Interviews

Featured

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.
Featured

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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IRAQ: ‘The proposed amendments to the Personal Status Law are an attack on women’s rights’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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.
Featured

MOZAMBIQUE: ‘This exercise of people power against systemic electoral fraud can inspire others in the region’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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’

Interviews
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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MOLDOVA: ‘The authorities could have done more to protect our democracy and stability’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Moldova’s referendum on its plans to join the European Union (EU) with Ion Manole, human rights defender and Executive Director of Promo-LEX, a civil society organisation working for democracy and human rights in Moldova.
Featured

SUDAN: ‘The international community must stop turning a blind eye to the suffering of Sudanese women’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Sudan’s civil war and its impact on women with Sulaima Elkhalifa, a Sudanese human rights defender and expert on gender-based violence.
Featured

GEORGIA: ‘We were prepared for a crisis, but the sheer scale of electoral manipulation and vote-rigging took us by surprise’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Georgia’s election results with Eduard Marikashvili, human rights defender and executive director of the Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI), an independent organisation working for democratic development and Euro-Atlantic integration.
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PALESTINE: ‘Ending impunity for violations of Palestinians’ rights would strengthen global norms that protect all humanity’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the gender dimensions of genocide in Gaza with Kifaya Khraim, International Advocacy Coordinator at the Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC).
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POLAND: ‘The new migration strategy is more political posturing than a real plan’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Poland’s new migration control strategy with Marcin Sosniak, coordinator of the Migration Unit at the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR), a civil society organisation working to protect human rights in Poland and Eurasia.
Featured

MOZAMBIQUE: ‘The next president must listen to a younger generation that’s increasingly vocal about its democratic aspirations’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses post-election violence in Mozambique with Zenaida Machado, senior researcher and human rights defender at Human Rights Watch.
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LEBANON: ‘The humanitarian emergency is escalating as local communities struggle to support the displaced’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the crisis in Lebanon with Zaher Sahloul, co-founder of MedGlobal, a US-based civil society organisation (CSO) that provides relief to victims of war, disaster and displacement, and supports excluded communities worldwide.
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FRANCE: ‘Civil society questions the government’s willingness to respect international human rights law’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the call to halt arms sales to Israel with Benoît Muracciole, President of Action Sécurité Éthique Républicaines (ASER), a civil society organisation (CSO) working to promote human rights in the area of peace and security.
Featured

EL SALVADOR: ‘We are shifting from gang violence to state violence’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the challenges facing El Salvador’s media under the government of populist authoritarian President Nayib Bukele with Laura Aguirre, co-founder and strategic director of the Salvadoran feminist digital media outlet Alharaca and development director of the SembraMedia media directory.

TURKEY: ‘Environmental movements are increasingly being targeted as they pose a stronger challenge to corporations’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the challenges of environmental activism in Turkey with Süheyla Doğan, activist and president of the Kazdağı Association for the Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritage.

SRI LANKA: ‘People expressed at the ballot box their frustration over the economic crisis and political corruption’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses Sri Lanka’s recent presidential election with Freddy Gamage, an independent journalist and human rights defender.

LEBANON: ‘Civil society has once again stepped in to fill the gaps left by the state in this crisis’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon with Ziad Abdel Samad, Executive Director of the Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND), an independent network working to strengthen civil society and promote democracy, human rights and sustainable development in Arab countries.

MEXICO: ‘Despite the stated aim of democratising the judiciary, the government seeks to undermine its independence’

Interviews
CIVICUS discusses constitutional amendments affecting the judiciary in Mexico with Carlos Pelayo Moller, constitutional lawyer, human rights expert and Doctor of Laws from the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

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