CIVICUS discusses the evolution, challenges and future of civil society in Latin America and around the world with Anabel Cruz, former CIVICUS Board chair, co-chair of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Steering Committee and founding director of the Institute for Communication and Development (ICD) in Uruguay. ICD is a civil society organisation that defends civic space and promotes accountability, transparency and citizen participation.
Since the 1990s, civil society has organised globally through international networks that have shaped a collective voice in the face of shared challenges. Over the years, agendas have expanded from challenging corruption and demanding transparency to action on climate change, open government and the protection of human rights defenders. Today, civil society faces pressure from budget cuts, anti-rights rhetoric and restrictive laws, while it struggles to be recognised as a key pillar of democracy.
