Interviews

BOTSWANA: ‘Anti-right groups are emerging in reaction to progressive gains’

August 15, 2019

BOTSWANA: ‘Anti-right groups are emerging in reaction to progressive gains’

As part of our 2019 thematic report, we are interviewing civil society activists and leaders about their experiences of backlash from anti-rights groups…

HIV/AIDS: ‘We need a global civil society movement that stands together for all rights’

August 14, 2019

HIV/AIDS: ‘We need a global civil society movement that stands together for all rights’

in Interviews

CIVICUS speaks to Alessandra Nilo, co-founder and Executive Director of GESTOS – HIV and AIDS, Communication and Gender, a civil society organisation (CSO)…

REFUGEE RIGHTS: ‘My status doesn't represent me’

August 13, 2019

REFUGEE RIGHTS: ‘My status doesn't represent me’

in Interviews

As part of our 2019 thematic report, we are interviewing civil society activists and leaders about their human rights work, their experiences of…

LGBTQI RIGHTS: ‘There is an ongoing desire among many to more closely regulate morality’

August 12, 2019

LGBTQI RIGHTS: ‘There is an ongoing desire among many to more closely regulate morality’

in Interviews

As part of our 2019 thematic report, we are interviewing civil society activists, leaders and experts about their experiences of backlash from anti-rights groups…

WOMEN’S RIGHTS: ‘Progressive civil society must claim for itself the defence of life’

July 29, 2019

WOMEN’S RIGHTS: ‘Progressive civil society must claim for itself the defence of life’

in Interviews

As part of our 2019 thematic report, we are interviewing civil society activists, leaders and experts about their experiences of backlash from anti-rights groups…

SRI LANKA: ‘People are scared of expressing themselves freely’

July 25, 2019

SRI LANKA: ‘People are scared of expressing themselves freely’

in Interviews

In April 2019, more than 250 people were killed and hundreds injured in a terror attack in Sri Lanka that targeted three churches and…

ONLINE CIVIC SPACE: ‘We shouldn’t expect tech giants to solve the problems that they have…

July 12, 2019

ONLINE CIVIC SPACE: ‘We shouldn’t expect tech giants to solve the problems that they have…

in Interviews

As part of our 2019 thematic report, we are interviewing civil society activists and leaders about their experiences of backlash from anti-rights groups…

PERU: ‘The ultra-conservative tide is affecting democratic life and fundamental rights’

July 11, 2019

PERU: ‘The ultra-conservative tide is affecting democratic life and fundamental rights’

in Interviews

As part of our 2019 thematic report, we are interviewing civil society activists and leaders about their experiences of backlash from anti-rights groups and…

HONG KONG: ‘We may have not achieved our demands yet, but we've built solidarity’

July 11, 2019

HONG KONG: ‘We may have not achieved our demands yet, but we've built solidarity’

in Interviews

Millions of people took to the streets of Hong Kong in June 2019 to protest against a proposed Extradition Bill that would have allowed…

‘In response to anti-right narratives, we need to support one another in all of our…

July 10, 2019

‘In response to anti-right narratives, we need to support one another in all of our…

in Interviews

As part of our 2019 thematic report, we are interviewing civil society activists and leaders about their experiences of backlash from anti-rights groups and…

WOMEN’S RIGHTS: ‘Anti-rights groups are trying to take away our acquired rights’

July 09, 2019

WOMEN’S RIGHTS: ‘Anti-rights groups are trying to take away our acquired rights’

in Interviews

As part of our 2019 thematic report, we are interviewing civil society activists and leaders about their experiences of backlash from anti-rights groups and…

‘People cannot stay on the sidelines when their rights are being taken away’

June 27, 2019

‘People cannot stay on the sidelines when their rights are being taken away’

in Interviews

As part of our 2019 thematic report, we are interviewing civil society activists and leaders about their experiences of backlash from anti-rights groups…

'Global policy-making can greatly benefit from the expertise of regular citizens'

June 19, 2019

'Global policy-making can greatly benefit from the expertise of regular citizens'

in Interviews

CIVICUS speaks to Antoine Vergne, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Missions Publiques, an impact-driven organisation that seeks to improve policy-making at the local, national…

Ghana: “People want CSOs to stay and thrive, not to shut down”

May 31, 2019

Ghana: “People want CSOs to stay and thrive, not to shut down”

in Interviews

FRENCH This article is part of the #StoriesOfResilience series, coordinated by CIVICUS to feature groups and activists on their journey to promote better resourcing practices for civil…

CHINA: ’30 years after Tiananmen, the world witnesses the consequences of nurturing China’

May 30, 2019

CHINA: ’30 years after Tiananmen, the world witnesses the consequences of nurturing China’

in Interviews

4 June 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown in China when hundreds, if not thousands, of unarmed peaceful pro-democracy protesters were…

THE GAMBIA: ‘I use my art to effect change, and that is why I am…

May 09, 2019

THE GAMBIA: ‘I use my art to effect change, and that is why I am…

in Interviews

On his way to participate in International Civil Society Week (ICSW) in Belgrade, Serbia, the Gambian rapper and activist Killa Ace was detained at…

SINGAPORE: ‘Making politicians the arbiters of truth invites abuse’

May 03, 2019

SINGAPORE: ‘Making politicians the arbiters of truth invites abuse’

in Interviews

CIVICUS speaks to Ja Ian Chong, an associate professor at the National University of Singapore, about the so-called ‘anti-fake news law’ currently under discussion…

BRAZIL: ‘This is a moment of fragility for civil society’

April 25, 2019

BRAZIL: ‘This is a moment of fragility for civil society’

in Interviews

CIVICUS speaks with Pedro Strozenberg, Ombudsman of Rio de Janeiro, about the situation of human rights and the regression of space for civil society…

CHINA: ‘Crackdown on Jasic labour struggle seeks to eliminate unrest during economic downturn’

March 26, 2019

CHINA: ‘Crackdown on Jasic labour struggle seeks to eliminate unrest during economic downturn’

in Interviews

In July 2018, police in Shenzhen in Guangdong Province, China detained and used physical violence against several workers at Jasic Technology, a welding equipment…

UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR: ‘Human rights defenders are ordinary people doing extraordinary things’

March 05, 2019

UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR: ‘Human rights defenders are ordinary people doing extraordinary things’

in Interviews

CIVICUS speaks to Michel Forst, United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, about key challenges and responses, and the role…

UNITED STATES: Voices of vulnerable groups are suppressed if their votes are not counted

March 01, 2019

UNITED STATES: Voices of vulnerable groups are suppressed if their votes are not counted

in Interviews

During the US midterm elections held in November 2018, great numbers of eligible voters, particularly from historically marginalised groups, were prevented from voting due…

G20: ‘Global activism must reconnect with the real experiences of people on the ground’

March 01, 2019

G20: ‘Global activism must reconnect with the real experiences of people on the ground’

in Interviews

In December 2018 thousands of people marched against neoliberal policies in Argentina, where the Summit of the G20 Heads of State was being held…

PAKISTAN: ‘The environment for civil society is suffocating’

February 28, 2019

PAKISTAN: ‘The environment for civil society is suffocating’

in Interviews

Throughout 2018, the space for civil society continued to deteriorate in Pakistan, particularly in the context of July’s election. CIVICUS speaks about the increasing…

CAMBODIA: ‘We need to bring back to life the spirit of the Paris Peace Agreement’

February 27, 2019

CAMBODIA: ‘We need to bring back to life the spirit of the Paris Peace Agreement’

in Interviews

The conditions for civil society in Cambodia have continued to deteriorate. In 2018, the government imposed further restrictions on the right to the freedom…

ECUADOR: ‘Today better conditions exist for the exercise of democratic freedoms’

February 26, 2019

ECUADOR: ‘Today better conditions exist for the exercise of democratic freedoms’

in Interviews

CIVICUS speaks about apparently improving conditions for civil society in Ecuador with Daniel Barragán, Executive Director of the International Centre for Research on the…

Dominican Republic: Big Opportunities, Bigger Challenges for Civil Society Domestic Resourcing

February 26, 2019

Dominican Republic: Big Opportunities, Bigger Challenges for Civil Society Domestic Resourcing

in Interviews

This article is part of the #StoriesOfResilience series, coordinated by CIVICUS to feature groups and activists on their journey to promote better resourcing practices for civil society…

SUDAN: Demands for political change are fuelled by brutal state response to protests

February 18, 2019

SUDAN: Demands for political change are fuelled by brutal state response to protests

in Interviews

Following a year that was marked by the violent repression of any kind of opposition and dissent in Sudan, a situation that has continued…

ESCAZÚ: ‘The work of civil society made a huge difference’

February 13, 2019

ESCAZÚ: ‘The work of civil society made a huge difference’

in Interviews

After several years of negotiations, in March 2018 the first environmental treaty for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Regional Agreement on Access to…

ESCAZÚ: A milestone on the road to ending Latin America’s environmental conflicts

February 12, 2019

ESCAZÚ: A milestone on the road to ending Latin America’s environmental conflicts

in Interviews

After several years of negotiations, the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America…

IRAN: ‘Women are the thorn in the sides of hardliners’

February 12, 2019

IRAN: ‘Women are the thorn in the sides of hardliners’

in Interviews

Following a year in which women’s rights protests made headlines worldwide - including in Iran, where women’s struggles were symbolised by the resurgence of…

PHILIPPINES: ‘All positive developments have been driven by civil society’s persistence’

February 11, 2019

PHILIPPINES: ‘All positive developments have been driven by civil society’s persistence’

in Interviews

Following a year that saw further deterioration of the rule of law and rising impunity for rampant human rights violations in the Philippines, CIVICUS…

TANZANIA: ‘Despite threats, we will not retreat from defending the rights of our communities’

February 06, 2019

TANZANIA: ‘Despite threats, we will not retreat from defending the rights of our communities’

in Interviews

CIVICUS speaks to Joseph Ole Parsambei, Executive Director of the Tanzania Pastoralist Community Forum (TPCF), about the threats faced by environmental, land and indigenous…

BRAZIL: ‘The new government has come to establish a regressive, anti-rights agenda’

February 05, 2019

BRAZIL: ‘The new government has come to establish a regressive, anti-rights agenda’

in Interviews

Portuguese In the October 2018 elections, Brazil elected as president a former military officer and far-right populist, Jair Bolsonaro, who ran a particularly aggressive…

IRAN: A new generation of civic-minded, courageous activists is rising

January 30, 2019

IRAN: A new generation of civic-minded, courageous activists is rising

in Interviews

Following a year that was characterised by a continued crackdown on fundamental freedoms in Iran, CIVICUS speaks to Sohrab Razzaghi, Executive Director of the…

DRC: ‘The 2018 elections carried the hope of change’

January 29, 2019

DRC: ‘The 2018 elections carried the hope of change’

in Interviews

French Following the publication of our report, ‘Democracy for All: Beyond a Crisis of Imagination’, we continue to interview civil society activists and leaders…

VENEZUELA: Crisis demands a combined humanitarian and human rights response

January 25, 2019

VENEZUELA: Crisis demands a combined humanitarian and human rights response

in Interviews

Venezuela has been immersed in a political crisis for some time now. In May 2018, while hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan citizens were leaving…