Defining civil society CIVICUS call for papers: 10th International Society for Third Sector Research conference, Siena, Italy  Sign the petition to free Ales Bialiatski MDGs: Time to get it rightWhen the road to democracy gets hijacked Aid transparency campaigners welcome new ‘open-government’ initiative And loads more! Read this issue online or subscribe to receive future issues in your inbox.

By Mr Letshego Mokeki, National TISDA Coordinator, Transparency International (TI) Following up on findings of their research report, TI is currently undertaking two campaigns in South Africa to strengthen civil society and capacity in financial management in primary education.

The 10th International Society for Third Sector Research (ISTR) on the theme “Democratisation, Marketisation and the third sector’, will take place during July 10-13, 2012 in Siena, Italy.

The special issue of the e-CIVICUS, highlighting happenings, news and opinions from the just concluded CIVICUS World Assembly in Montreal.

Civil society is undergoing its most significant crisis and change for a generation.

The dialogue stretches beyond Montreal! The spirit of the CIVICUS World Assembly is reaching far beyond the Palais Des Congres in Montreal.

This is the final instalment of our conversation with Ms.

On Friday 2 September in Johannesburg, CIVICUS will  launch  our new report on the health of civil society, Bridging the Gaps: citizens, organisations and dissociation.

Français From 2010 to 2012, the CIVICUS World Assembly is being co-hosted by the Institut du Nouveau Monde (INM) in Montreal, Canada.

Mario Lubetkin is Secretary General for Inter Press Services (IPS), a communications institution with a global news agency at its core and is dedicated to raising the voices of the South and of civil society.

Ales Bialiatski, a prominent civil society activist in Belarus, was arrested on 4 August 2011.

Social activist, Makoma Lekalakala*, recently sat down with Elizabeth Hira, of CIVICUS’ Policy Unit, to discuss climate change from the perspective of South Africans, the task of mobilisation, and the role of women in climate justice.

CIVICUS recently joined several international civil society organisations in writing to the Government of Angola to draw attention to a number of concerns and to present urgent requests with regard to the humanrights situation in Angola.

Melita Steele has been with Greenpeace Africa as a climate and energy campaigner for a year and a half.

Click to view on YouTube Click to listen/download from iTunes store On Wednesday 20 July, 2011, CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation, hosted a webinar, geared towards developing policy recommendations for civil society organisations (CSOs), public and private sector donors and governments to enable them to bridge the gap between traditional CSOs and online activists.

A teleconference hosted by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation 14:00 – 16:00 GMT on Friday 12 August 2011 It is my pleasure to invite you to participate in a regional consultation geared towards identifying and better understanding the key issues and state of civil society in the region, as well as how governments, CSOs and the private sector can better support the strengthening of civil society in the region.

Analysis Faith-based economics.

Melita Steele, Climate and Energy Campaigner, Greenpeace Africa, speaks to Elizabeth Hira of CIVICUS Melita Steele has been with Greenpeace Africa as a climate and energy campaigner for a year and a half.

Analysis The sanctity of life: Norway and Somalia - a study in contrast Civil Society and post-disaster reconstruction: the case of Japan  The Making of Social Justice: Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture News Egypt civil society decries decision to ban international monitoring of the elections Time for democratic dialogue in Malawi - not death threats and unfounded treason charges After Sri Lanka polls, civil society groups say 'voters were threatened'

NEWS RELEASE – Statement by the Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Trust (SAHRDT)            Johannesburg, July 26: In the wake of last week’s bloody demonstrations in Malawi, the Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Trust (SAHRDT) calls on President Bingu wa Mutharika to engage in an open, national debate about the country’s future – rather than resorting to more inflammatory attacks on civil society leaders and pro-democracy activists.

CIVICUS invita a activistas, investigadores y profesionales de la sociedad civil, a líderes empresariales responsables y a representantes de agencias de desarrollo a compartir ideas y experiencias sobre el fortalecimiento de la participación ciudadana y a vincularse con representantes de organizaciones donantes y  gobiernos.

Analysis 2011: Can it be the Year of Reckoning - ingrid Srinath Food insecurity and the future News Zimbabwe: Inconsistency of charges against activists highlight deteriorating human rights situation (Press release) Malawi erupts in anti-government protests

Interview by: Elizabeth Hira, Human Rights Activist and Policy Unit Intern, CIVICUS With: Kelly Dent, Senior Climate Change Policy Advisor for Oxfam International Kelly Dent is Oxfam International’s resident expert on climate change.

PRETORIA – “South Africa is a champion of institutionalizing social, economic and cultural rights such as the human right to food, but it has yet to prove it can deliver results for 12 million poor food insecure people, 70 per cent of which live in rural areas,” said Olivier De Schutter, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, on the last day of his official mission to South Africa*.

A virtual consultation hosted by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen ParticipationWednesday 20 July, 2011 at 1 pm UTC/GMT The purpose of this thematic consultation is to develop policy recommendations for civil society organisations, public and private sector donors and governments to enable them to bridge the gap between traditional CSOs and online activists.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Excellencies and colleagues; I thank you for this opportunity you gave me to address you on this distinct and historical occasion.

Analysis Co-operation for effective development: Looking to Busan Voices on the road to COP 17: Who should lead the fight on climate change? You should News US violated Egypt’s sovereignty by offering funds to NGOs, says minister Rich nations risk breaking their pledges on farming aid, says anti-poverty group

Interview by: Elizabeth Hira, Human Rights Activist and Policy Unit Intern, CIVICUS Mandeep Tiwana, Policy Manager at CIVICUS, discusses climate change, COP17, and why ordinary people need to lead the fight.

CIVICUS is looking to develop a comprehensive intranet and knowledge management system using Microsoft’s SharePoint 2010 and associated software including: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 (email) Microsoft Project (Project management) Microsoft Lync/Communication Server (IM Chats, Group chat, VOIP and conference calling) Visio (on-going work flow designs) CIVICUS is seeking proposals from consultants to implement this solution between August and October 2011.

Challenges Facing Women Human Rights Defenders in Africa: Building Momentum for Mobilisation On the 27 July 2011, a webinar was held on building momentum for mobilisation to address the challenges facing women human rights defenders in Africa.

In this article, CIVICUS' Ingrid Srinath spoke with Justin Kilcullen of Trócaire at “If We Were Brave – Leadership Beyond Budget Cuts”, the first Masterclass organised by DTALK Learning, the Irish Aid mandated development training centre at Kimmage Manor Development Studies Centre.

If We Were Brave… Ingrid Srinath, Secretary General - CIVICUS “NGOs should be involved in renegotiating the social contract, joining with states and markets to redefine what kind of society we want nationally and globally.

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation at the 8th Regional Conference of the International Society for Third Sector Research (ISTR) for Latin American and the Caribbean Conference, Buenos Aires, Argentina – 12- 14 July, 2011.

From a country so repressed that a dissenting word against government will result in a prison sentence, Yuri Dzhibladze*, Founder and President of the Center for the Development of Democracy and Human Rights in Moscow, writes why the international community must not forget Belarus.

Geneva, 7 July 2011 “First of all let me thank you most sincerely for your very kind words and also your strong support and warm welcome on my reappointment as the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

 Below are the questions asked by parties who wanted additional information re our request for proposals for the implementation of our CRM strategy using CiviCRM.

CIVICUS' UN Representative in Geneva, Renate Bloem, made an intervention today that the UN Economic and Social Council reaffirming that "CIVICUS believes that UN member states and global civil society need to work together to ensure quality education for all, in accordance with international norms and best practices.

Analysis Unexpected Revolutions? - Ziad Abdel Samad, Executive Director of the Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND), Beirut.

Two hundred Civil Society Platforms and membership Organizations, representing over 10,000 national,international and Global CSOs have endorsed an International Framework that includes five Standards to respect, empower and protect Civil Society around against negative government and Donor actions.

The persecution of civil society activists and organizations, whether they are fighting for justice and law, or clean and open government, or public health, or a safe environment, or honest elections, it's not just an attack against people we admire, it's an attack against our own fundamental beliefs.

CIVICUS is seeking proposals from consultants who have demonstrable capacities implementing constituent relationship management (CRM) solutions to implement CIVICUS' CRM strategy.

Dr.

CIVICUS is calling for individuals interested in lending their voluntary services for the translation of the new CIVICUS website and other promotional materials.

Analysis A tale of two chiefs - Ingrid Srinath, Secretary General CIVICUS Russia and China Failing UN Security Council Commitment: CIVICUS An Art, Not a Science - Adele Poskitt, Policy Officer, CIVICUS Why South Africa must not enact the Secrecy Bill  - Mandep Tiwana, Policy Manager CIVICUS Voices of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan civil society heard at the UN - Will Lasky, Eurasia Project Coordinator, CIVICUS From conversations lives can be changed -  Rowena McNaughton, Media Officer, CIVICUS

Two significant global institutions are currently engaged in filling vacancies at the top.

By Mandeep Tiwana, Policy Manager, CIVICUS South African lawmakers are currently meeting in committee to discuss, clause by clause, various aspects of the Protection of Information Bill being championed by the government.

The time has almost come to finalise the consolidation of the findings of the Open Forum process – it is now exactly one week to the second and final Global Assembly 2011 of the Open Forum, 28 to 30 June in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Dear Friends, Comrades, Brothers and Sisters, These are the words Kumi frequently uses to communicate with the broad family of influential people he has worked with over the years and I hope you will allow me to address you in this way also.

Dear CIVICUS member, partner and friend, As you may have heard already, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced on 6 June 2011 his intention to seek a second term of office after his current five-year term expires on 31 December 2011.

David Kode, Policy Officer for CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation* I was asked by the Africa Platform for Development Effectiveness to give a presentation on civil society perspectives/updates towards the Busan High Level Forum during the Platform’s Case Studies Peer Review Session which ran from 5-7 June 2011.