Interviews

Featured

NICARAGUA: ‘The regime counts on the disappearance of civil society, but people will always look for ways to organise themselves’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses civil society in Nicaragua with Amaru Ruiz, a Nicaraguan activist, president of Fundación del Río and president of the board of the Central American Association for Development and Democracy (ACDD).
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CAR: ‘Civil society must be at the heart of any human rights protection system’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the current crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR) with an activist and human rights defender who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons.
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GAZA: ‘True peace requires an inclusive approach, where everyone involved has a voice’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas with Yossi Mekelberg, Professor of International Relations and Senior Consulting Fellow at Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa Programme.
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MYANMAR: ‘The junta’s sham election cannot pave the way for real political change and should not be legitimised’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Myanmar’s upcoming election with Nyein, a human rights advocate and researcher with the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma).
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GREENLAND: ‘Greenland’s people have the right to decide the nature of their relations with other countries’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the USA’s ambitions towards Greenland with Rachael Lorna Johnstone, Professor of Law at the University of Akureyri in Iceland and the University of Greenland, and Fulbright Arctic IV Scholar.
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INDIA: ‘The new criminal laws mark a shift from a ‘rule of law’ to a ‘rule by law’ model that prioritises state control’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses India’s new criminal laws with Aditya Shrivastava, a human rights lawyer, civil society activist and researcher with the Contested Democracy Platform at Södertörn University in Sweden.
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BELARUS: ‘The work of human rights defenders in exile is crucial in keeping the democratic movement alive’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Natallia Satsunkevich, human rights defender and interim board member of the Viasna Human Rights Centre, about the state of civil society in Belarus, the impact of repression on opposition movements and the role of the international community in supporting democracy.
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CARIBBEAN: ‘We need to accept people with disabilities and include them in our communities’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with Andrew Sharpe, president of the Authentic Caribbean Foundation (ACF) and the newly formed Caribbean Disability Network, about civil society work for disability rights in the Caribbean.
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GERMANY: ‘A key element of resistance to the far right is the firewall – which a major party has just breached’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the growth of the right-wing extremist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party with Cynthia Freund-Möller and Matthias Meyer, project lead and research associate at the Right-Wing Studies Knowledge Network (Wi-REX).
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AUSTRALIA: ‘Attacks on the right to protest are escalating’

Interviews
Brenna McNeil is coordinator of Melbourne Activist Legal Support (MALS), an all-volunteer organisation that provides training for protest movements, offers information and resources on the right to protest and trains and fields legal observer teams that monitor and report on the policing of protests in Australia’s Victoria state.
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ZIMBABWE: ‘Democratic rules shouldn’t be changed just because they are inconvenient to those in power’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks with civic educator and activist Munashe Masiyiwa about a recent proposal to extend presidential terms in Zimbabwe.
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ECUADOR: ‘This election campaign offers two opposing visions of how to tackle insecurity’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Ecuador’s upcoming elections with Jorge Tapia de los Reyes, Coordinator of the Democracy and Politics Department and Funding Observatory of the Citizenship and Development Foundation (CDF).
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GUINEA-BISSAU: ‘Protests showed the power of popular mobilisation in forcing the government to respond’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks about the challenges of democracy in Guinea-Bissau with Malam Sanha, human rights activist and secretary general of the Forum for Social Participation of Young Girls (FINSJOR).
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THAILAND: ‘Thailand’s treatment of Uyghur refugees violates international standards’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks to Rushan Abbas, activist, human rights defender and executive director of Campaign for Uyghurs, a US-based civil society organisation that advocates for the rights and freedoms of Uyghur people in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, also known as East Turkistan, and around the world.
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DRC: ‘Rwandan support for the M23 threatens to turn the conflict into a regional crisis’

Interviews
Steward Muhindo is an activist with LUCHA (Lutte pour le changement), a non-violent, non-partisan civic movement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
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INDONESIA: ‘The transmigration plan threatens Papua’s autonomy and Indigenous ways of life’

Interviews
CIVICUS speaks to Budi Hernawan, human rights defender and senior lecturer at Driyarkara School of Philosophy in Jakarta.
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ETHIOPIA: ‘Reconciliation will require robust transitional justice and accountability mechanisms’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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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GUINEA: ‘The international community can support a democratic transition by backing a truly participatory process’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Guinea’s delayed democratic transition with Alix Boucher, assistant research fellow at the US-based Africa Center for Strategic Studies.
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SYRIA: ‘Syria’s recovery and democratic transition require a combination of international solidarity and local ownership’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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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