Opinions & Features

Featured

Tanzania continues clampdown with new restrictive laws that undermine development

By Paul Mulindwa, an advocacy and campaigns officer with CIVICUS.

The CIVICUS Diversity and Inclusion journey

Spanish | French Diversity and Inclusion has become a hot topic within civil society in recent years which has prompted the sector to take a step back and evaluate its own programmes and operations.

AGNA: Sharing Lessons Globally to Scale up Domestic Impact

By Jimm Chick Fomunjong, Head, Knowledge Management Unit, WACSI Civil society organisations (CSOs) across the globe thrive on the implementation of best practices.

Why we need more women leaders in civil society worldwide

By Helene Wolf, Chair, FAIR SHARE of Women Leaders Half of the delegates at CIVICUS’ International Civil Society Week (April, Belgrade) were women.
Featured

Youth movements and funders need to learn to understand each other better

By Gioel Gioacchino, research consultant with CIVICUS As a keynote speaker at a global gathering of a thousand activists and NGO workers in Belgrade in April, the host of a popular Serbian television spoof news show, Zoran Kesic performed 24 minutes of brilliant (and cathartic) satire.
Featured

SG Update: For May-June 2019

Dear members & friends of CIVICUS, The past weeks have been a busy but exciting time for a number of our networks and initiatives! We were proud to have hosted over 80 activists representing work on civic freedoms from across the world in Johannesburg in May for a dialogue with Clement Voule, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association (FoAA).
Featured

Key Lessons from Testing Non-Traditional Development Approaches in Malawi

By Dinah Sandoval & Alexis Banks, Root Change This article is part of the #StoriesOfResilience series, coordinated by CIVICUS to feature groups and activists on their journey to promote better resourcing practices for civil society and to mobilise meaningful resources to sustain their work.
Featured

Time to act: Sustainable Goals

By Lysa John, Secretary-General of CIVICUS.

Webinar: “How to Resource Youth-Led Movements in the 21st Century”

Did you know that most youth-led groups and movements operate with an annual budget of less than 10,000 USD? It´s known that young people in the activism and development sector in the Global South face significant resourcing challenges: little capacity to attract funding and comply with donor requirements; ​restricted social, political and economic spaces to participate and grow; extensive gaps between the funds available to serve youth versus those managed directly by youth, and significant disparities between the resourcing opportunities that target young individual leaders within groups and movements rather than to the group itself, just to mention a few.
Featured

"Born a refugee, I dream of a place called home"

By Mohammed Eid This story was facilitated by CIVICUS.
Featured

Civic space is shrinking, yet civil society is not the enemy

By Lysa John, Secretary-General of CIVICUS.
Featured

Opinion: Government attacks on humanitarian organisations and human rights rising

By Lysa John, Secretary-General of CIVICUS.

UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association, Clément Voule meets with civil society to discuss threats to rights

  More than 80 representatives of civil society organisations, community leaders and academics met in Johannesburg on 30-31 May and on 3 June with the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Association and Assembly, Clément Voule to discuss the impact of restrictions on freedom of assembly and association on sustainable development.

ICSW 2019, New Board, Opportunities: Updates from Lysa John, CIVICUS SG

  FRENCH For those of us who were in Belgrade a few weeks ago, it is hard to think of April as anything but the culmination of months of preparation towards the International Civil Society Week (ICSW).
How ICSW empowered me to become a better activist

How ICSW empowered me to become a better activist

By Augustine Macarthy, Sierra Leone Last month, I had the opportunity to attend International Civil Society Week 2019 (ICSW).

Webinar: Youth for Diversity

On 17 May, the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia & Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), we will hosted a Youth for Diversity webinar under the theme "South-South experiences on the human rights of LGBTIQ+ youth.
Featured

Why don’t we get a say at the UN?

By Caroline Vernaillen, Democracy International When it comes to global issues, citizens have to trust that their governments will do their bidding.
Featured

Women Human Rights Defenders Face Greater Risks Because of their Gender

By Masana Ndinga-Kanga, Crisis Response Fund Lead with CIVICUS.
Featured

25 years later, looking back at my CIVICUS journey

French  by Anabel Cruz, Board Chair 2016-2019 In early 1993, democracy was rather “young” in many parts of the world.
Featured

With mentoring and incentives, CSOs venture into raising key resources and support at home

FRENCH By Yessenia Soto, Community Engagement Officer on Civil Society Resourcing, CIVICUS The Change the Game Academy provides classroom training on local fundraising to CSOs.

“Open Up The Space”: A call for inclusivity by CIVICUS Youth

The world is filled with injustice, hate speech, violence and oppression.
Featured

Campaign to Whitewash Saudi Arabia’s Image Does Little for Women in the Kingdom

By Uma Mishra-Newbery, Interim Executive Director of Women’s March Global, which is a founding member of the Free Saudi Women Coalition & Kristina Stockwood works with the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) This article was facilitated by CIVICUS as part of a series on the current state of civil society organisations (CSOs) Amid a high-profile public relations campaign to convince the world just how much the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is modernising – highlighted in last year’s lifting of the ban on women driving – Saudi authorities continue their relentless persecution of women human rights defenders.
Featured

LGBTQI Rights in the Balkans: A Perpetual Struggle

By Mawethu Nkosana, Crisis Response Fund Administrator at CIVICUS Romanian Adrian Coman and his American-born partner Clai Hamilton had two major reasons to celebrate when they tied the knot last June.

The Power of Art in Activism

By Mohammad Issa, Yes Theatre, Palestine, CIVICUS Voting Organisation Member Some people say that our world is a mess right now.

A Belgrade en Serbie, PJUD-BENIN ONG parle de la redevabilité au service de la démocratie béninoise.

Par DJOWAMON  A.

Power of Togetherness Never Ends

Strengthening Civil Society Membership Platform By Sin Putheary, Cooperation Committee for Cambodia, AGNA and CIVICUS voting organizational member Coming from the largest and longest established membership-based organization in Cambodia, I have a privilege to be part of International Civil Society Week (ICSW) in Belgrade, Serbia while several other colleagues of civil society are not able to physically present themselves at the conference due to visa issues.

CIVICUS Accountability’s journey – some updates! 

Have you been wondering what’s up withCIVICUS’ accountability actions? Are you looking for examples and opportunities to strengthen your own organisation’s accountability or connect with others to take more concrete accountability steps? Then, this blog is for you!

Delivering emergency help for targeted activists is easier said than done

FRENCH  By Lesego Moshikaro and Yessenia Soto This article is part of the #StoriesOfResilience series, coordinated by CIVICUS to feature groups and activists on their journey to promote better resourcing practices for civil society and to mobilise meaningful resources to sustain their work.

Hacia la construcción de nuestra Política Institucional de Rendición de Cuentas

Por Gloria Gonzalez Navarro y Enrique Blanco Lozada (Asociación Kusi Warma) Los cambios o impactos sociales suelen estar acompañados de adversidades de nuestro ambiente, las cuales evidentemente deben ser enfrentadas con esfuerzo.

The power of togetherness: standing against the shrinking space for action

By Laura Brown, Movement and Network Capacity Manager at Womankind Worldwide Last week I attended the International Civil Society Week (ICSW) conference in Belgrade hosted by CIVICUS.
Featured

Collaboration as currency, key to stop FGM in 5 communities in Nigeria

FRENCH This article is part of the #StoriesOfResilience series, coordinated by CIVICUS to feature groups and activists on their journey to promote better resourcing practices for civil society and to mobilise meaningful resources to sustain their work.
Featured

Hard Battle Ahead for Independent Arab Media

By Mouna Ben Garga, Innovation Officer CIVICUS This article is part of a series on the current state of civil society organisations (CSOs), the focus of International Civil Society Week (ICSW) Sometimes a peak into the future reminds us just how stuck we are in the past and present.
Featured

Shining a Spotlight on the Strengths & Challenges of Civil Society in the Balkans

By Lysa John, CIVICUS Secretary General  This article is part of a series on the current state of civil society organisations (CSOs), which is the focus of International Civil Society Week (ICSW) It is an incredible privilege to welcome you all to the ‘International Civil Society Week’.
Featured

Attacks on Media in the Balkans Sound Alarm Bells for Democracy

By Susan Wilding, Head of Geneva, CIVICUS  This article is part of a series on the current state of civil society organisations (CSOs), which is the focus of International Civil Society Week (ICSW)   Anti-government protesters invading Serbia’s state-owned television station, demanding that their voices be heard.
Featured

Rise in Cyberlaws Across Southeast Asia Spell Bad News for Human Rights & Democracy

By Josef Benedict Civic Space Researcher, CIVICUS This article is part of a series on the state of civil society organisations (CSOs), which is the focus of International Civil Society Week Around the globe, cyberspace has become the new battleground in the fight for the heart and soul of democracy.
Featured

In Diverse Southeast Asia, Growing Ethnic & Religious Intolerance Pose Serious Threat to Stability

  By Josef Benedict Civic Space Researcher, CIVICUS This article is part of a series on the current state of civil society organisations (CSOs), which will be the focus of International Civil Society Week (ICSW).

As India goes to to the polls, will the people vote against the ‘politics of hate’

  By Alina Tiphagne, Human Rights Defenders Alert (HRDA) In just under a week, the world’s largest democracy, India, will vote to elect and constitute the 17th Lok Sabha.

How resilient are our pilot partners to civic space threats?

  By Soulayma Mardam Bey and Jack Cornforth, CIVICUS In recent years, “Resilience” has made its way into international development’s buzzword bingo board.
Featured

UN Declaration defends peasant farmers, but will it help stop attacks and human rights abuses?

By Natalia Gomez Peña, CIVICUS Advocacy & Engagement Officer This article is has been produced in partnership with CIVICUS in the context of the International Civil Society Week conference 2019, held this year in Belgrade, Serbia.
Featured

Human Rights Defenders Need to be Defended as Much as they Defend our Rights

By Micahel Frost, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, and a speaker at the International Civil Society Week, 8-12 April 2019, in Belgrade, Serbia This article is part of a series on the current state of civil society organisations (CSOs), which will be the focus of International Civil Society Week (ICSW)  They are ordinary people – mothers, fathers, sisters, sons, daughters, brothers, friends.
Featured

Grassroots Organising Points the way in Fight Against Rising Repression

By Lysa John, CIVICUS Secretary General This article is part of a series on the current state of civil society organisations (CSOs), which will be the focus of International Civil Society Week (ICSW), scheduled to take place in Belgrade, April 8-12.

The quest for resilience

By  Patricia Deniz, Senior Research and Development Officer CIVICUS  Civil society, more than ever, is in dire need to reinvent itself, at least figure out how to be flexible, adaptable and resurgent in an ever-changing, uncertain and increasingly restrictive environment.
Featured

Egypt hosting the African Commission to cover human rights abuses?

By David Kode, CIVICUS Advocacy and Campaigns Lead  The timing could not have been more perfect for Egyptian President Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi.

"Stubbornly optimistic": Reflections from Lysa John, CIVICUS SG

FRANÇAIS It has been a little over 60 days since I took on my new role with CIVICUS and the question I get asked most frequently is: How does it feel to be SG? Fortunately, this query has an easy answer! It involves being reminded on a daily basis of the need to celebrate and reinforce efforts taken to defend and strengthen rights-based values and freedoms by individuals and organisations worldwide.

“La inclusión es una ilusión”

English | French  Ochoa Ayala, Fundación 11:11, México ¿A quién no le gusta sentir que pertenece a un lugar, comunidad, espacio, algo? El sentido de pertenencia tiene que ver con la identidad que cada individuo va desarrollando a lo largo de su vida, da una muestra de quienes somos; por ejemplo yo, soy una mujer, joven, mexicana, activista, soñadora etc.

Decluttering Diversity and Inclusion

French | Spanish By Jose Maria “Lloyd” Nunag, Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights and CIVICUS member from the Philippines ‘What does Diversity and Inclusion means to you?’ This is a question I have been pondering (and decluttering) in the last few years and even until now.

CIVICUS GLE Testimonial: Building communities for inclusive action

French | Spanish by Vandita Morarka, One Future Collective, India I was a participant at the Global Learning Exchange and the ensuing AGM held by CIVICUS in Montevideo, Uruguay, 16th December, 2018, onwards, representing One Future Collective.
Featured

Human Rights, Participation and the 2030 Agenda

By Mandeep Tiwana, CIVICUS Chief Programmes Officer  This January, the UN organised a much-needed dialogue in Geneva on the link between human rights and Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.
Featured

Civil society accountability in times of declining trust: CIVICUS’s journey

By Merle Rutz CIVICUS Impact and Accountability Coordinator & Tamryn-Lee Fourie Impact and Accountability Lead (article on page 76) Under attack about their legitimacy and accountability, CSOs defending citizens’ rights have to maintain credibility among their constituency and the wider public.
Credit: Projet Jeune Leader

Remise en question des structures verticales de prise de décisions dans le secteur des Organisations de la Société Civile (OSCs) à travers l'amélioration des pratiques de redevabilité

Par Gaetan Mertens (Accountability Lab) et Resilient Roots (CIVICUS) Resilient Roots est une initiative de CIVICUS, menée en partenariat avec Keystone Accountability et Accountable Now.

Sign up for our newsletters

Our Newsletters

civicus logo white

CIVICUS is a global alliance that champions the power of civil society to create positive change.

brand x FacebookLogo YoutubeLogo InstagramLogo LinkedinLogo

 

Headquarters

25  Owl Street, 6th Floor

Johannesburg
South Africa
2092

Tel: +27 (0)11 833 5959


Fax: +27 (0)11 833 7997

UN Hub: New York

CIVICUS, c/o We Work

450 Lexington Ave

New York
NY
10017

United States

UN Hub: Geneva

11 Avenue de la Paix

Geneva

Switzerland
CH-1202

Tel: +41 (0)79 910 3428