabwe based National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) and the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum (ZSF) strongly condemn persecution of civil society members in Zimbabwe, urging democratic governments to take diplomatic action.

Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (Zim Rights) is the latest target of the government's ongoing campaign against human rights defenders. The Director of Zim Rights, Okay Machisa, Education and Programmes Officer, Leo Chamahwinya, and Dorcas Shereni, Chair of the Highfield Chapter of Zim Rights are currently being held in detention on nebulous charges of conspiring to conduct illegal voter registration, fraud and communicating false information considered prejudicial to the Zimbabwean state. Their arrest and judicial harassment puts in severe jeopardy the work of Zim Rights, in particular, the monitoring of election procedures, voter registration and education in advance of crucial national elections to be held later this year.

BERLIN, 19 December 2012 – On the eve of the European Union-Russia summit this week, eight international organisations representing a cross-section of global civil society call on European Union leaders to urge Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the crackdown on Russian civil society.

Russia has passed a series of laws that restrict the rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly significantly hindering the operation of national non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as well as international NGOs supporting them. The laws have created a difficult environment for civil society in Russia where activists now face significant risks in carrying out their work.

Amnesty International, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Freedom House, Front Line Defenders, Greenpeace, Human Rights Watch, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture [OMCT] and the International Federation for Human Rights [FIDH]) and Transparency International urge the summit participants to seek a commitment from the Russian government to ensure the involvement of civil society in public policy debates, stop harassment of human rights organisations, and increase protection for civil society activists and journalists.

DHAKA, 1 December 2012: There needs be more transparency and lesser control by the Government of Bangladesh as it seeks to bring in a new law to regulate foreign donations in the country said Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI).

The three international organisations met a wide spectrum of civil society, government representatives and the international community in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka as part of a civil society solidarity mission from 26 – 30 November, 2012. The mission was undertaken in the context of the proposed Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Act and concerns about increasing restrictions on civil society freedoms in Bangladesh.

“While we welcome the fact that the Government of Bangladesh has consulted with civil society leaders on the proposed law, and made assurances that the concerns highlighted by them will be addressed,   we remain extremely worried if the bill when presented to Parliament will reflect this,” said Sayeed Ahmad of FORUM-ASIA. “It is critical that the government makes public, the most recent version of the proposed legislation at the earliest, particularly on the NGO Affairs Bureau’s website to allow civil society to fully engage with the process.”

Johannesburg, 29 November 2012: Global civil society network, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and Réseau des Organisations de la Société Civile pour le Développement (RESOCIDE), Burkina Faso, denounce the crackdown on freedom of expression in Burkina Faso.

Two senior journalists have been handed disproportionate sentences for “defamation” and their newspaper has been ordered to suspend its circulation for six months by the Ouagadougou High Court.

On 29 October 2012, Roland Ouédraogo, editor-in-chief of L'Ouragan newspaper and contributing editor Lohé Issa Konaté were sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for defamation and ordered to pay a fine of 1.5 million CFA francs (US $2,900) as well as compensation of 4 million CFA francs (US $7,800) to the complainant. The two journalists are currently imprisoned in Maison d'arrêt et de Correction de Ouagadougou (MACO) prison in the capital, Ouagadougou.

Johannesburg. 29 November 2012. A fact finding mission by CIVICUS and the Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA) has unearthed evidence of concerning judicial delays in the case against South African activist Angy Peters, who has been in custody for almost 6 weeks.

Angy Peters, who works as a Community Services Officer with the Social Justice Coalition (SJC), an organisation that campaigns against mob justice in the Khayelitsha township of Cape Town, South Africa, has been charged with the kidnapping and murder of Siphiwo Mbewu (known as Rowan du Preez). He was murdered on October 13 2012 by ‘necklacing’, when a tyre filled with petrol was placed around him and set alight.  Prior to his death, Angy had been assisting in the rehabilitation of Rowan du Preez and had tried to steer him away from a life of crime.

Johannesburg, 27 November 2012: Global civil society network, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation  and the Human Rights and Legal Aid Network (HRLAN), Sudan, condemn the Government of Sudan’s unabated crackdown on peaceful dissent and call for immediate removal of unwarranted restrictions on the independent media and nonviolent demonstrators.
 
The continued employment of excessive force by Sudanese security forces, including the routine arbitrary arrests of peaceful demonstrators, is cause for serious concern.  
 
According to national reports, over 300 persons were arbitrarily detained during anti-austerity protests held from June-July 2012 under the National Security Act, which permits prolonged detention without judicial recourse for up to four and a half months.
 
Furthermore, nearly 40 human rights defenders were detained in connection with the month-long demonstrations, including prominent civil society activists Nahid Jabralla, Director of the women’s rights group SEEMA on 3 June, and the President of the Sudanese Association for Rights and Freedoms on June 20.

26 November 2012, Johannesburg: Global civil society network CIVICUS calls on the Government of Iran to immediately and unconditionally release Human Rights Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh.

Since 17 October 2012, Nasrin - who has defended human rights activists, prisoners of conscience and juveniles facing the death penalty - has been on a hunger strike in protest of the punitive measures imposed on her and members of her family by Iranian prison officials. According to latest reports, Nasrin’s health is rapidly deteriorating.

Over the last three months, authorities at the Evin Prison in Tehran have severely restricted face-to-face visits between Nasrin and members of her family. Government officials have also been persistently harassing Nasrin’s husband, Reza Khandan, and their 12-year-old daughter to pressure them to not publicise her case, including imposing a travel ban on them in July 2012.

Johannesburg, 20 November 2012: Global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation expresses deep concern at the continuing reprisals against Bahraini human rights defenders and urges the government to respect its international law obligations.

On-going persecution of human rights defenders for engaging with Bahrain’s Universal Periodic Review was highlighted by UN Secretary General, Ban ki Moon in his August 2012 report, Cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights.

Widespread protests demanding democratic reforms in Bahrain have been on-going since February 2011. In recent months, Bahrain’s government has stepped up its campaign against civil society members highlighting continuing severe human rights abuses in the country. A shocking nation-wide ban on protests was announced on 30 October even as scores of pro-democracy protestors languish in prison.  Many of them have reported being tortured and subjected to cruel treatment at the hands of the authorities.

Johannesburg, 14 November 2012: The government of Sri Lanka’s refusal to fully support key human rights recommendations during the 14th Session of the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) represents yet another setback for reform in the country, said CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation.

During its examination under the second cycle of the UPR on 1 November 2012, the Sri Lankan government failed to equivocally commit to making essential rights-based reforms. By rejecting and delaying implementation of several crucial recommendations, the Sri Lankan government has shown a lack of seriousness in addressing pressing human rights concerns in the country, including ending reprisals by state officials against human rights defenders and strengthening the independence of the National Human Rights Commission.

Of critical concern is the government’s unwillingness to cease continued government harassment and threats against independent civil society activists. Following their participation at the 19th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in March 2012, the Sri Lankan government subjected several prominent activists to a slanderous campaign. They were portrayed by state-run news agencies as traitorous supporters of the separatist organisation, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) for raising concerns about rights violations.

Johannesburg, 8 November 2012: Global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation urges the government of Pakistan to take urgent action to address human rights concerns raised by UN Member States on 30 October 2012 during the 14th Session of Universal Period Review (UPR).

Pakistan is consistently regarded as one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists. According to international watchdog groups, at least eight journalists have been murdered since the beginning of 2012, including three in the southwestern province of Balochistan. Most recently, on 29 September in Khuzdar, Balochistan, Abdul Haq Baluch, a reporter for ARY News TV and the Daily Awan and Tawar newspapers, was killed while on his way to Khuzdar Press Club in Balochistan by two unidentified perpetrators.  

Under the new government elected in March 2008, women’s rights activists continue to face severe reprisals for carrying out their legitimate work. On 9 October 2012, Ms. Malala Yousafzai, 15, was shot in the head while on her way to school by members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).  Malala, who is a vocal advocate for girls’ education in the Swat Valley and recipient of the Pakistan National Peace Prize, was attacked by TTP members for promoting “Western culture in Pashtun areas.”  

19 October 2012. Amnesty International, CIVICUS and Human Rights Watch are deeply concerned at the 19 October 2012 decision by Ethiopia’s Supreme Court to uphold the freezing of the assets of the Human Rights Council, Ethiopia’s leading, and oldest, human rights organization and the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association, a prominent women’s rights organization. 

The decision is yet another blow to the work of these two organizations and to the promotion and protection of human rights throughout the country.

The decision of the Supreme Court represents the acquiescence of the courts in the ongoing targeting of independent human rights organizations in Ethiopia, which has resulted in the near total demolition of human rights civil society in the country. The decision upholds the confiscation of substantial funding from the Human Rights Council (HRCO) – an organization with a strong track record of independent monitoring, documenting and advocacy on human rights issues; and from the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA), an organization that was conducting significant levels of work on women’s rights issues, including in providing legal and other forms of assistance to thousands of women every year.

HRCO and EWLA’s bank accounts were frozen in December 2009 after the passing of the Charities and Societies Proclamation (the ‘CSO law’), in January of that year. The law, ostensibly aimed at regulating civil society, places excessive restrictions on the work, operations and funding of human rights organizations, including by prohibiting human rights organizations from receiving more than 10 percent of their funding from foreign sources.

Johannesburg, 24 August 2012: Global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation urges the Cambodian government to stop what appears to be an increasingly vicious campaign against civil society. Environmental and land rights activists exposing human rights abuses are particularly at risk as Cambodia's government seeks to promote rapid economic growth through policies that favour the private sector over citizens' rights.

"We can state without a doubt that 2012 has been the worst year for human rights in Cambodia in over a decade," says Naly Pilorge, Director of the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defence of Human Rights. "From increasingly violent crackdowns on peaceful protests, to arbitrary arrests and unwarranted criminal charges against protestors and human rights workers, and to the killing of a prominent environmental activist, civil society in Cambodia is under siege."

71 year-old veteran activist Mam Sonando has been in detention since 15 July on charges of committing public order crimes including "participating in an insurrectionary movement." His detention follows a protest by villagers against the forcible acquisition of their land in Kratie province, during which security forces killed a 14 year-old girl. Prior to his arrest, Mam Sonando's radio station, Beehive Radio, had highlighted a complaint by an overseas opposition political movement to the International Criminal Court that argued that large-scale forced evictions by the Cambodian government that displaced thousands of people amounted to crimes against humanity. It is widely believed that Mam Sonando's arrest was in response to this independent reporting by Beehive. Various reports indicate that his health is deteriorating rapidly and he has now fallen ill for a second time since being detained.

Johannesburg, 22 August 2012: The sentencing of Nabeel Rajab, President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, to three years in jail marks a new low for civil society in Bahrain, says global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation.   

On 16 August 2012, Manama’s Lower Criminal Court convicted Nabeel for nothing other than exercising what should be normal democratic freedoms enjoyed by all. He was found guilty of “participation in an illegal gathering, calling for a march without prior notification” and “inciting others to join in illegal gatherings using social networking sites.” At the time of his sentencing Rajab was already serving a three month sentence for “insulting an official authority over twitter.”

17 August 2012, Johannesburg: Global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is deeply saddened at the killing of over 30 protesting miners by police on 16 August in Marikana, North West Province, South Africa.

"While details of the incident are still coming to light, we urge South Africa's government to immediately institute an independent inquiry into the circumstances of the deaths," says Katsuji Imata, Acting Secretary General of CIVICUS. "Law enforcement agencies engaged in crowd control are bound by strict legal requirements and are expected to abide by the UN Basic Principles on the Use Force and Firearms. An inquiry must reveal to the public the extent to which legal requirements were followed by police officers and whether there was disproportionate lethal force."

In the lead up to the incident on 16 August, which occurred outside the Lonmin's Marikana platinum mine, workers belonging to rival unions had been involved in a week-long violent standoff triggered by a demand for better wages in which ten people, including two police officers, were killed. Police were asked to restore peace after thousands of striking mineworkers gathered together in support of their demands.

16 August 2012. The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative and global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation call for the Commonwealth to bring Swaziland under the scrutiny of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group for persistent and serious violations of Commonwealth values.

While Swaziland's national constitution (2005) guarantees the rights of freedom of expression, association and assembly, these fundamental freedoms are weakened by contrary claw-back provisions that limit their exercise.

The King's Proclamation of 1973, which prohibits political organising, remains in force. Political parties are banned. Political activity and expression that does not align itself with the regime is not tolerated. Political gatherings are regularly dispersed and publications critical of the regime are censored.

The lack of tolerance of dissent is evidenced by the de-registration of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland in April 2012, soon after it stated its intention to boycott the 2013 elections. That same month, peaceful pro-democracy protests were repressed, with journalists detained and human rights defenders harassed.

Pro-democracy activists and human rights defenders are targeted using imprecise counter-terror legislation, including the Suppression of Terrorism Act (2008) and the draconian provisions of the Sedition and Subversive Activities Act (1938), which are regularly employed to inhibit the exercise of democratic and civic freedoms.

There is a strong perception of police impunity, as credible allegations of extra-judicial killings, torture and ill-treatment have not been adequately addressed.

8 August 2012- Global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation condemns the recent surge in restrictions on civil society in Russia and urges the international community to speak out against the Russian government's disregard for international norms on the treatment of civil society.

In the past two months, Russia's government has hurried a number of regressive laws through parliament. The laws, which will come into force 120 days after they have been signed by President Vladimir Putin, will severely constrain the work of civil society and impede the exercise of the key civil society rights – of free expression, association and assembly. CIVICUS believes that the new laws are a reaction to the widespread protests at the assumption of the presidency by President Putin for a third term and allegations of misuse of state machinery.

7 August 2012- The Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), CIVICUS, the Feminist Task Force, Oxfam International, Beyond 2015, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Article 19, ATD Fourth World, the World Movement for Democracy and Stakeholder Forum, welcome the appointment by the UN Secretary-General of a diverse High-Level Panel to advise on a post-2015 development agenda.

However, as networks comprising a wide range of civil society organisations at the local, national and global level, we are concerned the High Level Panel does not include the voices of people living in poverty, and their representative associations who deserve a seat at the table. We feel the current composition of the panel is largely state-centric and should include greater civil society voices, particularly those of women, workers and other socially excluded populations.

Johannesburg, 30 July 2012: Global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and the Philippine-based national human rights organisation, Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights, urge the Philippines government to end persecution and extrajudicial killings of human rights defenders, and to carry out fair and independent investigations into all cases of extrajudicial killings and disappearances.

President Benigno Aquino III has promised to “resolve cases of extrajudicial executions and other violations of human rights.” Nevertheless, genuine reform to ensure the protection of civil society members continues to be lacking. The government continues to implement Executive Order 546, which allows the use of paramilitary forces and private militias to spearhead its controversial counter-insurgency programme, Oplan Bayanihan.

According to Karapatan, 99 instances of extrajudicial killing and 11 cases of enforced disappearance have been documented since President Aquino assumed office in June 2010. The majority of the victims have been farmers, indigenous peoples and activists advocating for land rights and environmental protection. Additionally, it is reported that at least 385 political prisoners continue to languish in prisons as a result of exercising the key civil society freedoms - freedom of expression, association and assembly.

Johannesburg, 24 July 2012: CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and Pakistan women’s rights group Blue Veins strongly condemn attacks on human rights defenders in Pakistan, and urge Pakistan’s government to uphold its responsibility to protect civil society.

The work of civil society activists and independent journalists is becoming increasingly dangerous in Pakistan.  On 4 July 2012, women’s rights activist Farida Afridi was shot dead by gunmen in the Khyber Agency region of the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) of Northwest Pakistan.  Farida worked for the Society for Appraisal and Women Empowerment in Rural Areas, a CSO focusing on the welfare and the rights of women.  She had been threatened by extremist groups to stop her activities as a human rights defender prior to her death.

Johannesburg, 12 July 2012: Global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation welcomes the recent UN Human Rights Council decision to address persistent and serious human rights violations in Belarus and Eritrea.

At the close of its 20th session last week, the Council adopted resolutions with broad support from member states condemning the deterioration of respect for fundamental freedoms in Belarus and Eritrea and establishing Special Rapporteurs on the two countries.

The Council cited heightened restrictions on the freedoms of association, assembly and expression in Belarus and called on the Belarus Government to put an immediate end to the arbitrary detention of human rights defenders and unconditionally release all political prisoners.

Johannesburg, 9 July 2012: Recent moves to curb freedom of expression in Ethiopia represent a steep escalation in an ongoing campaign to silence dissent, says global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation.

On 27 June, prominent blogger and human rights defender Eskinder Nega was convicted along with five other exiled journalists for attempting to incite violence and overthrow the constitutional order. Eskinder was arrested on 14 September 2011 after he wrote an article criticising the manner in which Ethiopia’s anti-terrorism proclamation was being used to stifle free speech. The authorities have accused him of attempting to start an uprising through a series of articles he wrote on the Arab Spring and through his analyses of the political situation in Ethiopia. Sentencing for Eskinder, who is in custody, and for other journalists who were tried in absentia, is planned for 13 July.

Государственная Дума Российской Федерации рассмотрит поправки к законам об НКО 13 июля.

Гражданское общество во всем мире шокировано предлагаемыми поправками в отдельные законодательные акты, которые предусматривают обозначение организаций как «выполняющих функции иностранного агента» в случае получения ими зарубежного финансирования. Такие организации становятся объектом повышенного государственного контроля и обязаны предоставлять дополнительную финансовую отчетность, что противоречит Конституции РФ и международным обязательствам.

Принятие поправок серьезно подорвет деятельность гражданского общества и нанесет урон международной солидарности. СИВИКУС выступает с призывом к гражданскому обществу во всем мире выразить свое возмущение создаваемым в России прецедентом, подписав и отправив прилагаемое письмо в адрес Государственной Думы Российской Федерации по адресу

Johannesburg, 26 June 2012: Russia has taken a further step backwards on democratic freedoms by amending the administrative code on illegal public events to punish violations of rules through exorbitant fines, say CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and Greenpeace Russia.

On 8 June 2012, President Putin signed into law controversial increases to existing penalties for violating rules on participation in and organisation of public protests. The new maximum penalty for participation in a protest that is not in accordance with government regulations is 300,000 rubles (approximately US$9,000) for individuals, while organisations face fines up to 1 million rubles (approximately US$32,000). The fine limits have been increased by 150 times for individuals and by 300 times for organisations.

Johannesburg, 25 June 2012. Civil society space in Uganda is rapidly shrinking, warn global network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and Uganda-based East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP). Independent civil society organisations are being openly threatened and placed under excessive scrutiny by senior government officials.

For example, on 18 June, a skills-building workshop for LGBTI human rights defenders organised by EHAHRDP was closed abruptly after police raided the training venue. Workshop participants, and guests and staff in the hotel where the meeting was taking place were effectively held hostage for over three hours while police attempted to identify and detain participants. Two EHAHRDP staff members and two workshop participants were also detained on a police bus. The police advised EHAHRDP to end the training and to deliver a copy of their registration and incorporation documents to the Criminal Investigations Department. EHAHRDP was further advised to seek approval from police institutions when such gatherings are scheduled in future in order to avoid more disruption. Local journalists arrived before the police and said that they had received a tip-off of the action from the Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity, Hon. Rev. Fr. Simon Lokodo. 

Disappointment and frustration abound in Rio

Johannesburg, South Africa 22 June 2012 CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is deeply dismayed with the outcome of Rio+20 and believes the under-achievement of Rio raises serious questions about the ability of the inter-governmental system as currently constituted to achieve sustainable development, protection of human rights, and the full participation of people.

“The Rio+20 statement as it stands is completely out of touch with reality,” says Wael Hmaidan, Director of CAN International, who delivered a statement on ‘The Future We Don’t Want’ on behalf the NGO Major Group for Rio+20 at the conference’s opening plenary on 20 June. He was referring to the 283-paragraph outcome document, completed and endorsed by delegations from 191 governments and sent to Heads of State and Government to adopt at the end of the Rio+20 conference.

In the hope of strengthening civil society participation and making the process more inclusive, global civil society network CIVICUS has been acting as one of the Organising Partners for the NGO Major Group for the Rio+20 Conference. NGOs constitute one of nine Major Groups engaged in the Rio+20 process which culminated on 22 June.

Johannesburg, 15 June 2012. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation denounces the government of Bangladesh’s systematic clampdown on peaceful political dissent and calls for a full investigation into the politically motivated disappearances of civil society activists.

Since the beginning of 2012, a number of civil society members, journalists and political activists have been attacked by representatives of law enforcement agencies. Civil society protests and public meetings have been disrupted by the police. Meanwhile new legislation is being proposed to control the activities of independent civil society groups, marking a dangerous decline in democratic freedoms in Bangladesh.

CIVICUS is deeply concerned about the safety of Bahrain civil society activist and President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, Nabeel Rajab, who was arrested again on 6 June.

It has been confirmed from reliable sources that the evident reason for Nabeel’s arrest was his appearance on ‘The Stream’ programme of Al-Jazeera on 4 June. His arrest took place despite an assurance being sought by Al-Jazeera from the government of Bahrain that he would not be sanctioned for appearing on television.

Johannesburg, 5 June 2012: CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and Expert Working Group, Uzbekistan, demand an end to the persecution of human rights activists in Uzbekistan and proper access for international human rights experts

Gulshan Karaeva, who heads the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan in the country’s Kashkadarya region, is the latest civil society victim to be targeted for her work and beliefs in a country which has one of the worst human rights records in the world. Karaeva is being singled out for her work in providing free legal aid to victims of human rights violations. In a letter she published on the internet on 5 May 2012, she reported that she had refused a demand by Uzbekistan’s National Security Services to cooperate with the agency as an informant. Days later, she experienced a series of attacks and threats.

Johannesburg. 4 June 2012: Global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and Azerbaijan CSO the Center for National and International Studies (CNIS) are deeply concerned about the safety of Azeri civil society activists who raised awareness of human rights violations during the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest, held last month in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Civil society in Azerbaijan was highly vocal ahead of the contest, demanding the release of political prisoners and the removal of restrictions on freedoms of speech and assembly under the banner of the Sing for Democracy campaign. Now, as the international spotlight shifts from Azerbaijan, credible concerns are being raised about possible renewed persecution of activists.

Johannesburg. 29 May 2012.

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation salutes the bold and courageous action of UN Human Rights Council President, Laura Dupuy Lasserre, in asking the government of Bahrain to commit not to harassing or abusing civil society activists present at the current UN human rights meeting in Geneva.

The current UN Human Rights Council's universal periodic review (UPR) process saw Bahrain's human rights track record called into scrutiny by other governments. Civil society members therefore came to Geneva for the Human Rights Council meeting to lobby and speak out against Bahrain's appalling human rights record and treatment of civil society activists, which has seen arrests, imprisonment, torture, violence and other forms of harassment.

King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa
Office of the King
The Amiri Court
Rifa'a Palace
The Kingdom of Bahrain

8 May 2012

Your Majesty
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and the organisations and individuals listed below are deeply concerned about the arrest of Nabeel Rajab, President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, Director of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights and FIDH Deputy Secretary General.

Mr Nabeel Rajab was arrested on 5 May 2012 upon arrival at Manama airport. He has been accused of "insulting the statutory bodies" pursuant to Article 216 of the Penal Code, which carries an imprisonment for a term up to three years and a fine. These charges come in relation to tweets that Mr Rajab posted deemed "insulting" to the Ministry of Interior.

Johannesburg, 9 May 2012

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation calls for the international community to show stronger political will to stop human rights abuses in Syria. The international community must ensure that President Bashar al-Assad's regime is brought under pressure to abide by international law, and that there are investigations and accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity. It is time for the UN Security Council to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court.

"A key part of a solution to the crisis in Syria must be to hold perpetrators of war crimes to account. It is unacceptable that such crimes have gone unpunished for 14 months. Addressing issues of impunity and accountability are tantamount to any reconstruction of the Syrian social fabric and long-lasting peace," says Adele Poskitt, Policy Officer at CIVICUS.

The division and lack of consensus within the international community over the crisis is prolonging violence and suffering in Syria. According to the UN, the death toll has reached 9,000 people and tens of thousands more have been displaced or fled the country.

8 May 2012

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is shocked at the arrest and detention of Bahraini human rights defender Nabeel Rajab.

Nabeel Rajab was arrested on 5 May 2012 upon arrival at Manama airport. According to reports, he has been accused of “insulting the statutory bodies” pursuant to Article 216 of the Penal Code, which carries an imprisonment for a term up to three years and a fine. These charges come in relation to tweets that Nabeel posted that were deemed “insulting” to the Ministry of Interior.

“We believe that Nabeel Rajab’s arrest is an outright violation of the state’s duty to protect the freedom of speech of its citizens,” says Netsanet Belay, Policy and Research Director at CIVICUS. “He has been arrested for no reason other than his peaceful, legal and courageous acts of human rights activism.”

Johannesburg. 4 May 2012.

More than 25 organisations around the world have combined to urge Israel to free imprisoned human rights defender Ameer Makhoul on the second anniversary of his arrest.

Ameer has been in prison since May 2010. On 1 May 2012, Ameer was transferred from Gilboa prison to another jail in Majido, allegedly as punishment for participating in a hunger strike to highlight the conditions of political prisoners in Israel. His family was not informed, and only found out about the move when they tried to visit him at Gilboa prison. The transfer of Ameer to Majido adds to the harassment being faced by his family by making it difficult for them to reach him.

Ameer has been Director of Ittijah: Union of Arab Community-Based Associations since it was established in 1995. He has also served as Chair of the Public Committee for the Defence of Political Freedoms of Arab Citizens in Israel, in addition to being a prolific writer on political, social and civil society issues in Israel.

The circumstances surrounding Ameer's arrest by Israel's Shin Bet security agency, and the consequent failure by the Israeli government to follow the due process of law immediately after his arrest, smack of harassment and political interference.

Johannesburg. 17 April 2012.

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation calls for a boycott of the Bahrain Grand Prix on 21 April 2012 and the release of all political prisoners in Bahrain.

The decision for the race to go ahead dangerously ignores the ongoing human rights violations and increases the tension in a country that is sliding towards another eruption of violence. The Bahrain Grand Prix was cancelled last year in the midst of a brutal government crackdown on protests that formed part of the Arab Spring, but the Formula One administrating body, the Fédération Internationale de I’Automobile, has announced that it is “safe” for the race to go ahead this week. This announcement was made even as clashes between protesters and security forces continue to occur daily. Villages that are home to Bahrain’s majority Shi’ite population have been attacked by supporters of the regime, and an explosion on 9 April 2012 in al-Akar, a village in the east of Bahrain, left several people injured and led to threats of retaliation.

Joint statement by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and the Arab NGO Network for Development

The use of military action is intensifying in Syria, and the human rights and humanitarian conditions are deteriorating. Despite the calls of Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Arab League and the UN Special Envoy to Syria, Syrian authorities have failed to halt the use of excessive force and violence.

Further, the Syrian authorities have not taken any serious steps towards implementing political reforms demanded by the people. The steps the Syrian government has taken in assigning a committee to propose constitutional amendments and laws for political parties, associations and elections do not reflect the seriousness of popular demand for reform and political openness. Syrian authorities have also not taken any measure to reform social and economic policies in line with international human rights standards, and in accordance with the recommendations it accepted at the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review session in October 2010

Johannesburg, South Africa, 22 March 2012. The space for civil society to operate independently in Malawi is sharply shrinking warns international civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation. In a warning sign of an impending crackdown, members of civil society and the media are being openly intimidated to prevent them from criticising the government.

On 8 March 2012, the Malawi President's Office issued a public statement warning civil society organisations (CSOs) and media houses against insulting President Bingu wa Mutharika. Among other things, the statement notes: "It is a pity that some civil society organisations and media houses find demeaning, insulting and accusing the President as a scoop to merit themselves. It should be obvious that such insults, accusations and derogatory statements and ill comments about our Head of State are but a shame in the eyes of the international community." The statement threatens dissenters that the government "monitors carefully" social networks that are "hostile and probably careless in demeaning the State President." It also finds "unacceptable" phone-in radio programmes that offer a "platform for callers to castigate or insult the Head of State."

Johannesburg. 20 February 2011. As the South African National Council of Provinces considers the so called 'Secrecy Bill,' CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation urges parliamentarians to reject the "undemocratic" draft law.

The Protection of State Information Bill, drawn up by South Africa's Minister for State Security, was passed by the National Assembly in November 2011 despite serious concerns raised by a wide range of CSOs about its unconstitutionality and incompatibility with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which South Africa is a party. The bill is presently being considered by the South African National Council of Provinces which is undertaking a country-wide consultation process.  If passed by the National Council of Provinces, the bill will be sent to the President for signing into law.

"Passage of the bill will constitute a major setback for South Africa's democracy, weakening people's ability to tackle corruption and challenge official wrongdoing," said Ingrid Srinath, Secretary General of CIVICUS. "It will not only muzzle media and civil society nationally but also severely tarnish South Africa's reputation as a role model for democratic standards around the world."

Johannesburg 14 February 2012. As Bahrain marks the first anniversary of its pro-democracy protests, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation calls upon the Arab League and Bahrain’s military and trading partners to pressure the government to end an ongoing travesty of justice.

A year on from the popular protests that began on 14 February 2011, 21 prominent human rights and political activists, many of them suffering from medical conditions, languish in prison, serving prison sentences ranging from two years to life. The sentences were imposed after flawed trials conducted by military courts and confirmed on appeal by military courts, in violation of well established legal principles. The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, which was authorised by the King to look into rights violations, has reported that detainees were tortured, but no action has been taken to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Johannesburg. 8 February 2012. Amid rising tension in Cairo, Egypt, violence against peaceful protestors is being intensified and non-governmental organisations are being openly attacked. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Arab NGO Network for Development and the Open Forum for CSO Development Effectiveness condemn persistent and brutal crackdowns by Egyptian security forces and the attempt to control civil society activity through a draft Law on Associations and Foundations.

On 25 January 2012, thousands of members of Egyptian civil society flooded Tahrir Square to mark the first anniversary of the people's revolution and also to register their protest at the present turn of events. "What promised to be an uprising to end oppression in Egypt one year ago has been manipulated by the military to reinforce its control and severely repress legitimate civil society activities" said Ingrid Srinath, Secretary-General of CIVICUS.