CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is disappointed and shocked that the Russian Duma has approved a law requiring organisations that receive international funding to label themselves as "foreign agents," opening them up to excessive government oversight. The law, "On Introducing Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Regarding the Regulation of the Activities of Non-commercial Organizations Performing the Function of Foreign Agents", if approved, will aggressively undermine the work of civil society in Russia and negatively impact broader international solidarity activities in the future.

On 18 July, the law will be reviewed by the upper house of Parliament, The Soviet of Federations and, pending their approval, is expected to be signed into law by President Vladimir Putin. We express strong condemnation of the steamrolling of this anti-people law through the Duma by Russia's government.

This news is just the latest in Russia's attempts to restrict civil actions in that country.

See recent CIVICUS actions on civil society restrictions in Russia:

Urgent Call for Action on moves to muzzle NGOs in Russia

Another setback for freedom of assembly hits Russia, say CIVICUS and Greenpeace Russia

 

As nongovernmental organizations working to promote human rights at the United Nations Human Rights Council, we are deeply concerned by the recent decision of the African Group in New York to endorse the candidacies of Sudan and Ethiopia in the upcoming UN General Assembly elections for membership in the Human Rights Council within a closed slate that does not allow for a competitive vote.

Read the full statement

 

Joint Submission by CIVICUS and Ligue des Droits de la personne dans la région des Grandes Lacs to the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR), 15th Session of the UPR Working Group, submitted 9 July 2012

Joint Submission by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, NGO in General Consultative Status with ECOSOC And Ligue des Droits de la personne dans la région des Grandes Lacs

 

 

 

Forging ahead: partnering for the future of development ( ECOSOC High-level Segment 2012) - 
Katsuji Imata, CIVICUS' acting Secretary General

 

Interactive debate:  Forging ahead: partnering for the future of development, Friday 6 July 2012

Moderator:
Bruce Jones, Director, Centre on International Cooperation, New York University

Panellists:
HE Kim Bong-hyun, Deputy Minister of Multilateral and Global Affairs, Republic of Korea
Rogelio Granguillhome, Executive Director of the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation
Katsuji Imata, Acting Secretary-General, CIVICUS
Talaat Abdel Malek, Co-Chair, OECD/DAC Working Party on Aid Effectiveness and
Economic Adviser to the Minister of International Co-operation, Egypt

---

 

July 2012

CIVICUS is deeply concerned about the compatibility of Ethiopia’s draft Telecom Fraud Offenses Proclamation with internationally guaranteed human rights standards.

The draft proclamation, which is currently under consideration, purports to unencumber the telecommunication industry, a state run telecommunications monopoly, as part of implementing peace, democratisation and development programmes. The stated intention of the draft proclamation is to control “telecom fraud” described as a “serious threat to national security beyond economic losses.”

Nevertheless, the draft proclamation seeks to bring contemporary means of electronic communication within the state’s ambit to limit severely freedom of expression. Ambiguous language contained in the draft, along with links to anti-terrorism legislation, would provide government officials with a convenient tool to clampdown on anyone critical of the dominant political discourse.

 

Russia's Parliament -the Duma- will consider amendments to laws governing NGOs on 13 July.

Civil society across the globe is shocked by the proposed amendments which will force organisations that receive international funding to label themselves as "foreign agents" and require them to be subject to excessive government oversight and onerous reporting requirements in violation of Russia's constitutional and international law obligations.

If the changes are passed, they will severely undermine the work of civil society and be a blow to international solidarity activities. CIVICUS appeals to civil society across the world to express their indignation at this negative precedent being set in Russia by signing and sending the attached letter to the Russian Duma at

 

Государственная Дума Российской Федерации рассмотрит поправки к законам об НКО 13 июля.

Гражданское общество во всем мире шокировано предлагаемыми поправками в отдельные законодательные акты, которые предусматривают обозначение организаций как «выполняющих функции иностранного агента» в случае получения ими зарубежного финансирования. Такие организации становятся объектом повышенного государственного контроля и обязаны предоставлять дополнительную финансовую отчетность, что противоречит Конституции РФ и международным обязательствам.

Принятие поправок серьезно подорвет деятельность гражданского общества и нанесет урон международной солидарности. СИВИКУС выступает с призывом к гражданскому обществу во всем мире выразить свое возмущение создаваемым в России прецедентом, подписав и отправив прилагаемое письмо в адрес Государственной Думы Российской Федерации по адресу

 

• No more global musty gatherings: World Assembly blog
• Activists who spoke at People’s Summit found killed
• UN senior officials highlight Rio+20 achievements
• Poorer countries seek assurances on technology transfer after Rio+20
• CIVICUS World Assembly: Early Bird registration extended!
• 2012 Millennium Development Goals Report
• Yemen: Enduring Conflicts, Threatened Transition

Read Online now | Subscribe to the e-CIVICUS here

 

Государственная Дума Российской Федерации рассмотрит поправки к законам об НКО 13 июля.

Гражданское общество во всем мире шокировано предлагаемыми поправками в отдельные законодательные акты, которые предусматривают обозначение организаций как «выполняющих функции иностранного агента» в случае получения ими зарубежного финансирования. Такие организации становятся объектом повышенного государственного контроля и обязаны предоставлять дополнительную финансовую отчетность, что противоречит Конституции РФ и международным обязательствам.

Принятие поправок серьезно подорвет деятельность гражданского общества и нанесет урон международной солидарности. СИВИКУС выступает с призывом к гражданскому обществу во всем мире выразить свое возмущение создаваемым в России прецедентом, подписав и отправив прилагаемое письмо в адрес Государственной Думы Российской Федерации по адресу

 

• Become a CIVICUS citizen - join us for only US$5
• Ethiopian blogger found guilty of ‘terrorism’
• Call for clips for a new civil society video
• Enhancing the capacity of human rights defenders to monitor public policy and respond to threats in West Africa
• Another setback for freedom of assembly hits Russia
• CIVICUS expresses concern about civil society rights in Bahrain and Belarus at UN Human Rights Council
• Rio+20: civil society analysis and reflections
• A completely transformed Youth Assembly
• New analysis of participatory citizenship in Europe

Read Online now | Subscribe to the e-CIVICUS here

 

With freedom of expression, association and assembly under attack in many countries in West Africa, experience suggests a greater need in response for intervention at the early stages of the drafting process of restrictive laws, policies or moves to introduce restrictive practices. Through early intervention at an opportune moment, and engagement before the actual enactment of a law or policy, success in influencing and cooperating with a government or vested stakeholders is greatly increased. To enhance civil society capacity to respond early to threats, CIVICUS and RESOCIDE are teaming up, with the support of Irish Aid, to hold a workshop on Enhancing the Capacity of Human Rights Defenders to Monitor Public Policy and Respond to Threats in West Africa, to be held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from 2 to 3 July 2012.

Enhancing the Capacity of Human Rights Defenders to Monitor Public Policy and Respond to Threats in West Africa

Programme

 

CIVICUS has engaged with IRIBA on a project to create a short advertising spot to be launched at the 2012 CIVICUS World Assembly in September and featured at other external events, on the CIVICUS website, promoted on our social networks and shared with our members and partners.

Our goal is to share with the world the dynamic nature of your work and the strength, diversity, and impact of civil society and the members of the CIVICUS Alliance. To do this we would like your input! Please send us your essential images and video clips of civil society in action to be included in the spot, so that we can use this opportunity to showcase your organisation and your work.

 

UPDATE

Eskinder Nega was found guilty of encouraging "terrorist" acts and conspiring with rebels in Ethiopia's High Court on 27 June.

Eskinder was initially arrested on 14 September 2011 and charged under Ethiopia's anti-terrorism law after he wrote an article in which he criticised the manner in which the government used the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation of 2009 to stifle freedom of expression by persecuting those who expressed views contrary to those of the government. Charges against him also stem from accusations that he incited violence through his articles on the Arab Spring and his analysis of the political situation in the country.

Ethiopia's anti-terrorism law has been used disproportionately to target journalists and human rights defenders and equates the free expression of views and peaceful dissent with "terrorism."

The verdict is the most recent attempt by the government to completely stifle the activities of human rights activists and journalists by criminalising free expression and peaceful dissent.

 

Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) and CIVICUS: World Alliance for Cirizen Participation have written an open letter to the Commonwealth secretary-general on their concerns about Uganda's treatment of human rights defenders.

Read the letter

 

• Disappointment and frustration abound in Rio
• Wanted: a new CIVICUS Secretary General
• Final weekly webinar: cultural activists, the champions of social change
• CIVICUS statement to UN Human Rights Council
• Network profile: Nigeria Network of NGOs
• NGO Major Group Statement delivered to Rio+20
• Rio's roadmap falls flat, civil society groups say
• CIVICUS expresses NGO Group disappointment in UN interview
• The Future We Don’t Want

Read Online now | Subscribe to the e-CIVICUS here

 

Chers collègues,

Il ya seulement 4 jours pour participer à la consultation en ligne de CIVICUS, de sorte que vous pouvez apporter votre contribution à laquelle vous pensez devrait être le travail de l'alliance dans les 5 prochaines années! Si vous n'avez pas répondu à l'enquête, s'il vous plaît faites-le maintenant! Alors ne manquez pas l'occasion de faire partie de CIVICUS Orientations stratégiques 2013-2017.

 

• Tell us what CIVICUS should work on in the next five years!
• CIVICUS World Assembly 2012: an action-packed programme!
• ‘The main issue is equality of opportunities’: Rio+20 interview with Sabina Anoye-Mensah, Voice of African Mothers
• CIVICUS at the Cape Town Book Fair
• Next weekly webinar: amplifying marginalised and muted voices, 20 June
• Bangladesh: civil society under attack as dissent is silenced

Read Online now | Subscribe to the e-CIVICUS here

 

CIVICUS is co-organising two events during the 20th session of the UN Human Rights Council, being held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 18 June to 6 July:

• 21 June – Ethiopia’s stifled civil society
• 22 June – Freedom of assembly and association – countering persecution and pushback on civil society

 

A virtual consultation hosted by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation

Wednesday 20 June 2012 at 1pm UTC/GMT

The work of organised civil society can sometimes reinforce existing paradigms of power and exclusion. Global alliances such as CIVICUS must live their values by practising and promoting diversity within our organisations, networks and programmatic work. As a platform organisation, CIVICUS needs to facilitate access for muted voices in order to ensure just processes and decisions, particularly in the global arena, to ensure the inclusion of traditionally excluded, exploited, and marginalised groups. The challenge lies in moving beyond shallow, box-ticking approaches and towards forming legitimate partnerships with marginalised groups and mainstreaming their issues and concerns into our core work.

Join us as we explore how CIVICUS can increase access for muted voices locally, regionally and globally, and how CSOs can form genuine partnerships with marginalised groups. 

This webinar will feature presentations on:

• Patriarchy and the Occupy Movement - Lucinda Marshall, Director, Feminist Peace Network
• Gender mainstreaming - beyond box-ticking - Ennie Chipembre, Acting Country Representative, ActionAid International
• The role of international solidarity and a global alliance in amplifying marginalised and muted voices - Patrick Anderson, Policy Adviser, Forest Peoples Programme

The session is expected to last for 90 minutes. 50 minutes will be dedicated to an open discussion during which you are invited to share your experiences and perspectives.

Register here: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/964374241. Space is limited so mark your calendar and register now!

This consultation is part of a series of weekly webinars which are helping to shape CIVICUS’ new strategic directions. Find out more about the other webinars and the strategic directions process.

 

Spanish | French         

Dear colleague

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation needs your voice so that we can together shape an inclusive and ambitious global civil society agenda for the next five years.

Earlier this year, we started to develop our new Strategic Directions, which will guide the work of the CIVICUS civil society alliance between 2013 and 2017. Planning together now will help us strengthen civil society and citizen action around the globe in the near future.

We turn to you - the members, partners and friends that make the CIVICUS alliance tick - to find out what key trends and issues are affecting you and your constituency at the moment. We need your insights on the challenges and opportunities that civil society organisations and citizens face. In particular, we want your guidance on how the CIVICUS alliance should respond to these challenges and opportunities over the next five years.

It will take you 10-15 minutes to complete this simple survey, and your input will shape the alliance's work for the next five years. The deadline for completion of the survey is Monday 25 June 2012. You may have already participated in a consultation session, in which case we give you our thanks, but we would also invite you to answer this survey.

If you have any technical difficulties in completing the survey, please contact Mariano de Donatis, CIVICUS Senior Stakeholder Engagement and Regional Outreach Officer, .

Beside this survey, there are lots of other ways you can help shape the new Strategic Directions - you can join one of our physical consultations, you can take part in one of our weekly thematic  webinars on specific themes, or you can run your own consultation. Or you can simply email the CIVICUS Strategic Directions team with your own ideas on what CIVICUS' future focus should be at .

Please access the survey by clicking here English Francais Espanol
In solidarity,

Katsuji Imata

Acting Secretary General

 

• Urgent action: safety of Nabeel Rajab must be ensured
• Coming of age in Rio?
• Uzbekistan: allow independent experts access to prevent persecution, say CIVICUS and Expert Working Group
• Increased support needed for civil society in Azerbaijan after Eurovision contest
• World Assembly blog: building partnerships: beyond buzzwords
• CIVICUS UN Representative Jeffery Huffines represents NGO Major Group at Major Groups press conference
• CIVICUS Board Member Rajiv Joshi moderates UN press conference on Sustainable Development Goals
• Youth Blast: an opportunity for young people to participate in the Rio+20 action
• Presentation: launch of special issue of the Journal of Economic Inequality: ‘Measuring Poverty Over Time', 14 June 2012
• Bahrain: released activists urge end to crackdown

Read Online now | Subscribe to the e-CIVICUS here

 

Chers collègues,

CIVICUS l’alliance Mondiale pour la Participation Citoyenne, sollicite tes idées et tes connaissances afin de construire tous ensemble une société mieux intégrée et élaborer un agenda ambitieux pour la société civile internationale dans les 5 prochaines années.

Au début de l’année nous commencerons à procéder au développement de nos nouvelles directions stratégiques, lesquelles guideront le travail de l’alliance CIVICUS entre 2013 et 2017. Planifier ensemble ces stratégies nous aidera à renforcer la société civile et l’action citoyenne à travers le monde dans les prochaines années. 

 

Estimad@ coleg@

CIVICUS: Alianza Mundial para la Participación Ciudadana necesita tus ideas y conocimiento para que todos juntos podamos construir una sociedad mas inclusiva y una agenda ambiciosa para la sociedad civil mundial para los próximos cinco años.

A principios de este año comenzamos con el proceso de  desarrollo de nuestras nuevas direcciones estratégicas, las cuales guiarán el trabajo de la alianza CIVICUS entre 2013 y 2017. Planificar juntos ahora nos ayudará a fortalecer a la sociedad civil y a la acción ciudadana en todo el mundo en los próximos años.

 

This Rio+20 side event, to be held on 14 June, is the third in a series that will examine the representation, participation and accountability of civil society and Major Groups in informing, monitoring and implementing intergovernmental policy-making in a reformed institutional framework for sustainable development that embraces multi-level governance. Speakers will evaluate best practices of public participation in other multilateral bodies as well as civil society proposals not yet implemented. It's jointly organised by CIVICUS, Stakeholder Forum and UN-NGLS.

Find out more.

 

Current events in Quebec, Canada where a law has recently been introduced in an attempt to limit long-running student protests, offer a reminder that the challenges of state pushback against protest, as documented extensively by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation in its recent report, the State of Civil Society 2011, are not limited to developing countries and those without elected governments.

The new special law – Bill 78 – that has been introduced to limit strictly assembly of more than 50 people, flies in the face of accepted good practice about laws to regulate and enable citizen action. The new law was also introduced in a hasty manner with minimal consultation.

 

CIVICUS believes that as a minimum, governments must guarantee the rights of freedom of association, freedom of expression, and the right for civil society to operate free from unwarranted state interference and to communicate, cooperate and seek and secure funding. Without these conditions, fundamental rights of people to express their concerns and combine to seek change, rooted in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, cannot be properly realised.

 

A virtual consultation hosted by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation

Wednesday 13 June, 2012 at 1 pm UTC/GMT

In an era marked by increasing inequality, economic contraction or jobless growth and high youth unemployment, the fallout of the economic crisis has placed the issue of social protection high on national and global agendas. The existing institutions of global governance have failed to provide a people-centred response to economic crisis, and instead states have privileged private capital over people, for example through the bailout of banks. In such times, social protection policy initiatives that transfer income or assets to the poor to protect against risks to their livelihoods are all the more necessary to realise the rights of the vulnerable.

 

CIVICUS is appalled by this new chapter of killings in El-Houleh, including of 49 innocent children, and by the overall deteriorating human rights situation in Syria. We therefore welcome this Special Session.

Read the full statement

 

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is a global movement of civil society with members and partners in over 100 countries. CIVICUS welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the 2012 UN Human Rights Council Social Forum on ‘People Centred Development and Globalisation’. CIVICUS believes that developmental initiatives at local, national and global levels must be genuinely inclusive and participative, taking into account the needs and aspirations of all sections of society, in particular women, young people, vulnerable and marginalised groups. Policy formulation and implementation thus must be people-centred. Moreover, processes must be grounded in democratic principles and equality in relations amongst peoples and nations.

Read the full submission

 

A virtual consultation hosted by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Wednesday 6 June 2012 at 1 pm UTC/GMT

Social media and mobile technology have served as catalysts for offline activism and vehicles for new forms of online activism. Many CSOs though have failed to capitalise on the potential of new media to reach out to newly mobilised ‘netizens’, and some CSOs like the Invisible Children have managed to harness its power to spread simplistic and ultimately harmful messages. At CIVICUS, we have also seen that netizens have increasingly come under attack by governments as the parameters of journalism shift.

This webinar will feature presentations on:

• Digital activism and its role in revolutionary and post-revolutionary Egypt – Ramy Raoof, Founder, Egyptian Blog for Human Rights
• The dangers of a single story: Kony 2012 – Rosebell Kagumire, Editor and Digital Rights Campaigner, Channel 16 Uganda
• The clampdown on online civic space: an overview of trends in internet restrictions – Ciana-Marie Pegus, Strategic Direction Officer, CIVICUS

Participants will be welcomed by CIVICUS’ Policy and Research Director Netsanet Belay. The session is expected to last for 90 minutes. 50 minutes will be dedicated to an open discussion during which you are invited to share your experiences and perspectives.

Click here to register: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/833451505.

Space is limited so mark your calendar and register now!

This consultation is part of a series of weekly webinars. You can find out more about the other webinars here.

 

CIVICUS is extremely pleased that Nabeel Rajab was released on bail on 28 May 2012. The prominent Bahraini human rights activist, and friend of CIVICUS, was arrested and detained earlier this month on charges of “inciting illegal rallies" through social media networks and "defaming" Bahrain's security forces.

We remain seriously concerned about the safety of Mr Rajab and other human rights activists in Bahrain who have been repeatedly detained and beaten by security forces. CIVICUS call for all the criminal charges against Nabeel Rajab and other human rights defenders to be dropped.

Whilst in court earlier this month Nabeel Rajab rejected all charges against him. "I only practised my right to free expression," he told the court. "I did not commit a crime."

On 8 May 2012 CIVICUS and 35 organisations and individuals sent an open letter to King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa calling for immediate and unconditional release of Nabeel Rajab.

 

• CIVICUS delivers Major Group statement on Rio+20
• 'My message to civil society is that you are vitally needed': interview with Nikhil Seth, Head of the Rio+20 Secretariat
• CIVICUS global consultations - new dates confirmed
• Weekly webinar: Finding common ground - a global civil society alliance and faith based civil society, Wednesday 30 May
• Hockey federation turns blind eye to human rights by confirming 2014 championships in Belarus
• Brazil lowers exorbitant hotel costs for delegates going to Rio+20
• UNESCO-MOST Conference 2012: Labour Rights as Human Rights? Migration, Labour Market Restructuring, and the Role of Civil Society in Global Governance, Sweden, 30 May to 1 June 2012
• New study on aid transparency and climate finance
• Azerbaijan: authorities violently disperse peaceful rallies

Read Online now | Subscribe to the e-CIVICUS here

 

A statement of the nine Major Groups involved in the Rio+20 sustainable development process was delivered to a special session of the UN General Assembly this week by CIVICUS’ UN New York representative, Jeffrey Huffines. The statement’s eight key asks are to renew leadership; ensure non-regression; achieve equity; enable inclusive participation; improve the governance of sustainable development; establish sustainable development goals; base decisions in sound science; and move beyond GDP as a measure.

Read the full statement.

 

Register Now!

Faith-based CSOs have the potential to harness the energy and passion of people of faith and access large pockets of social capital. At CIVICUS, we are seeking to build effective partnerships with organisations that mobilise people of faith so that we can achieve greater impact in areas of common interest together.

In this webinar, the latest in our weekly series, we will explore the importance of interfaith dialogue at the grassroots level and the role of faith-based organisations in peace-building, and we also hope to critically examine the potential advantages and disadvantages of working with faith-based organisations as development partners.

Register now, and find out more on our weekly series.

 

The 2012 CIVICUS World Assembly programme is now available. The content is rich, the presenters are bringing a great diversity of expertise, there are a thousand things for you to accomplish... and your own participation is only a click away!

Benefit from...

• 5 days (Youth Assembly and World Assembly) of constructive discussions and exchanges;
• Around 1,000 delegates from over 100 countries;
• Over 200 keynote speakers, presenters and experts wanting to share the wealth of their knowledge;
• 52 very interactive work sessions supporting the 3 World Assembly and Youth Assembly programme tracks;
• Many social activities to foster long-lasting and fruitful relationships;
• The annual CIVICUS members' meeting;
• The Citizen Café to meet enthusiastic partners and learn about the latest projects
• ...and lots more!

The 2012 CIVICUS World Assembly awaits you in beautiful Montréal. Register today!

 

La serie de consultas globales de la alianza CIVICUS, están llegan a tu región. Los resultados de estas consultas ayudaran a formar las líneas centrales de trabajo de CIVICUS por los próximos cinco años. Te invitamos a que compartas tu experiencia y perspectivas bajo la consigna “Afrontando los desafíos que enfrenta la humanidad: una agenda para la sociedad civil 2013-2017” en los siguientes espacios y horarios:

Helsinki, Finlandia, 28 de Mayo 2012

Maputo, Mozambique, 30 de Mayo 2012

Johannesburgo, Sudáfrica, 1 Junio 2012

Buenos Aires, Argentina, 8 Junio 2012

Si estas interesado en participar en la consulta de Maputo, por favor contacta a:

Si estas interesado en participar en la consulta de Johannesburgo, por favor contacta a:

Si estas interesado en participar en la consulta de Buenos Aires, por favor contacta a:

Para ver la lista de consultas pasadas y futuras clickea aquí 

Si no hay consultas en tu país y tu organización tiene la capacidad de convocar a organizaciones para asegurarse que las preocupaciones y opiniones de la sociedad civil de tu país sean representadas en los diálogos globales de las direcciones estratégicas de CIVICUS, por favor contacta a .

 

A serie de consultas globais da CIVICUS está chegando a uma localidade perto de você. Os resultados destas consultas vao ajudar a moldar o enfoque do trabalho da CIVICUS para os próximos cinco anos. Convidamos-lo a compartilhar suas experiências e perspectivas sobre o tema "Enfrentando os desafios que afectam a humanidade: uma agenda da sociedade civil para 2013-2017" nos seguintes locais e datas.

Helsinki, Finland, 28 de maio 2012

Maputo, Moçambique, 30 de maio de 2012

Johannesburg, África do Sul, 01 de junho

Buenos Aires, Argentina, 08 de junho de 2012

Se você estiver interessado em participar na consulta em Maputo, entre em contacto com Natalie atraves do email, . Se estiver interessado em Johannesburg, entre em contacto com Megan atraves do email, . Se estiver interesado em Argentina, entre em contacto com Mariano atraves do email .

Para ver a lista de consultas anteriores e as que estao sendo planejadas para o futuro, consulte:

http://www.civicus.org/en/component/content/article/6-accountability/899-attend-or-host-a-strategic-directions-consultation

Se não houver consultas planejadas no seu país, e a sua organização é capaz de mobilizar sua rede de contatos para assegurar que as preocupações e opiniões das OSC em seu país são representadas no diálogo global, entre em contato com Ciana-Marie Pegus atraves do email:

.

 

Portuguese  | Spanish   

The CIVICUS alliance's series of global consultations is coming to a locale near you. The output of these consultations will help to shape the core work of the CIVICUS alliance for the next five years. We invite you to share your experiences and perspectives on the topic 'confronting the challenges facing humanity: a civil society agenda for 2013 to 2017' at the following locations and dates.

Helsinki, Finland, 28 May 2012

Maputo, Mozambique, 30 May 2012

Johannesburg, South Africa, 1 June

Buenos Aires, Argentina, 8 June 2012

If you are interested in attending the Maputo consultation contact . If you would like to attend the Johannesburg consultation contact . If you want to attend the consultation in Buenos Aires contact .

For a list of past and future consultations click here

If there is no planned strategic directions consultation in your country, and your organisation is able to mobilise your network of contacts to ensure that the concerns and opinions of CSOs in your country are represented in the global dialogue, please contact Ciana-Marie Pegus,  

 

Eight human rights organisations in the Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland are deeply disappointed that the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has confirmed at its general assembly in Helsinki that the Republic of Belarus will host the 2014 IIHF World Championship.

Belarus finds itself in the most alarming human rights crisis since the country became an independent state in 1991. We believe that to hold the 2014 IIHF World Championship in Belarus would support and legitimatise a regime that violates the human rights of the people of Belarus in an alarming way.

 

A virtual consultation hosted by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Wednesday 23 May, 2012 at 1 pm UTC/GMT

The global economic crisis has been a devastating blow for many civil society organisations. According to data from the CIVICUS Civil Society Index, several CSOs report declining funding, volatility and changing donor priorities, and in response are focusing on diversifying funding sources. The State of Civil Society report published earlier this year reiterated that restrictive funding policies continue to hinder CSOs’ ability to be effective development actors. It is clear that diverse funding strategies and good donor-CSO relations are needed for CSOs to weather these turbulent times.

This webinar will feature presentations on:

• Civil society funding patterns, trends and survival strategies: Lessons from CIVICUS’ State of Civil society 2011
• The economic crisis and the impact of funding cuts on civil society in the UK – Oliver Henman, UK and International Campaigns Manager, National Council for Voluntary Organisations

The session is expected to last for 90 minutes. 50 minutes will be dedicated to an open discussion during which you are invited to share your experiences and perspectives.

Register: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/117739296

This consultation is part of a series of weekly webinars. Find out more.

 

“CIVICUS has directly contributed to freedom of expression and citizen participation in Yemen”- Yemen Portal

In January 2011 the Yemeni people rose up and demanded change, calling for an end to Ali Abdullah Saleh’s dictatorship and the establishment of a democratic state. The regime responded by systematically targeting activists, civil society members and journalists.  Media exposure of the events in Yemen was severely curtailed by power cuts, which limited television and internet, and fuel shortages, which limited transportation. Radio emerged as the best medium in which to convey news of the Yemen situation to the community and the outside world- FM waves can be picked up on small handheld phones and radios running on batteries. 

The Crisis Response Fund supported the Yemen Portal in establishing an independent youth radio station at Al-Tagheer (Change) Square in Sana’a, broadcasting programmes to promote democracy, tolerance and human rights and spreading news of the situation in Yemen to both local residents and the international community. The radio succeeded in producing exclusive content and broadcasting regularly during critical times, such as the massacres perpetrated by security forces in Sana’a and Taiz.

Following months of protests Saleh’s reign has ended. The Yemen people now face a difficult transitional period, tasked with building an inclusive and democratic state that guarantees human rights. Yemen Human Rights defenders join activists in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and around the world in fighting to defend citizens’ rights and freedoms.  Protestors in the ongoing Syrian crisis have been subjected to a violent crackdown. The Egyptian transition is walking on to increasingly shaky ground. A recent CIVICUS report indicates that civil society operates in restrictive environments in over 90 countries around the world. 

The Crisis Response Fund needs YOUR help. Threats to Civil Society, like those in Yemen, require urgent response and decisive action.Standing shoulder-to-shoulder we CAN make a difference. Become a human rights defender and make a donation today: support the CIVICUS Crisis Response Fund, support Human Rights, support civil society.

Photos by Imad Mohamed Mar'e and Amran Shahbein.

 

CIVICUS is committed to accountability and transparency in all the work we do. As founding members of the INGO Accountability Charter, CIVICUS aims to demonstrate the highest standards of professional conduct and accountability. Further information can be found at here.

 

 

CIVICUS has called on the Ethiopian Government to ensure that its land investment policy does not undermine the rights of small-scale agriculturalists to an adequate standard of living including access to adequate food. The Government should institute a land tenure system that strengthens land tenure security, protects small landholders from displacement and provides for adequate compensation and social services in the event of expropriation.

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24 April 2012, Johannesburg.

Serious violations of the fundamental rights of women human rights defenders are continuing unabated in Iran, says CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation.

In the latest instance, Mansoureh Behkish was sentenced to four and a half years in jail for her human rights work on 3 April 2012. Mansoureh was sentenced to four years for colluding against the Republic through the Mourning Mothers Group and an additional six months for instigating propaganda against the government.

The Mourning Mothers Group, of which Mansoureh is a member, campaigns against unlawful killings, arrests, torture and enforced disappearances of Iranians. The group is composed of women whose children have been murdered, detained or disappeared in Iran since June 2009, and also includes family members of victims of serious human rights violations perpetuated by the Iranian government.

 

Members of the CIVICUS alliance have made submissions to the next meeting of UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review process, which reviews countries’ human rights records. The submissions, for Republic of Korea, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zambia, focus on such areas as the rights of freedom of assembly and association, the enabling environment for civil society, the status of journalists and the treatment of minorities.

CIVICUS prepared the submissions in collaboration with the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, Pakistan NGO Forum and Zambia Council for Social Development. View them below.

• CIVICUS and People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) Submission for the Republic of Korea
• CIVICUS and Pakistan NGOs Forum Submission for Pakistan
• CIVICUS Submission on Sri Lanka
• CIVICUS and Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD) Submission for Zambia

 

• Bahrain Grand Prix ignores human rights abuses and heightens tensions
• 'What is needed is a monitoring and accountability system for governments North and South' - Rio+20 interview with Roberto Bissio, Coordinator, Social Watch (Feature)
• 'International civil society should spread awareness of the devastating effects of Ethiopian law': interview with Endalkachew Molla, Director, Human Rights Council, Ethiopia (Interview)
• CIVICUS expresses its condolences at the passing of JCIE President, Tadashi Yamamoto
• United Nations Voluntary Fund 2013 Call for Applications (Opportunity)
• Online discussion: tactical dialogue on working with corporations to assess and improve human rights impact (Event)
• Make your actions count at Rio+20 - VolunteerActionCounts (Take action)
• Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies: International Advocacy Programme Coordinator (application deadline 5 May 2012)

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CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is working towards Rio+20 on several fronts, including by acting as an organising partner of the NGO Major Group and co-organising critical meetings and workshops around the world. As part of our contribution to the discussion on the future of sustainable development leadership, we are also supporting the Regeneration Project, led by GlobeScan and Sustainability.

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As part of this initiative, CIVICUS invites you to participate in the first of two global expert surveys to explore the future of leadership for sustainable development.

 

In this issue:

• Time for a new social contract: CIVICUS’ inaugural State of Civil Society Report suggests a generational opportunity for civil society in the face of multiple global crises
• CIVICUS and the Arab NGO Network for Development highlight Syrian crisis and demand a political solution
• CIVICUS analysis piece: strengthening civil society voices at the UN Human Rights Council
• ALGERIA: Continued harassment of activists one year after repeal of emergency
• BAHRAIN: Demands to release human rights defender on hunger strike increase
• IRAN: Renewal of the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran welcomed

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• Time for a new social contract: CIVICUS report suggests a generational opportunity in the face of multiple crises
• Turning principles into practice: a successful platform strengthening CSO transparency and accountability practices in Latin America
• A slippery slope in Southern Africa
• Bahrain: UNESCO head condemns killing of citizen journalist
• India: civil society seeks effective use of Right to Information Act
• Mexico: our future lies in nature
• CIVICUS interview with Jose Muvango
• Roundtable discussion between CSOs and members of the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Group on Sustainable Energy for All
• Introducing Bribespot
• Job: CIVICUS seeks a Senior Executive Assistant (application deadline 16 April 2012)
• Job: Human Rights Advisor (application deadline 21 April 2012)

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The South Africa Forum for International Solidarity (SAFIS) yesterday issued a letter to the Prime Minister of Swaziland requesting that he reverse the decision to deregister the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA).

TUCOWSA has been at the forefront of calls to bring democracy to Swaziland, where everyday life continues to be marked by serious violations of democratic, human and trade union rights, including: extrajudicial killings by security forces; mob killings; the use of excessive force by police and torture against detainees; police impunity; arbitrary arrests and lengthy pre-trial detentions; restrictions on freedom of assembly, association and movement; prohibitions on political activity and harassment of political activists; discrimination and violence against women; the harassment of labour leaders; and, restrictions on workers' rights.

 

Since 2004, through its Legitimacy, Transparency and Accountability (LTA) programme, CIVICUS has been working to improve public trust and the credibility of civil society organisations (CSOs) and their activities through the enhancement of their accountability systems and structures.

Although much work has been done in recent years in terms of developing principles and toolkits on how to improve CSOs’ transparency and accountability standards, it remains a challenge for CSOs to translate such principles into concrete initiatives and work together towards better sectoral practices. However in Latin America and the Caribbean, the platform Rendir Cuentas (www.rendircuentas.org) has been working successfully for the last three years to bridge, connect and convene CSO practitioners to conceptualise transparency and accountability principles, map best practices and translate principles into concrete and shared initiatives.

 

Civil society faces a generational opportunity to prove its value as a source of alternatives at a time of profound global crisis. This is the headline conclusion of the inaugural report on the state of civil society from global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation.

David Bonbright, Chair of CIVICUS, sets out the need for a report from civil society: “We cannot be effective if we don’t know who we are as civil society. We cannot strengthen what we cannot see. For 20 years, CIVICUS has undertaken cutting edge action research on the dimensions and dynamics of civil society. This report continues this central line of our work as a critical champion and friend of civil society.”

The report, the State of Civil Society 2011, available at StateOfCivilSociety.org, concludes that in the face of connected economic, environmental, political and social crises, the institutions of global governance have been revealed as lacking. Meanwhile, state responses to the economic crisis are privileging private capital at the expense of citizens, and accordingly people around the world have risen up to resist poor governance, inequality and corruption, and to demand a change in the circumstances in which they live.