Interviews

'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'

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

The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) has been tirelessly promoting the sustainability of civil society organisations (CSOs) for the last five years, after…

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

The term sustainability is being used maybe more than ever by civil society organisations (CSOs) in Latin America and the Caribbean, as they are…

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…

CHILE: Protests reveal lack of accountability of the Catholic Church

January 25, 2019

CHILE: Protests reveal lack of accountability of the Catholic Church

in Interviews

In 2018, protests broke out in Chile, and then spread to other countries, in reaction to revelations of sexual abuse perpetrated by Catholic priests.…

VIETNAM: ‘We hope UN member states will listen to civil society’

January 17, 2019

VIETNAM: ‘We hope UN member states will listen to civil society’

in Interviews

Ahead of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Vietnam’s human rights record at the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council on 22 January…

ARGENTINA: ‘Change is inevitable. It is just a matter of time’

January 11, 2019

ARGENTINA: ‘Change is inevitable. It is just a matter of time’

in Interviews

Twitter: Edurne Cárdenas In 2018, after years of civil society efforts, Argentina’s congress discussed an initiative to legalise abortion for the first time. While…

BOLIVIA: Increasing reduction of spaces immune to state co-optation or repression

January 10, 2019

BOLIVIA: Increasing reduction of spaces immune to state co-optation or repression

in Interviews

CEDLA: Javier Gómez Bolivia was home to a series of protests in 2018. CIVICUS speaks about these to Javier Gómez Aguilar, Executive Director of…

ISRAEL: There is a lack of political will to end the occupation

January 09, 2019

ISRAEL: There is a lack of political will to end the occupation

in Interviews

Twitter: Amit Gilutz After a tough year for dissent in the occupied Palestinian territories, CIVICUS speaks to Amit Gilutz, spokesperson of B’Tselem –…

INDIA: When justice is on your side, you have to keep on fighting

January 08, 2019

INDIA: When justice is on your side, you have to keep on fighting

in Interviews

Flickr: Anand Grover After years of civil society campaigning and legal action, gay sex was decriminalised in India in 2018. CIVICUS speaks to Anand…

MIGRATION: ‘The way our countries are treating refugees –this isn't the Europe we want’

December 18, 2018

MIGRATION: ‘The way our countries are treating refugees –this isn't the Europe we want’

in Interviews

CIVICUS speaks to Giorgia Linardi, spokesperson for Sea-Watch in Italy, and Julian Pahlke, chairperson of Jugend Rettet (‘Youth Rescues’) and former crew member of…

NOBEL PEACE PRIZE: Congolese doctor and Iraqi survivor recognised for efforts to end wartime sexual…

December 10, 2018

NOBEL PEACE PRIZE: Congolese doctor and Iraqi survivor recognised for efforts to end wartime sexual…

in Interviews

On the occasion of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad for their efforts to end the use…

UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR: ‘Counter-terrorism is devouring international law’

December 06, 2018

UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR: ‘Counter-terrorism is devouring international law’

in Interviews

CIVICUS speaks to Agnes Callamard, United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, about her latest report, Saving lives is not a…

HAITI: The conditions for democracy are not being met

December 05, 2018

HAITI: The conditions for democracy are not being met

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…

PAKISTAN: ‘Democratic forces have become weak due to prolonged military regimes’

November 19, 2018

PAKISTAN: ‘Democratic forces have become weak due to prolonged military regimes’

in Interviews

As part of our 2018 report on the theme of reimagining democracy, we are interviewing civil society activists and leaders about their work to…

FIJI: ‘In a democracy, the power of the people doesn’t begin and end at the…

November 08, 2018

FIJI: ‘In a democracy, the power of the people doesn’t begin and end at the…

in Interviews

As part of our 2018 report on the theme of reimagining democracy, we are interviewing civil society activists and leaders about their work to…