Transformation or stagnation? How digital media is changing student activism in Indonesia Published: 9 February 2022 Analysis Indonesia, like its neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia, has a long history of student activism; from the participation of indigenous and Islamic students to end Dutch colonial rule and a wave of protests in the 1970s against corruption, student movements became a strong force in Indonesia’s democracy. With the changing landscape of technology has also come a shift in how students and youth in Indonesia become politically engaged. By Renee Karunungan
Youth & democracy: 5 poems Published: 15 December 2021 Poem The prose of Indian poet Haripriya Soibam describes youth's struggle to preserve and promote democracy. Read her five poems for "Young voices on the rise - Youth and democracy in the Asia-Pacific region". By Dr Soibam Haripriya
Civil Society Organisations in Cambodia: Impact, Challenges and Opportunities Published: 6 December 2021 Background CSOs in Cambodia have had to maneuver in an increasingly repressive environment, but the challenges and failures that they have had to face thus far have led to important reflections and learnings. By Sok Leang
Introduction Published: 2 November 2021 This dossier provides a diverse selection of strong civil society voices from Cambodia. We hope that the analyses and contributions included will lead to a better understanding of the results, impacts and successes of the actions of Cambodian civil society.
Global LGBT Rights and the Rise of Anti-LGBT Rhetoric in Indonesia Published: 2 August 2017 The public discourse in Indonesia has turned against LGBT people. However, behind closed doors, the Indonesian government still supports projects for LGBT groups. By Hendri Yulius
Shrinking Civic Spaces in ASEAN Published: 2 August 2017 Despite its diversity, ASEAN member states have one common trait: state repression. This is in contrast to ASEAN´s aspiration to be people-centered. How repression looks on the ground can illustrate the example of the Bersih movement for fair elections in Malaysia. By Dr. Khoo Ying Hooi
New Perspectives on Civil Society Engagement with ASEAN Published: 2 August 2017 So far, the engagement of the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN People´s Forum has been disappointing. A new strategy for people-to-people regional integration is needed. By Eduardo C. Tadem
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. By Barbara Unmüßig
Towards a democratic and globally just resource policy Published: 22 May 2017 Germany depends on the import of metallic, mineral and fossil fuel resources. The extraction of these raw materials takes place at the expense of the environment and leads to human rights violations. The German Federal Government has to take these consequences adequately into account.
Macedonia: a captured society Published: 14 December 2016 The hostile environment created by the government makes the work of civil society actors practically impossible. To be a human rights activist in Macedonia is to be a person that is constantly threatened, attacked, and demonized. By Xhabir Deralla
Limited Freedom of Speech, Monitored NGOs: India's Civil Society Under Pressure Published: 7 November 2016 India likes to consider itself the “world’s largest democracy”. In practice, however, there are many restrictions on the freedom of expression. The space available to civil society organizations for action is increasingly restricted. By Axel Harneit-Sievers
Civil society faces pressure worldwide: Civic charter published Published: 27 October 2016 Today the Heinrich Böll Foundation, the International Civil Society Centre, and numerous civil society organizations from around the world presented the Civic Charter. In a growing number of countries, civil society has increasingly less room to maneuver.
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.
"This culture of impunity makes it easier for killings to take place" Published: 18 October 2016 The NGO Global Witness documents 185 known deaths of environmental activists worldwide in 2015 - the highest annual death toll on record. Claudia Rolf spoke to one of the authors of the report, Billy Kyte. By Claudia Rolf
Civil society in Russia – Where external support is vital Published: 13 September 2016 Russian NGOs are under pressure: They are hindered in their work with laws and checks by the authorities, paralyzed and driven to close down. External support is not only helpful, but vital. By Johannes Voswinkel
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. By Wolfgang Kaleck and Simon Rau
Protecting and expanding civil society space nationally and internationally Published: 13 September 2016 An analysis carried out by CIVICUS indicates that in far too many countries and in all global regions the conditions for civil society work and activities has worsened. Some of the solutions to this problem could be taken by civil society itself. By Andrew Firmin and Mandeep Tiwana
No right for digital participation in many regions of the world Published: 13 September 2016 In many regions of the world the freedom of the Internet is just an illusion. Especially in Arab countries, the neighbouring states of Russia and Subsahara-Africa the year 2015 marked the lowest point for democratic participation and civil liberties. By Ute Schaeffer
Repression and restriction: Egypt's civil society on the defensive Published: 13 September 2016 The civil society in Egypt is facing a disastrous suppression and realignment by the government. By returning to normal foreign policy operations this weakening condition for civil society could be even strengthened. By Jannis Grimm
Shrinking civic space in Pakistan Published: 13 September 2016 In Pakistan NGOs face harsh restrictions and human rights activists risk imprisonment and harrasment. It is important that the government recognizes the role of civil society and promotes a culture of cooperation and trust. By Zulfiqar Shah