Interviews

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ETHIOPIA: ‘Reconciliation will require robust transitional justice and accountability mechanisms’

CIVICUS discusses the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia’s Amhara region with Hone Mandefro, advocacy director at the Amhara Association of America, and Henok Ashagray, PhD candidate and project officer at the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria.
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‘Areas essential to the global climate are being threatened by economic projects’

CIVICUS discusses activism against oil auctions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with François Kamate, founder and coordinator of the young environmental volunteer movement Extinction Rebellion Rutshuru.
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VENEZUELA: ‘Each failed attempt at democratic transition reinforces the power of the authoritarian government’

CIVICUS discusses the expectations of Venezuelan civil society following Nicolás Maduro’s inauguration with Carlos Torrealba, a Venezuelan academic and researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
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ARGENTINA: ‘The closure of Meta’s US fact-checking programme is a major setback in the fight against disinformation’

CIVICUS speaks with Olivia Sohr about the challenges of disinformation and the consequences of the closure of Meta’s fact-checking programme in the USA.
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THAILAND: ‘Once-safe havens for political exiles have become dangerous territories’

CIVICUS discusses ongoing repression in Southeast Asia with Phil Robertson, director of Asia Human Rights and Labor Advocates.
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SRI LANKA: ‘Journalists who challenge authority continue to face potentially deadly consequences’

CIVICUS discusses restrictions on press freedom in Sri Lanka with human rights defender and journalist Sunanda Deshapriya.
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KENYA: ‘The goal is clear: to silence those who demand accountability and cower others into submission’

CIVICUS discusses protests in Kenya with human rights defender Maxie Daniel.
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NICARAGUA: ‘With the new financial law the Ortega-Murillo regime consolidates its absolute control’

CIVICUS speaks with Nicaraguan lawyer and activist Juan Barberena about recent legal changes and their impact on civil society in Nicaragua.
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PERU: ‘They’re trying to restrict us because our criticisms of rights violations make those in power uncomfortable’

CIVICUS discusses a proposed NGO law in Peru with Susana Chávez, Director of Advocacy at PROMSEX, a Peruvian feminist organisation that promotes autonomy, dignity, justice and equality in decisions about sexuality and reproduction.
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SYRIA: ‘Syria’s recovery and democratic transition require a combination of international solidarity and local ownership’

CIVICUS discusses the future of Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s authoritarian regime with Alaaiddien Ayoub, founder and director of EPISA, a civil society organisation (CSO) that supports sustainable development, democratic approaches, peacebuilding processes and inclusion in Syria.
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POLAND: ‘Legal gaps make it difficult to prosecute anti-LGBTQI+ hate crimes’

CIVICUS discusses an initiative to recognise hate speech against LGBTQI+ people as a hate crime with Olga Pawłowska-Plesińska, Advocacy Coordinator at the Campaign Against Homophobia, a Polish civil society organisation.
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URUGUAY: ‘The far right is still marginal; there’s a majority commitment to democracy’

CIVICUS discusses the results of 2024 presidential elections and the imminent inauguration of a leftist government in Uruguay with Alicia Lissidini, professor and researcher at the School of Politics and Government of the National University of San Martín in Argentina.
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COP16: ‘For the first time, a UN environmental convention formally recognises Indigenous traditional knowledge’

CIVICUS discusses the recent United Nations (UN) biodiversity summit, COP16, with Viviana Figueroa, Global Technical Coordinator of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB).
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MONTENEGRO: ‘To block the foreign agents bill, we must counter demonising narratives and highlight the positive impact of civil society’

CIVICUS discusses moves to restrict civil society in Montenegro with Petar Knežević, Project Coordinator at the Centre for the Development of Non-Governmental Organisations, a local civil society organisation (CSO) working to defend democracy and civic freedoms.
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GLOBAL: ‘Achieving the SDGs will require systemic reforms, greater financial commitments and inclusive partnerships’

CIVICUS discusses this year’s High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) with Arjun Bhattarai, Secretary General of the NGO Federation of Nepal, the platform that coordinates civil society efforts to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nepal.
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ROMANIA: ‘People saw this election as an opportunity for change and expressed their dissatisfaction with the status quo’

CIVICUS discusses Romania’s elections with Iuliana Iliescu, Secretary General of Asociatia Pro Democratia, a civil society organisation working to strengthen democracy through civic participation.
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PALESTINE: ‘Digital platforms amplify the Israeli narrative while systematically silencing Palestinian voices’

CIVICUS discusses the challenges Palestinian civil society faces in resisting digital suppression and advocating for justice with Palestinian lawyer and researcher Dima Samaro.
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MALI: ‘The risks associated with visibility limit LGBTQI+ groups’ ability to oppose the law criminalising homosexuality’

CIVICUS discusses Mali’s new anti-LGBTQI+ law with a representative of a human rights civil society organisation who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons.
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THAILAND: ‘The NGO bill would give the government sweeping powers over civil society organisations’

CIVICUS discusses Thailand’s new NGO bill with a legal advisor from the Asia and the Pacific programme of the International Center for Non-Profit Law (ICNL), an organisation working to improve the legal and digital environment for civil society.
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RUSSIA: ‘The ban on ‘child-free propaganda’ imposes a patriarchal family model and undermines women’s autonomy’

CIVICUS discusses proposed restrictive legislation in Russia with Eva Levenberg, a lawyer with the independent human rights group OVD-Info.
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AFGHANISTAN: ‘The Gaza Biennale seeks to connect global audiences with the lived experiences of Palestinians’

CIVICUS discusses the Gaza Biennale project with Omaid Sharifi, president of ArtLords, a grassroots artivist collective seeking to harness the transformative power of art.
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GLOBAL: UN Plastics Treaty: ‘We face the daunting challenge of taking on the fossil fuel industry’

CIVICUS discusses ongoing negotiations for a global plastics treaty with Graham Forbes, Global Campaign Lead for the Plastic Free Future project at Greenpeace and head of the Greenpeace delegation to the treaty negotiations.
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SYRIA: ‘Syrians want peace and a chance to live a normal life, free from oppression and constant fear’

CIVICUS discusses the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria with independent journalist Abdelaziz Al-Hosse.
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JAPAN: ‘If mainstream parties fail to address voter frustration, right-wing populism could grow’

CIVICUS discusses Japan’s recent election with Akio Takayanagi, a policy advisor with the Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation, a network of 100 civil society organisations working to eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice.
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SAUDI ARABIA: ‘Saudi Arabia hosts major international events to distract from its serious human rights abuses’

CIVICUS discusses the implications of Saudi Arabia hosting the 2034 World Cup with Khalid Ibrahim, Executive Director of the Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR), an independent civil society organisation that promotes human rights and defends human rights defenders in the Middle East and North Africa.
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BELARUS: ‘The election is just another tool to keep Lukashenko in power for as long as possible’

CIVICUS discusses the ongoing crackdown on civil society in Belarus with Natallia Satsunkevich, human rights defender and interim board member of the Viasna Human Rights Centre.
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GHANA: ‘Many saw the election as a referendum on unmet expectations and poor governance’

CIVICUS discusses the election results in Ghana with Evelyn Olukeye, Programme Officer at BudgIT, a civil society organisation that uses technology for civic engagement.
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NAMIBIA: ‘The election of our first female president is an achievement, but the ruling party’s continued dominance raises concerns’

CIVICUS discusses Namibia’s election results with Namibian human rights defender and political activist Joram Useb.
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SOUTH KOREA: ‘South Korea’s democracy once again proved its strength in the face of an authoritarian challenge’

CIVICUS discusses reactions to the unconstitutional declaration of martial law in South Korea with Soo Suh, Senior Program Manager at the Asia Democracy Network.
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GUATEMALA: ‘My father was arbitrarily arrested and convicted for denouncing government corruption’

CIVICUS speaks with Ramón Zamora, son of Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora, about restrictions on press freedom and the challenges of defending human rights in Guatemala.
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SOUTH AFRICA: ‘If the G20 doesn’t shift to a bottom-up approach, the cycle of empty promises and limited impact will continue’

CIVICUS discusses the recent G20 summit with Yanga Malotana, project manager of the Emerging Scholars Initiative at the University of Pretoria and South Africa’s network coordinator for the Indian Ocean Rim Association Academic Group.
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NETHERLANDS: ‘Instead of outsourcing migration management, the government should address the root causes of migration’

CIVICUS discusses the Dutch government’s new migration plan with Femke de Vries, coordinator for European Union (EU) policy and advocacy at the Dutch Council for Refugees, a human rights organisation that supports asylum seekers in the Netherlands.
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UNITED STATES: ‘Even though Trump was democratically elected, he poses a significant threat to democracy’

CIVICUS discusses the challenges posed by a new Trump presidency with Jamil Dakwar, Director of the Human Rights Program at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), one of the USA’s oldest and largest civil liberties organisations.
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IRAQ: ‘The proposed amendments to the Personal Status Law are an attack on women’s rights’

CIVICUS discusses women’s and girls’ rights in Iraq with Mohammed Juma, a lawyer and human rights defender based in Baghdad.
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GLOBAL: ‘World’s most influential urban companies are failing to take responsibility for inclusive and sustainable cities’

CIVICUS discusses corporate accountability efforts with Sibora Dhima, Engagement Manager at the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA).
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KENYA: ‘Femicides are not isolated incidents but predictable outcomes of unaddressed gender-based violence’

CIVICUS discusses the rise in femicide cases in Kenya with Judy Gitau, lawyer and regional coordinator of Equality Now, a feminist organisation that uses the law to protect and promote the rights of women and girls.
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NIGERIA: ‘By framing dissent as disloyalty, the government is stifling legitimate calls for reform’

CIVICUS discusses the criminalisation of protesters in Nigeria with Oluwafunke Adeoye, founder and Executive Director of Hope Behind Bars, a civil society organisation (CSO) that works to improve the criminal justice system.
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‘Quilombola communities live in fear because the laws that are supposed to protect them are ignored’

CIVICUS discusses threats to the security, rights and ancestral lands of Brazil’s quilombola communities with Wellington Gabriel de Jesus dos Santos, leader and activist of the Pitanga dos Palmares Quilombola community in Bahia state.
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MOZAMBIQUE: ‘This exercise of people power against systemic electoral fraud can inspire others in the region’

CIVICUS discusses the regional implications of post-election protests in Mozambique with human rights defender and political activist Brisky Fanuel Ncube.
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GLOBAL: ‘While the Pact for the Future has fallen short, it’s still a vital safeguard against regression’

CIVICUS discusses the recently agreed Pact for the Future with Enyseh Teimory, Head of Policy at United Nations Association-UK (UNA-UK), a civil society organisation that promotes human rights, peace and global cooperation.
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PALESTINE: ‘The international community has failed to stop the genocide, not because it can’t, but because it won’t’

CIVICUS discusses the situation in Palestine, the impacts on women and girls and the prospects for a ceasefire with Taheer Araj, executive director of the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH).
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GLOBAL: ‘AI-powered weapons depersonalise the violence, making it easier for the military to approve more destruction’

CIVICUS discusses the dangers arising from military uses of artificial intelligence (AI) with Sophia Goodfriend, Post-Doctoral Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Middle East Initiative.
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TURKEY: ‘Anti-rights pressure on activists defending gender equality has reached dangerous levels’

CIVICUS discusses Turkey’s crackdown on LGBTQI+ rights with Gökçe Baltacı, LGBTQI+ activist and general coordinator of Tarlabaşı Toplum Merkezi (TTM), a civil society organisation that defends the rights of excluded groups.
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ITALY: ‘The security bill will have far-reaching implications for the right to protest’

CIVICUS discusses Italy’s new anti-protest law with Erasmo Palazzotto, activist and member of ARCI, a civil society organisation (CSO) that promotes democracy, active citizenship and human rights.
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HAITI: ‘Land grabbers benefit from an extraordinarily slow and complicit justice system’

CIVICUS speaks with Sinomme Saint Claire (Dieubon) about attacks on his organisation, Green Alternative Action (Alternatif Action Vert, AVV), a grassroots peasant organisation that supports farming communities in Haiti’s southern peninsula region.
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BOTSWANA: ‘This election showed the strength of people’s voice when they refuse to serve the interests of a few’

CIVICUS discusses the opposition’s victory in Botswana’s recent election with Dumiso Gatsha, founder of Success Capital, a local LGBTQI+ grassroots organisation led by young people.
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GERMANY: ‘Europe is implementing policies of deliberate neglect leading to avoidable deaths at its external borders’

CIVICUS discusses migration policies and civil society responses across Europe with Janna Sauerteig, Mobilisation and Advocacy Manager at SOS Humanity.
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ITALY: ‘No migration policy should be based on fear and punishment’

CIVICUS discusses Italy’s policy of outsourcing the management of asylum seekers to Albania with Valeria Carlini, Deputy Director of the Italian Council for Refugees, a civil society organisation (CSO) that defends the rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Italy and Europe.
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GLOBAL: ‘The Global Digital Compact could have been stronger on human rights and accountability, particularly in relation to big tech’

CIVICUS discusses the Global Digital Compact (GDC) recently adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly with Peter Micek, General Counsel and UN Advocacy Manager of Access Now, an international civil society organisation working to defend and extend the digital rights of people and communities at risk.
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GERMANY: ‘Real social problems must be addressed through social policy, not by restricting migrants’ human rights’

CIVICUS discusses Germany’s tightening of border controls with Meral Zeller, Policy Officer with the European Department of PRO ASYL, a civil society organisation (CSO) defending the human right to asylum in Germany and Europe.

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