Interviews

Featured

GREECE: ‘We fought until same-sex marriage stopped being impossible and became a necessary change’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about Greece’s recent legalisation of same-sex marriage with Giorgos Keratsas, Communications Officer of Positive Voice-Greek Association of People Living with HIV.
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INDONESIA: ‘Prabowo’s victory represents the worst-case scenario for the future of human rights’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Rizky Argama, Executive Director, and Violla Reininda, Programme Manager at the Centre of Indonesian Law and Policy Studies (PSHK), about the results of Indonesia’s 14 February presidential election – the world’s biggest single-day election, in which over 200 million people were eligible to vote.
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ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES: ‘We advocate for the repeal of anti-gay laws as a matter of human dignity’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about struggles for LGBTQI+ rights and a recent legal setback in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) with Jeshua Bardoo, founder and Executive Officer of Equal Rights, Access and Opportunities SVG (ERAO SVG).
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NETHERLANDS: ‘No government should allow transfers of weapons to a state committing war crimes’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Frank Slijper, Arms Trade project lead at PAX, about a recent court victory in a case brought jointly with Oxfam Novib and the Rights Forum against the Dutch government for exporting arms to Israel that are being used in the assault on Gaza.
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IRAN: ‘The regime is executing protesters to create fear and suppress any attempt at new mobilisation’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about the ongoing wave of executions in Iran with Asal Abasian, an Iranian journalist and queer feminist activist.
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HORN OF AFRICA: ‘De-escalation must be the primary objective’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Mengistu Assefa, Program Manager at the Center for the Advancement of Rights and Democracy (CARD), about a port deal between Ethiopia and Somaliland and the possibility of it escalating into an armed conflict with Somalia.
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PAPUA NEW GUINEA: ‘The police response to riots mustn’t happen again’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about recent riots and the worsening human rights situation in Papua New Guinea (PNG) with Shirley Abriella Kaupa, Program Coordinator at Magna Carta PNG.
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GLOBAL: ‘Only through adherence to humanitarian principles and the rule of law can we shift away from armed conflict’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Neshan Gunasekera, an international lawyer from Sri Lanka, about the role of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the context of the case brought by South Africa against Israel under the 1948 Genocide Convention.
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SENEGAL: ‘After being an example of democracy in Africa, we are increasingly tending towards authoritarianism’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Abdou Aziz Cissé, Advocacy Officer at AfricTivistes, about President Macky Sall’s decision to postpone the presidential election that was due on 25 February and its implications for democracy in Senegal.
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PORTUGAL: ‘The rise of the populist right only further weakens trust in the political system’

Interviews
Also available in Portuguese CIVICUS speaks about early elections taking place in Portugal on 10 March with Ana Carmo from Akto, a Portuguese civil society organisation that promotes human rights and democratic values through advocacy, campaigning and education.
Featured

IRAN: ‘The regime uses executions to maintain its grip on power through fear and intimidation’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Jasmin Ramsey, Deputy Director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), about the ongoing wave of executions as part of the Iranian regime’s effort to suppress dissent and discourage further protests.
Featured

EUROPEAN MEDIA FREEDOM ACT: ‘National security cannot justify the use of spyware on journalists’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about the role of civil society in the drafting process of the European Media Freedom Act with Jordan Higgins, Press and Policy Officer at the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF).
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AUSTRIA: ‘A new civil society coalition is emerging to defend democracy against extremism’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about the growth of the far right in Austria with Gabriela Greilinger, PhD Student at the University of Georgia, USA and co-founder and director Quo Vademus, a grassroots think tank publishing analysis by young writers and encouraging young people to engage with politics and current affairs.
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GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: ‘To change global institutions, we must think boldly while acting strategically’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Rebecca Shoot, Executive Director of Citizens for Global Solutions, about the deficits of the global governance system and civil society’s proposals for reform.
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ASEAN: ‘Laos’s leadership raises serious human rights concerns’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about the implications of Laos chairing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with Mary Aileen Diaz Bacalso, Executive Director of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA).
Featured

ICJ: ‘There should be no place for double standards’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about the role of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the context of the case brought by South Africa against Israel with Thomas Van Gool, Project Lead Israel-Palestine at PAX.
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DRC: ‘Civil society is targeted by politicians who see it as an obstacle to their power’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with journalist and human rights activist Jonathan Magoma about recent elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
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GERMANY: ‘Our response to internationally networked far-right groups must also be globally interconnected’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about the rise of the far right in Germany with Peter Anhalt, director of the right-wing extremism department, and Maximilian Ruf, director of the research department, at Violence Prevention Network.
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EL SALVADOR: ‘Following the vote, we are officially entering a dictatorship’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about El Salvador’s recent general election with César Artiga, human rights defender and coordinator of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) in El Salvador, the National Driving Team of the Escazú Agreement and the National Coalition for the Right to Live in a Healthy Environment.

EL SALVADOR: ‘The election is only a formality to give the green light to a dictatorship’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about El Salvador’s general election with Carolina Amaya, a Salvadoran freelance journalist specialising in climate crises and socio-environmental conflicts.
Featured

INDONESIA: ‘We must become an example of successful societal resistance against the threat of autocratic rule’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about the upcoming general election in Indonesia with Muhammad Isnur, chairperson of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) and Secretary of the Board of the Human Rights Working Group.
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AZERBAIJAN: ‘Operating on the ground has become increasingly difficult due to security concerns’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about the links between the exploitation of fossil fuels and human rights violations in Azerbaijan with Kate Watters, Executive Director of Crude Accountability.
Featured

PAKISTAN: ‘It doesn’t matter who casts the vote as much as who counts the vote’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about Pakistan’s upcoming election with Muhammad Mudassar, Chief Executive Officer at the Society for Human Rights and Prisoners’ Aid (SHARP-Pakistan).
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GERMANY: ‘The far right is instrumentalising protests triggered by completely legitimate concerns’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about the rise of the far right in Germany with Jakob Guhl, Senior Manager, Policy and Research at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD).
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VENEZUELA: ‘With the new NGO law, the government aims to take control of the entire associational fabric’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Rigoberto Lobo Puentes, founder of Promotion, Education and Defence of Human Rights (Promoción, Educación y Defensa en Derechos Humanos, PROMEDEHUM), about Venezuela’s NGO bill which, if passed, will further hinder civil society’s work.
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GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: ‘Civil society is a vital tool for achieving a more democratic system’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Anja Olin-Pape, Head of Strategy at the Global Challenges Foundation, about the deficits of the global governance system and civil society’s proposals for reform.
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ECUADOR: ‘Violence is linked to the deterioration of the living conditions of young people from low-income groups’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about the current crisis of violence in Ecuador with Mauro Cerbino, professor and researcher at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO) in Ecuador.
Featured

NORWAY: ‘On top of being environmentally irresponsible, deep-sea mining is unlikely to be profitable’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Martin Sveinssønn Melvær, Materials and Industry Lead at the Bellona Foundation, about the bill recently passed by Norway’s parliament to allow commercial-scale deep-sea mining.
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HONDURAS: ‘Human rights should be more than just talk. They should be reflected in practice’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Christopher Castillo, General Coordinator of Alternative for Community and Environmental Vindication of Honduras (Alternativa de Reivindicación Comunitaria y Ambientalista de Honduras, ARCAH), about progress made and pending issues after two years of Xiomara Castro’s presidency.
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EL SALVADOR: ‘Legalising abortion is all about recognising women’s status as citizens’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Morena Herrera, president of Citizens’ Group for the Decriminalisation of Abortion, about the struggle for abortion rights in El Salvador, which has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world.
Featured

ARGENTINA: ‘Citizens must be able to take part in informed discussions on the issues that affect them’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Mariela Belski, Executive Director of Amnesty International Argentina, about the potential human rights effects of changes introduced by Argentina’s new government led by President Javier Milei.
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GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: ‘A system that embraces diversity and inclusion is more legitimate’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Marc Limon, Executive Director of the Universal Rights Group and former diplomat at the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council, about the deficits of the global governance system and proposals for reform.
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SERBIA: ‘People are concerned that a critical tool to hold political elites accountable is being taken away’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about the results of Serbia’s recent elections and subsequent protests with Raša Nedeljkov, Programme Director of the Centre for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA).
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GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: ‘The Summit of the Future is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Dr Richard Ponzio, Director of the Global Governance, Security and Justice Programme at the Stimson Center, about the deficits of the global governance system and civil society’s proposals for reform.
Featured

GUATEMALA: ‘Disregard for the will of the people expressed at the ballot box is the greatest possible insult to democracy’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Jorge Santos, General Coordinator of the Guatemalan Human Rights Defenders Protection Unit (UDEFEGUA), about the imminent inauguration of a new president, which comes after 100 days of mobilisation to demand respect for the election results.
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VENEZUELA: ‘The government seeks to stoke nationalist sentiment to try to hold on to power’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Mariano de Alba, Senior Adviser at the International Crisis Group, about the recent referendum called by the Venezuelan government on the status of the Essequibo territory, disputed with neighbouring Guyana, and its possible implications for democracy in Venezuela and peace in the region.
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BURUNDI: ‘Human rights activism can hardly be carried out openly anymore’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about the repression of civil society and human rights defenders and LGBTQI+ rights in Burundi with Carina Tertsakian, co-founder of the Burundi Human Rights Initiative (BHRI).
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GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: ‘The scale and urgency of our challenges calls for more than incremental reform, it requires transformation’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Stirling Dean, Chair and Executive Director of the United Institutions Foundation, about the deficits of the global governance system and civil society’s proposals for reform.
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UK: ‘The government continues to scapegoat migrants and fuel racist rhetoric to cover its policy failures’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Aria Danaparamita, Advocacy Director of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), about the UK’s new migration treaty with Rwanda, aimed at sending asylum seekers arriving unlawfully in the UK to Rwanda for processing.
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GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: ‘When there is political will, states are able to uphold their responsibility to protect’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Elisabeth Pramendorfer, Geneva Representative, Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (GCR2P), about the deficits of the global governance system and civil society’s proposals for reform.
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GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: ‘We must reaffirm the relationship between the rule of law and human rights’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Francesca Restifo, Senior Human Rights Lawyer and UN Representative of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), about the deficits of the global governance system and civil society’s proposals for reform.
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PANAMA: ‘By giving the government the green light to discriminate, the Court has broadened the reach of the LGBTQI+ cause’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Iván Chanis Barahona, president of Fundación Iguales, about the situation of LGBTQI+ people and the struggle for equal marriage rights in Panama.
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USA: ‘We should shift away from overreliance on policing and promote community-based solutions’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about police violence in the USA with Abdul Nasser Rad, Managing Director of Research and Data at Campaign Zero (CZ).
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BANGLADESH: ‘This is a one-sided election in which we already know who the winner will be’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Dr Mubashar Hasan about the ongoing crackdown on dissent in Bangladesh ahead of 7 January general elections.
Featured

GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: ‘Every person on the planet should have an equal opportunity to participate in decision-making’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Andreas Bummel, co-founder and Executive Director of Democracy Without Borders (DWB) and the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly, about the deficits of the current global governance system and civil society’s proposals for reform.
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GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: ‘The main problem is that words do not translate into tangible actions’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about the challenges of global governance with Carlos Quesada, founder and executive director of the Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race & Equality).
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COP28: ‘To truly end the fossil fuel era, bold visions must now turn into historical action on the ground’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Kaisa Kosonen, Senior Policy Advisor at Greenpeace Nordic, about the outcomes of the COP28 climate summit and the vital role played by civil society in setting the agenda for fossil fuel phase-out.
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HONG KONG: ‘We urge governments to protect exiled human rights defenders within their jurisdictions’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Anouk Wear, research and policy adviser at Hong Kong Watch, about recent district council elections held in Hong Kong amid an ongoing crackdown on dissent.
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LEBANON: ‘Civil society has taken the lead in advocating for social change, human rights and political reforms’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about deteriorating civic space conditions amid political and security instability in Lebanon with Fadel Fakih, Executive Director of the Lebanese Center for Human Rights (CLDH).
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UK: ‘The Rwanda plan sets a worrying precedent for the future of migration and human rights’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Julia Tinsley-Kent, Policy and Strategic Communications Manager of the Migrants’ Rights Network, about the UK’s new migration treaty with Rwanda, aimed at sending asylum seekers arriving unlawfully in the UK to Rwanda for processing.

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