Global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is shocked at the two year sentence handed out to members of Russian band Pussy Riot by a Moscow Court.

“Members of the band have clearly been victimised in what appears to be a blatant attack on free speech,” says Netsanet Belay, Policy and Research Director of CIVICUS. “The way in which the band members have been treated is designed to send a chilling message that democratic dissent is not welcome in Russia.”

The three members of Pussy Riot have been handed out harsh sentences of two years’ imprisonment on charges of “hooliganism” which the judge described as being motivated by “religious hatred.” The band drew the attention of Russian authorities on 21 February this year after standing in front of the altar of Moscow's main cathedral and performing a song in protest at President Vladimir Putin. The trio were arrested in March and subsequently charged with hooliganism, as their protest act was deemed to have seriously undermined public authority. The band members have already been held for five months in pre-trial detention in what is widely viewed as an act of political retribution.

CIVICUS condemns the harsh sentences handed out to the band members as an attack on internationally recognised freedoms of speech and assembly. Over the course of the last few months, a raft of restrictive laws have been hurriedly passed through Russia’s parliament to limit the key civil society freedoms of expression, association and assembly.

 

 

A series of three virtual consultations hosted by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation

• Changing nations through citizens, Monday 20 August at 11am UTC/GMT
• Building partnerships for social innovation, Wednesday 22 August at 2pm UTC/GMT
• Redefining global governance, Friday 24 August at 2pm UTC/GMT

The three webinars aim to strengthen the role of young people in the development of cooperative, inclusive societies, by looking at how the good governance of cultural and religious diversity can be enhanced through: active young citizens’ participation; the development of innovative and alternative models of social partnership; and the reform of institutions of global governance.

The webinars bring together key CIVICUS Youth Assembly delegates in an intercultural dialogue with UN Alliance of Civilisations Summer School participants, relating to the three thematic tracks of the CIVICUS Youth Assembly and World Assembly, which will be held in Montreal, Canada from 3 to 7 September.

Each session is expected to last for 60 minutes, 25 minutes of which will be dedicated to an open discussion during which participants are invited to share their experiences and perspectives.

 

3 August 2012

Article 19, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Committee to Protect Journalists, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, Legal and Human Rights Centre, Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition and the Media Institute of Southern Africa-Tanzania, are concerned about reports that, on Monday 30 July, the government of Tanzania indefinitely banned MwanaHalisi, a weekly Kiswahili newspaper.

At a news conference on Monday, the acting Director of the Information, Youth, Sports and Culture Ministry reportedly accused MwanaHalisi of publishing seditious material, and has used the powers under The Newspapers Act (1976) to ban the newspaper. The Newspapers Act grants the Minister of Information broad powers to prohibit publication of newspapers for the sake of the public interest, peace and good order. This law creates offences such as sedition intention, seditious offences and false news, which are often invoked against media houses.

Read the full statement

 

On 9 July 2012, Nabeel was sentenced to three months imprisonment after he was accused of libel and using social networking site twitter to "insult the citizens of Muharraq." These accusations stem from tweets he posted on 2 June 2012 in which he called on the Prime Minister to resign citing corrupt practices.

While in detention Nabeel has lodged an appeal against his three month-sentence which is expected to heard on 5 August 2012.

Nabeel Rajab is also facing other charges for "instigating demonstrations and participating in illegal gatherings without prior notification" on account of his peaceful human rights work. He is due to appear in court again on 26 September 2012 in respect of these charges.

CIVICUS believes that the charges against Nabeel are unwarranted and aimed at preventing him from carrying out his activities as a human rights defender.

Nabeel has been a prolific campaigner against the continuing and widespread human rights violations in Bahrain, taking place in the backdrop of demands for democratic freedoms since March 2011. A keynote speaker at last year's CIVICUS World Assembly, Nabeel has been the victim of judicial persecution in the past.

For more information on how to take action on Nabeel's case please see his profile at the CIVICUS Civil Society Behind Bars Campaign.

 

Johannesburg, South Africa, 31 July 2012: Global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is pleased to announce the appointment of three new Board members:

Antonella Valmorbida, from Italy, is the Director of the Association of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA), which has promoted local governance and citizens’ participation in Europe and neighbouring countries since 1999. Headquartered in Strasbourg, France, ALDA also implements substantial civic participation work in Balkan countries. She also served as Chair of the Committee on Democracy and Civil Society of the Conference of the International Non-Governmental Organisations of the Council of Europe from 2008 to 2011, and co-chaired the Steering Committee of the Civil Society Forum for Eastern Partnership in 2011.

Henri Rouillé d'Orfeuil was the first chairman of GRET – Professionnels du Développement Solidaire and has worked in the World Bank’s agricultural research unit. A French citizen, Henri has also worked for the French Foreign Office as a special advisor on agriculture and as the deputy director of technical and scientific international cooperation. He is the author of the books ‘The Third World’, ‘Economics and Awakening Citizens’ and ‘Non-governmental Diplomacy: Can NGOs Change the World?’

 

CIVICUS is a member and signatory to the INGO Accountability Charter. The Charter requires members to submit annual reports on their performance, seeking to improve the accountability and transparency of INGOs, and these reports are reviewed by an Independent Review Panel. Now, the Charter is seeking to appoint new members to the Independent Review Panel.

As a member of the INGO Accountability Charter, the CIVICUS alliance is entitled to submit nominations. According to the guidelines:

• Panel members should have a comprehensive understanding of the international NGO sector and sufficient time resources;
• Candidates from the global South are particularly welcome;
• A representative from a corporate sector would be welcome.

CIVICUS would like to submit nominations as an alliance, so please send any nominations to Mark Nowottny at , by Friday 24 August, and they will be consolidated and sent on to the INGO Accountability Charter secretariat.

Find out more about the INGO Accountability Charter or view CIVICUS' latest report covering 2011 including feedback from the Independent Review Panel.

 

• Pakistan: government must protect civil society
• CIVICUS launches youth video contest
• Guest blog: caste based discrimination in Nepal
• The post-Rio climate - reflections from the Vitae Civilis Executive Director, Marcelo Cardoso
• The UN and the 21st Century
• Unilever's CEO strongly advocates for sustainable growth in government and business policies
• No arms for atrocities

Read Online now | Subscribe to the e-CIVICUS here

 

English | French | Spanish

ENGLISH -  CIVICUS is launching a video contest for youth aged 18-30 attending the CIVICUS Youth Assembly or the 2012 United Nations Alliance of Civilisations Summer School answering the following question: How would you like the CIVICUS World Assembly to help foster a new social contract that integrates intercultural and interfaith dialogue?

The winner will receive a US$500 cash prize as well as having your video featured at the closing session of the Youth Assembly. The video should be under 5 minutes and the deadline for voting is 30 August. Submit your videos to http://www.playkast.com/view-playkast?pk_id=1721 .
For more info contact

 

CIVICUS is deeply dismayed by the actions of the upper house of the Russian Parliament, the Federation Council, to pass a bill that stigmatises civil society groups which receive foreign funding.

The bill approved on 18 July obligates civil society advocacy groups which receive foreign funding to register with the Justice Ministry as "foreign agents." The bill now needs presidential approval before becoming law.

CIVICUS believes that passing of this regressive bill violates Russia's constitutional and international law commitments to guarantee freedom of association.

Learn more about CIVICUS' actions on this issue:

CIVICUS Condemns Russia's Controversial NGO Law 

Urgent Call for Action on moves to muzzle NGOs in Russia 

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

 

SOUTH AFRICA FORUM FOR INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY (SAFIS)
STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY, 18 JULY 2012

South Africa Forum for International Solidarity (SAFIS) takes the occasion of Mandela Day 2012 to remind our government, politicians of all parties, religious and community leaders that the South Africa we fought for and envisaged through our 1994 democratic transition was one where tolerance of difference and equality of all was fundamental to the transformation of the country from its racist, patriarchal past.

The country’s constitution adopted in 1996 prohibited many forms of discrimination including that based on gender, sex and sexual orientation. Various legislative instruments such as the Equality Act of 2000, the Civil Union Act of 2006 further affirmed Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT)’s equal rights and status in South African society. In 2011, South Africa further successfully championed the first ever United Nations resolution on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity at the Human Rights Council, risking the ire of its many of its peer states globally who oppose the equality of LGBT people.

 

CIVICUS' latest two interventions in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process of the UN Human Rights Council, which reviews countries' human rights progress, address the status of civil society freedoms in Israel and Serbia. CIVICUS raises a number of concerns regarding freedom of assembly and expression, the placing of legal and regulatory impediments on CSO activities, and the treatment of human rights defenders and LGBT activists. The submission on Serbia is made jointly with Serbian CSO Policy Center.

State of Israel: Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review

The Republic of Serbia: Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review

 

• Belarus and Eritrea resolutions an important step towards accountability
• Civil society behind bars: take action for imprisoned Bahrain activist Nabeel Rajab
• Partnering for the future of development - remarks from CIVICUS Acting SG Katsuji Imata at the UN Development Cooperation Forum
• International community must act against latest curbs on free speech in Ethiopia
• The Rio+20 summit and its follow up
• UNICEF and UN Women call for papers: addressing inequalities in the post-2015 development agenda
• UN media interview with Jeffery Huffines, UN CIVICUS Representative, on the NGO Major Group’s reactions to the Rio+20 Outcome Document
• World Assembly blog: 20 días después de Rio+20: el Futuro que queremos
• Kyrgyzstan: UN human rights chief calls attention to corruption, discrimination and rights deficiencies

Read Online now | Subscribe to the e-CIVICUS here

 

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

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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.