A message from Interim Co-Secretary Generals, Claire Nylander and Mandeep Tiwana
Dear CIVICUS members, partners and allies
As a tumultuous 2024 draws to a close, we would like to celebrate the remarkable courage of civil society in the face of adversity. In South Korea, people recently came out onto the streets in large numbers to protest the imposition of martial law, forcing its reversal in less than 24 hours. Citizen action led to the stepping down of a long-standing oppressive government in Bangladesh this year. In Kenya, persistent demonstrations despite widespread police brutality forced the government to back down on the imposition of unpopular taxes. In Venezuela, people outvoted an incumbent authoritarian government that ended up stealing the election. But that doesn’t mean that the struggle for democracy has been permanently suppressed.
Our just-released People Power Under Attack report attests that throughout 2024, civil society activists and organisations continued to demand a better life for all. Many among us put their lives and livelihoods on the line in the pursuit of justice. Across the world, people are not just resisting oppression; they are actively seeking to shape a future where rights and equality prevail. But as the most recent CIVICUS Monitor findings attest, nearly three-quarters of the world’s population live in countries where civic space is ‘closed’ or ‘repressed.’ Among the more alarming findings, the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) accounted for nearly 10% of documented global violations. Israel’s military actions, including attacks on civilians, journalists, and humanitarian workers, have led to a downgrade in civic space ratings in the occupied territories, underscoring the severity of ongoing abuses amounting to genocide. It should concern us all that Palestine solidarity protests have been actively suppressed in the United States and several European countries.
Notably, the People Power report also references significant civil society victories, such as Thailand’s passage of a marriage equality bill and Greece becoming the first Christian Orthodox country to legalise same-sex marriage. Countries like Japan, Jamaica, and Poland received upgrades to their CIVICUS Monitor ratings for progress on civic freedoms, including advancements in women’s rights and public health.
Our 2023-2024 Annual Report, presented at the CIVICUS Members’ Annual General Meeting in early December, highlights our role in supporting struggles for justice and equity. It reminds us, for instance, how through the #StandAsMyWitness campaign, we were able to celebrate the release of courageous Guatemalan prosecutor Virginia Laparra, who stood up to the previous corrupt regime in her country, and how our Crisis Response Fund delivered 29 grants in support of local responses to civic space restrictions. Throughout the year we continued to emphasise the importance of locally led initiatives, culminating in a Donor Transformation Challenge that inspired over 30 commitments to dismantle systemic barriers for smaller organisations and adopt more inclusive practices. Our recently launched Local Leadership Labs initiative seeks to develop civil society-driven and context-appropriate solutions to development challenges.
At the international level, we have continued to amplify the voices of our members, supporting national level organisations from the Global South to participate in the Human Rights Council and the African Commission for Human and People’s Rights while pushing for greater civil society say in global governance through campaigns like UNMute Civil Society and 1 for 8 billion. In the face of mounting restrictions on civic freedoms, our annual report underscores our commitment to empowering civil society as a force for justice, equality, and sustainability.
As we approach 2025, we are clear-eyed about the challenges that lie ahead from anti-rights authoritarian-populist forces. They may try to threaten our existence, but they will never deter us from our mission to support citizen action and civil society throughout the world. Our vision of a worldwide community of inspired, informed and committed citizens confronting the challenges facing humanity remains ever relevant.
In solidarity and gratitude,
Claire Nylander and Mandeep Tiwana
Interim Co-Secretary Generals, CIVICUS
