#HongKong's pro-democracy founder Lai Lim was convicted under the National Security Law for using his paper to advocate for sanctions. Alric Lee warns: independent civil society is being replaced with state structures.
Read more: web.civicus.org/Alric-Lee
#CIVICUSLens

#CongoRepublic's election was predetermined before polls opened. Ivan Kibangou Ngoy warns: the result was designed into a rigged system from the start.
Read more: web.civicus.org/Ivan-Kibangou-Ngoy_EN
#CIVICUSLens

#Tunisia imprisoned a human rights defender for supporting migrants. Khabir Moncef insists: defending rights deserves protection, even when it involves taking risks.
Read more: web.civicus.org/Khabir-Moncef_EN
#CIVICUSLens

#Zimbabwe's ruling party is changing the constitution to extend power. Narshon T Kohlo warns: democracy itself is at stake when governments rewrite the rules.
Read more: web.civicus.org/Narshon-T-Kohlo
#CIVICUSLens

International Women's Day 2026 revealed a global feminist response to interlocking assaults on women's rights. At the UN, the #US attempted to reverse gains. Women are insisting: retreat isn't an option.
Read more: web.civicus.org/IWD2026_EN
#CIVICUSLens

Gender equality at the #UN is under attack. The #US voted against outcomes and pushed amendments restricting reproductive health. Civil society delegates held firm, but rights are at risk.
Read more: web.civicus.org/CSW70-EN
#CIVICUSLens

#Bangladesh held its first credible election in decades, but the result is restoration, not transformation. The new government must prove it will answer youth demands for real change.
Read more: web.civicus.org/Bangladesh-elections
#CIVICUSLens

The EU adopted a Civil Society Strategy, but enforcement is weak. Giada Negri warns that new budget battles threaten to undermine it.
Read more: web.civicus.org/Giada-Negri
#CIVICUSLens European Civic Forum

The #AfricanUnion claims to champion democracy but tolerates coups and rigged elections. Olorunyomi Pauline Adedigba demands it live up to its principles in practice.
Read more: web.civicus.org/Olorunyomi-Pauline-Adedigba
#CIVICUSLens

ITALY: ‘White supremacist concepts are entering mainstream political discourse on migration’ CIVICUS discusses Italy’s restrictive immigration policies with Eleonora Celoria, a researcher at FIERI (Forum Internazionale ed Europeo di Ricerche sull’Immigrazione), a research centre on migration, and a member of the Association for Legal Studies on Immigration (ASGI), an Italian legal organisation that defends migrants’ and asylum seekers’ rights through advocacy, public awareness and strategic litigation.

#Italy's government tightens borders while far-right petitions for mass deportations gain ground. Eleonora Celoria warns both moves violate refugee law and mainstream extremism.
Read more: web.civicus.org/Eleonora-Celoria
#CIVICUSLens

The UN faces pressure to merge its women's and population agencies. Cynthia Saxena warns this would hollow out support for feminist movements when they're needed most.
Read more: web.civicus.org/Cynthia-Saxena
#CIVICUSLens Fòs Feminista

The EU exports AI surveillance tools across #MENA, including to governments monitoring Palestinians under occupation. 7amleh asks: how can the EU defend human rights while being Israel's primary arms market?
Read more: web.civicus.org/7amleh
#CIVICUSLens @7amleh.bsky.social

#China is weaponising generative AI to censor and control its population. Fergus Ryan warns: as these tools spread globally, civic space everywhere is at risk.
Read more: web.civicus.org/Fergus-Ryan
#CIVICUSLens

#Gaza's ceasefire obscures ongoing violations. Israel's Iran strikes diverted attention while killing continues. Civil society warns: there can be no peace without Palestinian agency or justice.
Read more: web.civicus.org/Gaza-ceasefire
#CIVICUSLens

#Nepal's Gen Z delivered a political earthquake. Youth-led protests forced out the old guard, now they must hold the new government to account.
Read more: web.civicus.org/Nepal-elections
#CIVICUSLens

#Portugal's far-right is gaining legitimacy fast. Jonni Lopes of Academia Cidadã warns that electoral success can eventually become governmental power — and why this threatens democracy.
Read more: web.civicus.org/Jonni-Lopes
#CIVICUSLens

Kazakhstan's constitutional referendum threatens to cement authoritarian rule. Yevgeniy Zhovtis explains why this is a final institutional lock on power — and how dissent is being silenced.
Read more: web.civicus.org/Yevgeniy-Zhovtis
#CIVICUSLens

A new Dutch coalition government raises concerns over asylum and refugee protections. Aicha Chaghouani of the Helsinki Committee explains why civil society opposition is critical.
Read more: web.civicus.org/Aicha-Chaghouani
#CIVICUSLens

As #Nepal heads to the polls, youth-led movements are demanding change. Anusha Khanal of the Gen Z Movement Alliance explains how mass protests push political systems to act.
Read more: web.civicus.org/Anusha-Khanal
#CIVICUSLens

Convictions in the Philippines highlight how anti-terror laws are used to criminalise dissent.

In this interview, Kyle A. Domequil explains why dismantling these mechanisms is vital to protect civic space.

Read more: web.civicus.org/Kyle-A-Domequil

#CIVICUSLens

The #Munich Security Conference revealed deep fractures in the global order, from weakening arms control to rising nuclear tensions. Can multilateralism adapt to this new reality?

Read more: web.civicus.org/MSC_EN

#CIVICUSLens

Thailand’s election and referendum exposed ongoing struggles over democratic reform and institutional power. Why are electoral periods especially risky for civic space?

Read more: web.civicus.org/Thai-Lawyers-for-Human-Rights

#CIVICUSLens #Thailand

Iran’s largest uprising since 1979 was crushed with extreme violence, but the crisis that sparked protests remains unresolved. Can a fragmented opposition drive change?

Read more: web.civicus.org/Iran-protests

#CIVICUSLens #Iran

As AI reshapes global politics, debates often overlook who controls the data behind it.

In this interview, Lobna Jeribi explains why data sovereignty and accountability are key to protecting civic space and human rights.

Read more: web.civicus.org/Lobna-Jeribi
#CIVICUSLens

Convictions in the Philippines have sparked alarm over press freedom and the misuse of anti-terror laws.

In this interview, Aleksandra Bielakowska explains how “red-tagging” is being used to silence journalists and critics.

Read more: web.civicus.org/Aleksandra-Bielakowska
#CIVICUSLens

As the 2026 Winter Olympics approach, the UN has renewed the Olympic Truce, calling on states to exercise restraint and facilitate humanitarian access.

In this interview, Hugh Dugan explains its relevance today.

Read more: web.civicus.org/Hugh-Dugan
#CIVICUSLens

Costa Rica’s recent election reflects a shift toward security-first politics.

In this interview, Ilka Treminio Sánchez warns that democratic guarantees are being eroded in the name of tackling violence and crime.

Read more: web.civicus.org/Ilka-Treminio-Sanchez-EN
#CIVICUSLens

Mass protests in #Albania followed corruption allegations that deepened public distrust.

In this interview, Gresa Hasa explains why no political force commands enough trust to unite popular demands for accountability and reform.

Read more: web.civicus.org/Gresa-Hasa
#CIVICUSLens

Regressive governments and transnational alliances are reshaping the global order, challenging democratic norms and multilateral institutions.

In this interview, Matías Bianchi explores what this shift means for democracy and civic space.

Read more: web.civicus.org/Matias-Bianchi_EN
#CIVICUSLens

At #Davos 2026, multilateralism’s crisis was unmistakable. As major powers retreat from international institutions, questions over the future of global governance are intensifying.

Read more: web.civicus.org/WEF-2026
#CIVICUSLens