President Anura Kumara Dissanayake Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Re: Press Freedom Protections in Sri Lanka Dear President Dissanayake, Congratulations on your recent election as president of Sri Lanka.

  CIVICUS global civil society alliance calls on President William Ruto and the government of Kenya to immediately and unconditionally free 20 protestors still missing.

Johannesburg, 6 January 2025: Cameroon authorities must immediately reverse the suspension of civil society organisations (CSOs) protecting human rights defenders in Central Africa, said CIVICUS today.

Today, 16 December 2024, Danish-Bahraini human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja has endured 5,000 days of arbitrary detention in Bahrain.

On the 12-year anniversary of the unresolved enforced disappearance of Lao civil society leader Sombath Somphone, we, the undersigned civil society organizations and individuals worldwide, urge United Nations (UN) member states to express their concern over this continuing crime and to call for the prompt resolution of Sombath’s case at the upcoming review of the human rights record of Laos.

The next edition of International Civil Society Week (ICSW), the flagship event bringing together and celebrating global civil society, is slated for November 2025.

As we observe International Palestinian Solidarity Day, CIVICUS and Resilience Pathways stand together in unyielding solidarity with Palestinian people and the civil society organisations that continue to champion human rights, justice, and dignity, in the face of overwhelming adversity.

The undersigned organisations express concern over the Thai Government’s recent attempt  to pass the Draft Act on Associations and Foundations 2024, which, if adopted, would lead to violations of  the right to freedom of association and further undermine democracy in the country.

Membership Engagement Month 2024 (#MEM24) is a special time for the CIVICUS global civil society alliance to connect, celebrate, learn, and collaborate.

  On 22 November 2024, Khurram Parvez, a prominent Kashmiri human rights defender, will mark three years of wrongful incarceration on unsubstantiated charges of terrorism and related offences.

The 45 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists convicted in a sham trial must be released immediately, said CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance today.

Azerbaijan must curb increasing assaults on civil society and stop harassing peaceful protesters and journalists, said CIVICUS today.

We, the undersigned organisations, appeal to all UN member states to secure an immediate ceasefire across Gaza, Lebanon, Israel and the region, and to end the impunity that has allowed atrocities by Israeli forces against civilians to continue and escalate.

We, the undersigned organisations, call upon World Bank President Ajay Banga to condemn the Cambodian government's assault on human rights groups, including reprisals against World Bank project stakeholders.

18 October 2024 19 international civil society organisations demand due process at the review of journalist Jose Rubén Zamora’s detention due on Friday 18 October 2024.

CIVICUS calls on Tanzanian authorities to immediately end all systematic repressions and crackdown of media outlets, journalists, civil society activists, and politicians.

[Geneva] - Responding to Saudi Arabia's failure to win a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council, Sigrid Lipott, United Nations Advisor at CIVICUS, said: "Saudi Arabia’s abysmal human rights record over the past few years demonstrates it has no intention of upholding basic human dignity anytime soon.

Despite the devastation in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, as well as the ongoing challenges in Lebanon, Palestinian civil society remains steadfast and resilient.

Pro-Palestinian protests met with restrictions: bans, arrests, excessive force Student pro-Palestine activism repressed, particularly in western countries Activists, CSOs, journalists targeted with reprisals for expressing solidarity with Palestine On 7 October 2023, Hamas forces launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing over 1,100 people and taking more than 200 hostages.

September 18, 2024 CIVICUS mourns the assassination of environmental defender and community leader Juan López, of the Municipal Committee of Common and Public Goods of Tocoa (CMDBCPT).

Civil society invested significant time and energy in the Summit of the Future.

CIVICUS, alongside 12 other human rights organisations, has signed an open letter urging United Nations (UN) member states to take immediate action to ensure an independent investigation and accountability for human rights violations committed in Bangladesh.

Kashmiri human rights defender arbitrarily detained for 1,000 days Indian authorities have arbitrarily detained Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez for over 1,000 days.

 Photo credit: X/@WomanProtesters CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance remains extremely concerned about the ongoing assault on civic space in Afghanistan, three years after the Taliban takeover.

  Twelve international and Nigerian civil society organizations call upon the government of Nigeria to respect people’s rights to protest as guaranteed by the nation’s constitution and its international human rights obligations.

On 02 August 2024 journalist and human rights defender Irfan Mehraj completes 500 days in jail at the maximum-security Rohini prison in New Delhi, India.

July 30, 2024 The undersigned international organizations condemn the lack of transparency in the announced results of Venezuela’s July 28 presidential elections.

CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance calls on the government of Bangladesh to end the brutal violence and excessive use of force against the quota reform protesters immediately.

CIVICUS global civil society alliance calls on the Argentine government to end violence and harassment of activists and journalists and guarantee citizen’s right to speak, assemble, and protest.

  CIVICUS and sixteen partner civil society organisations call on the Kenyan Government to respect Kenyan citizen’s right to protest, release arrested activists and to provide justice to those killed or injured in brutal retaliations by security forces.

CIVICUS Global Civil Society Alliance and the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) call on the Bangladeshi authorities to immediately end the ongoing judicial harassment of Muhammad Yunus.

CIVICUS, SUARAM, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), FORUM-ASIA, and ARTICLE 19 are concerned that the Malaysian government has failed to accept recommendations made at the UN’s Human Rights Council to respect and protect civic freedoms, particularly freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.

The global civil society alliance CIVICUS calls on the government of Kenya to end violence against #RejectFinanceBill2024 protesters, investigate deaths of over 39 people, and guarantee the rights of its citizens to protest peacefully.

CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), Front Line Defenders and Asia Democracy Network (ADN) strongly condemn the conviction and sentencing of ten activists on 2 July 2024, associated with environmental group, Mother Nature.

CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance and the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)  condemn the harassment and smear campaign against the labour rights group, The Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL), for a report they published on unions and freedom of association in Cambodia.

Bangkok/ Dhaka/ Geneva/ Johannesburg/ Kuala Lumpur/ London/ Manila/ Melbourne/ Paris/Washington DC: 25 June 2024: On the occasion of the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on 26 June, we, the undersigned organisations, are gravely concerned over the continuing acts of torture and other ill-treatment committed by law-enforcement agencies and security forces in Bangladesh, and the lack of access to comprehensive rehabilitation services including medical, psychological, legal, and social support for torture victims.

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation (CIVICUS), Asia Democracy Network, and Front Line Defenders are deeply concerned over the Thai authorities’ arrest of Y Quynh Bdap, a Vietnamese-ethnic minority human rights defender and religious freedom activist.

The European Union System for an Enabling Environment for Civil Society (EU SEE) program seeks to support civil society to thrive by preventing efforts to restrict civic space and shut down civil society organisations.

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Thirty-five years ago, the Chinese government turned weapons against their own people in Beijing.

CIVICUS, a global civil alliance and the Asia Democracy Network (ADN) are extremely disturbed by reports that seven people have been arrested under a new security law for alleged seditious intent, including imprisoned human rights defender Chow Hang-tung, who has been detained since September 2021.

Agenda Item 3 – Human rights situation in Africa (with a special focus on shrinking of civic space) Delivered by Paul Mulindwa, Africa Advocacy Lead at CIVICUS The global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, welcomes this opportunity to address the African Commission under Agenda Item 3: Human Rights Situation in Africa.

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights held a panel on 24 May 2024 at its 79th Ordinary Session to discuss the draft Declaration on the Promotion of the Role of Human Rights Defenders and their Protection in Africa.

CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance is disturbed by reports that a civil society forum on water rights in Bali has been disrupted with activists and organisers facing harassment and intimidation.

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation (CIVICUS), Focus on the Global South, Front Line Defenders, Asia Democracy Network are profoundly saddened and outraged by the tragic death of Netiporn ‘Bung’ Sanesangkhom, a young activist who peacefully and courageously fought for justice and monarchy reform in Thailand.

  We, the undersigned civil society organizations and human rights defenders, view with deep concern the creation of the Special Committee on Human Rights Coordination by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The second trial against the former head of the Office of the Special Prosecutor against Impunity (FECI) in Quetzaltenango, Lilian Virginia Laparra Rivas, will open on Monday May 6.

CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development and (FORUM-ASIA) and Asia Democracy Network (ADN), call on the Hong Kong authorities to immediately comply with recommendations of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) on the case of human rights defender Chow Hang-Tung and to release her immediately and unconditionally.

The curtailing of freedoms essential for people’s participation and arrests and criminalisation of activists paints a bleak outlook for a free and fair presidential election in Venezuela, warns CIVICUS.

Amid a significant liquidity challenge at the United Nations arising from overdue membership dues, civil society emphasises the importance of Member States meeting their financial commitments to ensure the continuation of vital human rights endeavors.