A message from Lysa John, Secretary-General of CIVICUS
Dear CIVICUS members and allies,
In July 2022, CIVICUS started delivering on our revised strategic plan, focusing on one overachieving goal across the alliance: ‘to strengthen civil society and civic action for expanded civic and democratic space.’ Since then, we’ve embarked on a journey to better evidence, understand and share our contributions to defending and improving civic and democratic freedoms.
We know that long-term systemic change takes time and cannot be achieved alone. And yet, we are already beginning to see early signals of transformative change from our collective efforts. In this update, I share three examples of impact from a combination of our influencing, organising, and solidarity actions.
Solidarity Informed Member Engagement
Within the framework of our revised strategy, our primary objective has been to build counterpower and strengthen solidarity among CIVICUS members. Our Membership and Networks team curates opportunities to enhance capacities and facilitate deeper engagement between members working on similar themes or sharing similar challenges. We’ve been proud to support member participation at COP28 and the Climate Justice Camp. Our member-driven We RISE! initiative supports 20 organisations to sustain local campaigns to overcome challenges related to the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly (FoPA).
CIVICUS Member, HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement shares: “The We RISE! campaign has been a pivotal moment for us, setting a new trajectory for our future endeavours. It has not only reshaped our internal strategies but also fostered a broader regional evaluation among our partners regarding the centrality of FoPA. This campaign is poised to redefine our operational approach and impact in the years ahead, marking the most profound change in our organisation's history.”
And below, is just one of many examples of how our members are promoting the right to peaceful assembly. See SALAM DHR’s We RISE! campaign video, which draws attention to the legal framework on the right to peaceful protest in Bahrain.
CIVICUS research and analysis drives global public discourse and debate on civic and democratic space
In a time of mounting global obstacles, conflict, and crisis, our research and analysis remain a steady anchor, highlighting the threats to civic freedoms and identifying trends in civil society action. We are encouraged to see the growing use and reference of our key publications, People Power Under Attack and the State of Civil Society Reports. From January – April of this year alone, CIVICUS research and analysis garnered 1,700 media mentions across 90 countries, in 31 languages.
Following the release of Power People Under Attack in December 2023, a student organisation at Koblenz University organised an event titled "Day Against Repression” to discuss the implications of the crackdown on climate activism and democracy in Germany.
In February 2024, the CIVICUS Monitor also published a historical Global Data Report, Rights Reversed, identifying seven key trends in civic space from 2019 to 2023. I had the opportunity to present this analysis at this year’s Norad Conference on the theme of Rights and Resistance. I used this opportunity to highlight the effectiveness of translational solidarity in achieving gains in climate justice, LGBTIQA+ and women’s movements. Watch the full intervention below.
Most recently, our State of Civil Society report drew interest from global media, including:
- The Jurist - covered State of Civil Society report 2024
- Climate Home News - cited State of Civil Society report 2024
- Al Jazeera - referenced the CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist
- The Guardian - cited the Monitor’s downgrade of Bangladesh to “closed”
Civil society’s voice and needs are amplified in the United Nations’ process and mechanisms.
Over the past year, our Geneva and New York Hubs have been playing a critical role in diversifying civil society voices at the United Nations (UN). The Geneva Hub has significantly increased its support for human rights defenders and activists, enabling them to deliver Human Rights Council (HRC) statements and participate in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. CIVICUS members and partners have delivered 51% of our HRC statements, a notable increase from 25% in 2022. Additionally, we’ve supported grassroots civil society participation in the UPR process, providing a platform for those closest to the issues to share tangible recommendations to improve human rights in their countries. These interventions are complemented by advocacy missions and side events in around the Geneva processes to facilitate ongoing dialogue for renewed commitments.
Our New York Hub has also supported consultations to refresh long-standing calls for meaningful civil society participation at the UN. The #UNMute global campaign is now driven by 460 partners and 60 member states with key recommendations to enhance the voice of civil society at the UN. Ahead of the Summit of the Future Conference, our UN Advisor Jesselina Rana cautioned how the Nairobi Summit of the Future conference could further sideline civil society, and Mandeep Tiwana, our Chief Officer for Evidence and Engagement, highlighting the campaign's key recommendations, including the appointment of civil society envoy.
Civil society has been key to influencing the adoption of peaceful resolutions at the UN. Following the 53rd session of the HRC, CIVICUS especially welcomed the adoption of the Civil Society Space resolution, which acknowledged the positive role of civil society participation in UN mechanisms. The resolution further asks the Human Rights Commissioner to engage in a comprehensive consultative process to regularly assess civic space trends, which may lead, in the long term, to the development of indicators and benchmarks. This could not have been realised without the civil society.
These instances have only strengthened our conviction that our work with and for groups affected by the combined impact of civic space restrictions and structural forms of discrimination will drive long-term, systemic change. As we continue this journey, we remain committed to prioritising collective effort and learning, and empowering our members and partners to effect change locally and regionally. Together, we have the power to build a world where civic freedoms thrive.
In solidarity,
Lysa John (LinkedIn)
