CIVICUS Submission to UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders
CIVICUS has submitted its input to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in response to the call for contributions on the role of human rights defenders in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The forthcoming report to the General Assembly will focus on the vital contributions of human rights defenders to state efforts in realizing the SDGs, as well as the challenges they encounter in this crucial work. CIVICUS' submission highlights key examples of collaboration and the successes and obstacles faced by defenders in this endeavor.
CIVICUS Submission to UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism
CIVICUS has submitted its input to the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, outlining its priorities for 2024-2026. The submission highlights the escalating threats faced by civil society due to the misuse of counter-terrorism measures. Drawing from findings documented in 2022 through the CIVICUS Monitor, the submission emphasizes the alarming erosion of civic space and the chilling impact on Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). CIVICUS expresses deep concern over the persistent misuse of anti-terrorism laws and other state-driven efforts to suppress voices in the global civic space.
CIVICUS' submission on the Zero Draft of the Pact for the future
CIVICUS seeks to engage the Summit of the Future as a key opportunity to shape global governance outcomes to enable the creation of peaceful, just, equal and sustainable societies. This submission should be read in conjunction to our previous submission to the Summit of the Future co-facilitators in December 2023. Overall, we believe that the Summit of the Future offers a once in a generation opportunity to reframe the parameters of global governance amid a confluence of global crises including violent conflicts, inequality, climate change and breakdown of the rules based international order.
CIVICUS’ submission to the High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism
The High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism launched a wide range of public consultations on ideas for more effective multilateralism with experts, leaders, practitioners, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders. CIVICUS’ submission examines the main challenges facing multilateralism and provides a United Nations (UN) reform agenda to ensure greater access to civil society.
CIVICUS submission to the UN Committee on NGOs
The UN Committee on NGOs invited CIVICUS and all NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC to submit written contributions on ways to improve NGO engagement with the United Nations.
High-Level Political Forum Report: Civil Society Engagement in Monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals
The HLPF provides the pre-eminent space for dialogue with the UN system on sustainable development. 2016 is the first year of implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and in this context 22 countries have volunteered to undertake national reviews to be presented at the HLPF. This paper aims to provide some initial reflections on the engagement with civil society in the countries under review and to set out some recommendations on how this engagement can be further strengthened.
User Guide for the High-Level Political Forum
This user guide will answer key questions about the engagement in the High Level Political Forum and its governance of the Sustainable Development Goals.The HLPF accords NGOs the most far reaching participatory privileges and rights in the history of the UN. But how can civil society most effectively engage with this process? How does the UN enable voices to be heard from the people who are most directly affected by these policies?