Death by Design: Capital Punishment as an Instrument of Governance and Oppression in Iran Published: 30 June 2025 Analysis In the shadow of the war with Israel, the Iranian regime stepped up its internal repression and resorted to even more politically motivated executions. As long as there are no real political consequences for the regime, state violence through capital punishment will continue. Rezvaneh Mohammadi
German-Georgian Migration agreement: Germany must take a close look Published: 20 December 2024 Commentary The migration agreement between Germany and Georgia has been in place since December 2023, and Georgia has been considered a safe country of origin for just as long. However, the increasingly repressive policies in Tbilisi make it necessary to rethink the German view of the country. Dr. Sonja Katharina Schiffers, Kirsten Krampe
Egypt today: Covid-19 on top of repression, repression on top of Covid-19 Published: 23 June 2020 Interview Amidst the Covid-19 crisis in Egypt, a recent chain of events reveals the systemic violence that the regime of President al-Sisi exerts. To address those developments, what’s behind them and how international actors might respond to them, we are speaking with Amr Magdi, Middle East researcher at Human Rights Watch. Johannes Gunesch
Shrinking Spaces and the G20 Published: 12 July 2017 When the 19 member countries and the EU gathered in Hamburg for the G20 Summit one important topic was not on the agenda: from China to Mexico, Turkey to Russia, Saudi Arabia to India – the respect for fundamental human rights can no longer be taken for granted. Barbara Unmüßig
The Future of Civic Space: Towards a Re-solidarisation and Re-politisation of Civil Society Published: 27 October 2016 Civil society space is under attack worldwide. In her welcoming speech to the Global Perspectives Conference, Barbara Unmüßig urged 160 representatives of civil society organisations from around the globe to stand in solidarity with each other and to put the issue of shrinking and closing spaces back on the political agenda. Barbara Unmüßig
Civic Charter Published: 27 October 2016 Repression of civil society is on the rise all over the world. The charter aims to support civil society organizations as activists throughout the world, to advocate for their rights and freedom of action, and to demand government guarantees.
Habitat III: New Urban Agenda and the importance of civil society Published: 14 September 2016 Close on the heels of the UN adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2015 the HABITAT III conference offers the international community a timely opportunity to revisit and revision its commitments to putting human rights at the heart of sustainable urban development. The global context is adverse, marked by growing inequity, rising levels of homelessness and landlessness, forced migration, environmental degradation and climate change. Poonam Joshi
Authoritarian repression under the pretext of sovereignty Published: 13 September 2016 The repression of civil societies activites in countries like Egypt and Russia are justified with the "protection of the states sovereignity" and the "principle of non-intervention". When unwelcomed critique is silenced, activists need all our solidarity and support. Wolfgang Kaleck, Simon Rau
