A message from CIVICUS Secretary General, Mandeep Tiwana
Dear CIVICUS members, partners and allies
As we navigate through the second half of 2025, we find ourselves both energized and challenged. Civil society continues to stand at a crossroads, facing existential challenges and deepening repression in many parts of the world, while also building powerful movements for justice, freedom, and inclusion.
Even if the forces arrayed against civil society appear to be on the ascendant in these bizarre times, our belief in citizen action as a catalyst for the realisation of civic and democratic freedoms, is unshakeable.
The pendulum will swing away from authoritarianism and populism. Till then, at CIVICUS, we remain dedicated to strengthening our collective response by standing in solidarity with those under attack, celebrating progress where it happens, and amplifying voices too often silenced.
CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist, July 2025
Our July 2025 CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist raises urgent red flags on the alarming deterioration of civic freedoms in El Salvador, Indonesia, Kenya, Serbia, Turkey, and the United States. Drawing on credible research and insights from civil society partners on the ground, the Watchlist highlights a dangerous global trajectory where dissent is criminalized, civic actors are vilified, and public participation is under siege.
From media shutdowns and a state of emergency in El Salvador to police brutality in Serbia, rising militarization in Indonesia, and mass arrests in Turkey, these updates reveal a global pattern of silencing dissent. In Kenya, activists continue to face surveillance and violence a year after mass protests shook the country. In the U.S., political intimidation and attacks on freedom of the press reflect troubling signs of democratic decline.
We call on governments to end repression and uphold their human rights obligations, and we urge civil society and the international community to increase scrutiny, solidarity, and support for those on the frontlines of resistance.
Five Years of #StandAsMyWitness
This July marked five years since the launch of Stand As My Witness, our global campaign calling for the release of unjustly imprisoned human rights defenders.
Since its launch on Nelson Mandela Day in 2020, #StandAsMyWitness has contributed to the release of 31 human rights defenders and continues to shine a light on the struggles of those still unjustly detained. It stands as a testament to the power of collective action, persistent advocacy, and the unwavering belief that no one should be imprisoned for defending human rights.
To mark this milestone, we invite you to:
- Watch and share our new tribute video, Heroes in Handcuffs
- Read a compelling article by our partner Global Citizen that highlights the campaign’s global impact
- Explore four new op-eds from global, African, Asian, and Latin American perspectives
Annual plan narrative 2025-2026
The CIVICUS Annual Plan for 2025–2026 sets out an ambitious and bold roadmap to confront the forces threatening civil society today. Grounded in CIVICUS’s five strategic objectives, the plan outlines how we will work to strengthen collective power, support at-risk activists and communities, produce timely and relevant knowledge, amplify pro-civic space narratives, and build movements for transformative change.
Among the key initiatives planned for this period are the expansion of the Stand As My Witness campaign, a commitment to make visible our research analysis and solidarity work through greater media and digital outreach, and making deeper connections with movements and activists at the forefront of transformational change. We look forward to the continued growth of the Communicators for Civic Action network across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and enhancing our convening capabilities, including by hosting the next edition of International Civil Society Week in Bangkok.
To help us meet these goals, the plan also aims to strengthen our institutional resilience with a key focus on digital systems, diversified fundraising, and ethical leadership.
Tracking our collective impact: The Outcomes Inventory
Through long-term commitment and collective action, the CIVICUS alliance continues to seek lasting, tangible impact. The new Outcomes Inventory offers a data-driven, evidence-based look at what we’ve achieved together, from shifting policies to strengthening civic space and building solidarity across borders. It showcases CIVICUS’s holistic approach: combining timely analysis, amplifying civil society voices, enabling activism in challenging contexts, and advancing change through partnerships.
ICSW 2025: Registration is now open!
We are thrilled to announce that registrations are officially open for the next edition of International Civil Society Week (ICSW) from 1 to 5 November 2025 in Bangkok, co-hosted with the Asia Democracy Network. This year’s theme, “Celebrating citizen action: reimagining democracy, rights, and inclusion for today’s world,” is salient. It invites civil society actors worldwide to connect, strategize, and shape a more inclusive democratic future. Register and learn more here.
We invite you to join us in advancing resistance, collaboration and innovation to create a better world for all.
In solidarity,
Mandeep Tiwana
