News

Featured

Myanmar: Lift Internet Restrictions in Rakhine and Chin States

Mobile internet blackout in four townships in Rakhine State among the world’s longest running.
Featured

Why we are not engaging with the G20’s civil society process in 2020

العربية The annual G20 summit often seems like a talking shop for the world’s most powerful governments.
Featured

Dakar Rally community must #StandWithSaudiHeroes

The Dakar Rally (formerly known as the Paris-Dakar Rally) is an annual off-road endurance rally organized by the French company Amaury Sport Organisation (A.
Featured

Cambodia: Charges against journalists must be dropped

Joint Statement: Civil society organizations call for all baseless charges against journalists to be dropped We, the undersigned media institutions and local and international civil society organizations call for charges against two former Radio Free Asia (RFA) journalists, Mr.
Featured

Re: Cambodia’s Law on Trade Unions and Cases Against Union Leaders

Prime Minister Samdech Hun SenGovernment Peace Building, No.
Featured

Groups call for respect for peaceful protest in Colombia

December 9 marked the 18th day of peaceful nationwide protests by labor unions, students, peace activists, Afro-Colombians, indigenous, victims, women, farmers negatively impacted by free trade agreements, and many other Colombians.
Featured

India: Excessive force used by police to crackdown on protests against citizenship law

CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance is alarmed at the violent crackdown on protests across India in response to a controversial citizenship law passed by the country’s parliament last week.
Featured

Laos and Thailand must investigate enforced disappearances

Civil society groups urge Laos, Thailand to investigate enforced disappearances, reveal fate of Sombath Somphone and Od Sayavong On the seventh anniversary of the enforced disappearance of Lao civil society leader Sombath Somphone, we, the undersigned organizations, urge the Lao and Thai governments to investigate enforced disappearances, and demand Vientiane finally reveal Sombath’s whereabouts and ensure justice for him and his family.
Featured

Iranian authorities must put an end to violence against peaceful protesters across the country

Starting on 15 November 2019, mass protests have erupted in Iran in response to a three-fold rise in petrol costs.
Featured

Iraq: Authorities must immediately stop targeting protesters, activists, journalists and the media

 بالعربية We, the undersigned human rights organisations, call on the Iraqi government to immediately cease the use of lethal and excessive force against protesters.
Featured

Concerns over violent repression of protests in Latin America and the Caribbean

A wave of social protests has engulfed Latin America and the Caribbean, with people in Ecuador, Haiti, Chile, Bolivia and Colombia taking to the streets to demand their rights More often than not, these protests have been violently suppressed Human Rights institutions have denounced heavy repression and excessive use of force throughout the region   Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS condemns the violent response by security forces to the genuine demands of demonstrators in several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean who have taken to the streets to protest against deteriorating socio-economic conditions, corruption and unaccountable governance.
Featured

International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists: NGOs call for immediate actions

بالعربية Beirut – To mark the 6th International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, on 02 November 2019, which was approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations at its 68th session in 2013, 18 NGOs called for immediate actions at the conclusion of an event in Beirut entitled "No to impunity for the crimes committed against journalists in the Arab region.
Featured

Iraq: Vicious tactics used against protesters and human rights defenders

بالعربية The Iraqi government has stepped up its violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrators, including human rights defenders and other activists, as the campaign of mass arrests and fatal attacks continues.
Featured

The CIVICUS Youth Action Team welcomes new members

Five new members recently joined the CIVICUS Youth Action Team (YAT).
Featured

Omar Barghouti at risk of deportation as Israel plans to revoke his residency status

بالعربية “I plan to act quickly to revoke Omar Barghouti’s resident status in Israel” Arye Deri, Israel’s Interior Minister, 6 October 2019 On 6 October 2019, Israeli Interior Minister Arye Deri announced that he is working towards revoking the residency status of Palestinian resident and human rights defender Omar Barghouti.
Featured

Global rights group condemns detention of human rights activist in Pakistan

Global rights alliance condemns the detention of Muhammad Ismail, a human rights activist and CIVICUS member who has been promoting human rights in Pakistan for more than a decade Ismail and his family have been facing months of harassment and intimidation This incident highlights the hostile environment for human rights defenders and others in Pakistan to exercise their freedom of expression CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, is extremely concerned about the arbitrary detention of Muhammad Ismail, a human rights activist and CIVICUS member, and calls for his immediate release.
Featured

14 member states elected to UN Human Rights Council

Last week (17 October), 14 new member states were elected to the 47-member state Human Rights Council for the 2020-2022 term.
Featured

Five countries added to the civic space watchlist

Egypt, China (Hong Kong), Colombia, Guinea and Kazakhstan join global watchlist Escalating rights violations include arrests, abductions and assassinations of activists, as well as the persecution of journalists and media blackouts International community must pressure governments to end repression and bring perpetrators to account Five countries from Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America have been added to a watchlist of countries which have seen a rapid decline in fundamental freedoms in recent weeks and months.
Featured

Mozambique: Killing of activist Dr. Matavel & restrictions on civic space mar upcoming elections

Portuguese Open letter to the Government of Mozambique Your Excellency, We, the undersigned orgnisations, are deeply alarmed by the escalating crackdown on fundamental freedoms and the persecution of activists in the context of the upcoming presidential, legislative and provincial elections scheduled for 15 October 2019 in Mozambique.
Featured

Serbia’s Civic Space Downgraded

The downgrade is based on an assessment of conditions for the exercise of the freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and expression on the CIVICUS Monitor.
Featured

On 10th anniversary of ACPRA, NGOs call on Saudi authorities to release all detained members

ARABIC On October 12, 2019, which marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Saudi Association for Civil and Political Rights (ACPRA), the undersigned organisations call on Saudi authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all detained ACPRA members.
Featured

Iraq: Freedom of speech and assembly under attack as over 100 killed & hundreds arrested

ARABIC The undersigned international, regional and Iraqi human rights organisations demand that the authorities in Iraq immediately uphold promises to put an end to violent reprisals against the popular protest movement taking place across the country, which has left over 100 people dead, with thousands more injured and hundreds detained.
Featured

Civil Society Organisations condemn the continued investigation of ex-RFA journalists Yeang Sothearin and Uon Chhin

Phnom Penh, 07 October 2019 - We, the undersigned civil society organisations strongly condemn the decision by the Municipal Court judge to continue the investigation into unsubstantiated espionage charges against Yeang Sothearin and Uon Chhin.
Featured

India: End communication blockade in Jammu and Kashmir without further delay

Kathmandu/Bangkok/Paris/Geneva, 4 October 2019: Today completes two months of the unprecedented communication blockade in Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Featured

A year on, NGOs amplify calls for justice and accountability for Jamal Khashoggi's murder

On 2 October 2018, Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain official documents in order to get married, but he did not make it out alive.
Featured

UN: Address Egypt’s Assault on Rights

ARABIC (Geneva, September 17, 2019) – The United Nations Human Rights Council should use the upcoming review of Egypt’s human rights records to address unprecedented levels of repression, 17 organizations including Human Rights Watch said today in an open letter to the council’s member countries.

Stop Restrictions on Freedom of Assembly and Association in Iran

Arabic    President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Address: Pasteur St.
Featured

New data analysis shows that Latin American civil society has poor access to development resources

CIVICUS, and the Colombian social impact startup, Innpactia, released the report, Access to Resources for Civil Society Organisations in Latin America: Facts and Challenges, which presents a challenging funding landscape for CSOs in Latin America.
Featured

Open letter: Pope Francis' visit to Mozambique presents an opportunity to address human rights violations

Read it in Portuguese | Italian JOINT OPEN LETTER Your Holiness, Pope Francis Apostolic Palace 00120 Vatican City Re: Open letter on human rights to Pope Francis from Civil Society groups on his visit to Mozambique Your Holiness, Pope Francis We, the undersigned, are writing as a group of non-governmental organisations working to promote and defend human rights in many countries around the world, including Mozambique.
Featured

Sudan: Ensuring a credible response by the UN Human Rights Council at its 42nd session

To Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Geneva, Switzerland Excellencies, Ahead of the 42nd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (“HRC” or “the Council”), we, the undersigned civil society organisations, urge you to ensure the Council takes action to address serious human rights violations and abuses that have been and continue to be committed in Sudan, and to support systemic reforms in the country.
Featured

UN resolution needed to help address human rights crisis in Cambodia

To Members and Observer States of the United Nations Human Rights Council Dear Excellency, The undersigned civil society organizations, representing groups working within and outside Cambodia to advance human rights, rule of law, and democracy, are writing to alert your government to an ongoing human rights crisis in Cambodia and to request your support for a resolution ensuring strengthened scrutiny of the human rights situation in the country at the upcoming 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council (the “Council”).
Featured

Yemen: Over 75 organisations call for mandate of Group of Eminent Experts to be renewed

Over 75 organisations call for mandate of Group of Eminent Experts to be renewed, emphasising violations against human rights defenders Arabic We, the undersigned more than 75 international, regional and Yemeni CSOs, call for the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) to extend and broaden the mandate of the Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen (GEE), including a thorough investigation into specific violations against human rights defenders, journalists and bloggers, and the closure of civic space.
Featured

Hong Kong: De-escalate violence and respect freedom of peaceful assembly

Bangkok, 16 August 2019 – We, the undersigned civil society organisations, express our deep concerns on the escalating violence in Hong Kong and urge the authorities to ensure conditions for peaceful assembly and association are present, and the protestors to exercise their rights to protest peacefully.
Featured

Burundi: Continued investigation needed into grave human rights violations

FRENCH To Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Geneva, Switzerland Excellencies, Ahead of the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council (“HRC” or “the Coun­cil”), we, the undersigned national, regional, and international civil society organisations, write to call on your delegation to support a resolution extending the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on Burundi for a further year, until September 2020.
Featured

Government’s closure of Human Rights NGO another blow for fundamental freedoms in Equatorial Guinea

Global #humanrights organisations condemn the Equatorial Guinea government’s closure of a prominent rights NGO, part of its long-running attack on fundamental freedoms there https://t.
Featured

Sudan: Peace deal welcome but all parties must commit for transition to be effective

Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, has welcomed the announcement of a peace deal that has been reached in Sudan, between the Transitional Military Council and opposition leaders but has warned that all parties need to commit to the agreement’s terms for the transition to be effective.
Featured

Malaysia: Positive step but further revisions needed of protest law

Pusat KOMAS and global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, welcome the Malaysian government’s efforts to make amendments to the Peaceful Assembly Act, which regulates public assemblies and protests.
Featured

Indian Government should withdraw criminal charges against NGO ‘Lawyers Collective’ and its representatives

26 June 2019, Bangkok/Colombo/Dublin/Geneva/Johannesburg/London/New Delhi/New York/Paris We, the undersigned, strongly condemn the filing of criminal charges against Indian NGO ‘Lawyers Collective’, its Senior Advocate Anand Grover, and other representatives.
Featured

Honduras government must stop violent clampdown on peaceful protests

📢 Desde @CIVICUSespanol condenamos y exigimos el fin de la brutal represión ejercida contra las protestas pacíficas en #Honduras por parte de las fuerzas de seguridad de @JuanOrlandoH.
Featured

Urgent appeal for the release of Malak Al-Kashif

FRENCH We, the undersigned human rights organisations, call on UN Special Rapporteurs, Members of the European Parliament, and representatives in national Parliaments of the European Union to urgently intervene and communicate with the Egyptian authorities to immediately release jailed activist Malak Al-Kashif, who was arrested for expressing her views on Facebook.
Featured

Sri Lanka: Release poet and drop spurious charges against him

Joint Statement from CIVICUS and Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) The arrest and ongoing detention of award-winning author and poet Shakthika Sathkumara on spurious charges are a clear violation of his right to freedom of expression, CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance and the Asian Human Right Commission (AHRC), said today ahead of his next court hearing on 18 June.
Featured

Pakistan: Human Rights Defender Gulalai Ismail at risk

Pakistani authorities must end their judicial persecution of human rights defender Gulalai Ismail, global civil society alliance CIVICUS said today.
Featured

CSOs express concern over judicial harassment of former Cambodia National Rescue Party members

Arrests & detentions for being a member of the political opposition in #Cambodia.
Featured

BANGLADESH: HRD tortured while in arbitrary detention must be released and charges be dropped

            Bangladesh authorities must immediately release human rights defender Mohammad Abdul Kaium, who has been allegedly tortured in custody during his arbitrary detention.
Featured

Pakistan: Joint letter on civic space violations against Pashtuns

Dr Shireen M MazariFederal Minister for Human RightsMinistry of Human Rights9th Floor, New Pak Secretariat (Kohsar Block)Sector F-5, Islamabad, Pakistan Concerns regarding civic space violations against the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) CIVICUS: the World Alliance for Citizen Participation is a global alliance of civil society organisations (CSOs) and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society around the world.
Featured

Philippines: Stop the Attacks against Human Rights Defenders and Protect Civic Space

  Joint Statement: We, the undersigned organisations, strongly denounce the recent death threats addressed to Karapatan Secretary General, Cristina Palabay in the Philippines.
Featured

The Belgrade Call to Action

French A Civil Society Call to Stand Together to Defend Peoples’ Voices for a Just and Sustainable World Reverse the Closing and Shrinking Space for Civil Society Stop the Increasing Attacks on Human Rights Defenders and the Undermining of Democratic Participation Renew the Prospects for an Inclusive Agenda 2030 and the Full Realization of the SDGs Launched in Belgrade, April 8, 2019 We, leaders from Global Civil Society, coming from civil society organizations, activists and campaigners from all parts of the World, on this day in Belgrade call on international and national civil society to stand together and declare aloud: Enough is enough! Stop the relentless attacks on civil society, social leaders and human rights defenders! The global community is currently moving down a path that will leave hundreds of millions of people behind; real and transformative progress towards achieving the systemic changes for people and planet promised by Agenda 2030 will not be possible without a fully engaged civil society and people’s genuine participation through their organizations and communities.

Sign up for our newsletters

Our Newsletters

civicus logo white

CIVICUS is a global alliance that champions the power of civil society to create positive change.

brand x FacebookLogo YoutubeLogo InstagramLogo LinkedinLogo

 

Headquarters

25  Owl Street, 6th Floor

Johannesburg
South Africa
2092

Tel: +27 (0)11 833 5959


Fax: +27 (0)11 833 7997

UN Hub: New York

CIVICUS, c/o We Work

450 Lexington Ave

New York
NY
10017

United States

UN Hub: Geneva

11 Avenue de la Paix

Geneva

Switzerland
CH-1202

Tel: +41 (0)79 910 3428