25 Years of Citizen Action

25. Armenia: Women give voice to and reflect on the ‘Velvet Revolution’

By Angela Grămadă Between April and May 2018, Armenia experienced a mass mobilisation of people power, with hundreds of thousands of men and women taking to the streets in frustration over decades of monopolisation of political power.

24. From a buzzword to a menace: Asia’s “fake news” trend

In Cambodia, Prime Minister Hun Sen has already paved the way to his own victory at the polls later this month: the only viable opposition party has been dissolved, alongside the shutdown of numerous independent radio stations and news publications.

23. Journalists struggle on against rising tide of media repression in Egypt

After being held behind bars for five years for photographing what turned out to be a massacre by Egyptian security forces protest, my colleague and friend photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid, known as “Shawkan”, is still in prison.

22. The football club of “hundreds of presidents” – how sport can be used as a powerful tool by civil society

By Andrzej Kostek and Jan Wąsiński Among many human activities, sport is one that evokes enormous emotions.

21. When blockchain meets civil society

Blockchain is a decentralised digital ledger that enables the unchangeable transfer of data, transactions and records.

20. New Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association outlines threats to rights

The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association are fundamental pillars of democratic governance and open societies while being part of international human rights law.

19. 25 years later, South African civil society still battling government in people’s interests

By William Gumede Let’s imagine for a moment that aliens had visited South Africa in late 1993, abducted an ordinary South African, then returned him or her home exactly 25 years later.

18. What older activists can learn from the kids behind March for Our Lives

By Michael Silberman How US school shooting survivors and others are flipping the script, dreaming big and building people-powered movements that adapt to today’s rapid pace of change.

17. Reimagining a new framework of inclusion for LGBTI rights

Across the world, civic space is under fire from governments and non- state actors seeking to restrict people and organsiation’s ability  to challenge the status quo - a phenomenon further heightened when  coupled with patriarchy, misogyny and exclusion.

16. Seven strategies human rights funders and grantees should consider in today’s volatile climate

According to Freedom House, 2017 was the 12th year of overall global decline in global freedom, with a stunning 71 countries suffering net declines in political and civil liberties, and only 35 registering gains.

15. Reimagining a way to democratization in Asia

The 1990s saw a worldwide trend of democratisation in Asia, often referred to as “the third wave”, and countries like Nepal, Indonesia and the Philippines served then as role models in a region still dominated by autocratic governments.

14. Raising awareness of issues through a Smartphone in Pakistan

Asifa Khan is a trained lawyer, and social activist, who works with civil society organisation Accountability Lab Pakistan as an “accountapreneur” in their Accountability Incubator program.

13. Southeast Asian policymakers still not tapping potential of millennials

In two years’ time, nearly half of Southeast Asia’s population will be under 30 and more than 55 percent of its working-age population will be comprised of tech-savvy millennials, according to a prediction by global management consulting firm, Accenture.

12. “What’s it like being a youth activist in your country?”

To celebrate International Youth Day on August 12, CIVICUS asked six young campaigners around the world about their experiences, and what civil society and “reimagining democracy” means to them.

11. 25 years later, the pendulum swings back the other way. Lessons for a civil society under stress.

Many of us at the Mott Foundation have heard the story of the founding of CIVICUS from our chairman, Bill White.

10. The revolution will not be televised: Can NGOs learn to adapt?

NGOs are having a tough time.

9. Employee activists challenging companies on ethical values

“We are part of a growing movement, comprised of many across the industry who recognise the grave responsibility that those creating powerful technology have to ensure what they build is used for good, and not for harm.

8. Lessons in digital advocacy to let youth be architects of their own destinies

Young Diplomats of Canada (YDC) is a youth-led, all-volunteer national network that develops the diplomatic leadership and international advocacy experience of young Canadians.

7. “We rise through the arts”

For centuries, the arts have been a way of expressing and communicating with one another.

6. Fighting from the frontlines of the Pacific’s climate crisis

Pacific Island countries are suffering the devastating effects of climate change.

5. “Please free those in Zambia. And to the rest of the freedom fighters in this world: don’t give up” – a message from an iconic African artist and activist

Q&A with Thomas Mapfumo Legendary musician Thomas Tafirenyika “Mukanya” Mapfumo fled his home country Zimbabwe in 2000 after his pointed criticism led him to becoming a target of the Robert Mugabe regime.

4. Refugee lives changed through efforts of “ordinary citizens”

By Tola Akindipe Flüchtlinge Willkommen (“Refugees Welcome”) is a digital platform that unites flatshares and refugees.

3. 25 powerful ways funders can support social movements

So funders, you want to offer support to social movements? Here’s the essence of what you need to do, boiled down:

2. Former heads of CIVICUS reflect on 25 years of citizen action

To celebrate a quarter of a century of organisation, mobilisation and participation, two of our past secretary generals share their lessons learnt for the next 25 years, and their hopes for “reimagining democracy” “There’s no easy blueprint to this”

1. The green shoots of a new civic activism

The name “CIVICUS” is inspired by the Latin word relating to community.

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