Tag

Civil Society

All articles tagged with #civil society

world20 days ago•7 min saved

Tunisia's civic space tightens as authorities widen crackdown on NGOs

Human Rights Watch documents a widening crackdown on civil society in Tunisia: dozens of associations suspended, NGO workers and activists prosecuted, and bank accounts frozen under broad laws, with at least 47 people linked to civil society prosecuted and 10 detained beyond legal limits; 14 have been convicted (2025–26), including a prominent rights defender, and migration/asylum work is especially targeted. Journalists report growing pressure and fear. HRW calls for an end to abusive investigations, release of detainees, and withdrawal of restrictive legislation to protect freedom of association and an independent judiciary.

via Al Jazeera|

#civil-society #freedom-of-association #human-rights-watch

world28 days ago•17 min saved

Drones, Democracy, and Kyiv's War: Ukraine's Digital Military Revolution

Ukraine’s shift to drone-powered warfare has created a highly integrated digital battlefield and decentralized production that reshapes tactics, procurement, and civil-military collaboration. Spearheaded by Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who built the Ministry of Digital Transformation and a Drone Line, the reforms helped Ukraine gain battlefield momentum, but his firing and subsequent cabinet reshuffles sparked large protests and a wartime debate about elections. The drone-centric approach relies on civilian technologists and private initiatives, expanding democratic participation in security decisions, yet the political backlash risks slowing momentum and raises questions about how much ordinary Ukrainians should influence wartime strategy.

via Foreign Affairs|

#civil-society #defense-reform #digital-transformation

world1 month ago•3 min saved

Hong Kong vigil organisers convicted of incitement under security law

Two Hong Kong activists, Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, were found guilty of incitement to subversion for organizing the annual Tiananmen vigil; sentencing is pending, while a third defendant, Albert Ho, has pleaded guilty. The verdict underscores Beijing’s tight control under the national security law and the ongoing crackdown on civil society in Hong Kong, drawing criticism from Amnesty International over the broad use of subversion charges.

via The Guardian|

#civil-society #hong-kong #incitement-to-subversion

world2 months ago•6 min saved

US sanctions hit ICC judges with a ‘financial death penalty,’ sparking a legal challenge

A New York federal lawsuit reveals that US sanctions under EO 14203 froze three ICC judges’ bank accounts, blocked credit and US-dollar transactions, cut health insurance, and hindered travel, isolating them financially and professionally. The judges—Kimberly Prost (Canada), Solomy Balungi Bossa (Uganda), and Reine Alapini-Gansou (Benin)—say the measures threaten judicial independence and safety, impacting their families and civil-society work, while they continue to fulfill their duties and seek to have the sanctions overturned.

via Middle East Eye|

#banking-finance #civil-society #international-criminal-court

world3 months ago•3 min saved

Civil society urges G7 to act on Gaza ahead of Évian summit

Palestinian and Israeli civil-society groups meeting in Paris urged G7 leaders at the Évian summit to take concrete action on Gaza, including a ceasefire, Hamas disarmament, humanitarian access and reconstruction, and to integrate peace efforts into one program, warning that the window for a two-state solution is narrowing and calling for diplomacy led by civil society with proper funding and Palestinian elections to stabilize the region.

via The Guardian|

#civil-society #g7 #gaza

health3 months ago•2 min saved

Funding drought and rights crackdowns threaten HIV gains, UNAids warns

UNAids warns that a sharp drop in aid funding (about 23%), plus new restrictions on civil society and LGBTQ+ rights, endanger hard-won HIV gains. Testing fell in 2025, prevention funding in many low- and middle-income countries remains only around 11% of HIV spending, and community-led services for key groups such as men who have sex with men and sex workers have dramatically declined, risking more infections and deaths. While new prevention options exist, including the twice-yearly lenacapavir injection, scale is needed; UNAids is also considering a leaner, more dispersed UN program after funding cuts and talks of sunset for the agency.

via The Guardian|

#civil-society #funding-cuts #health

europe4 months ago•3 min saved

Montenegro moves closer to EU membership with draft accession pact

Montenegro, an EU candidate since 2010, moved closer to joining the bloc as EU members agreed to form an ad hoc working party to draft an accession pact; with 14 of 35 policy clusters completed, officials say the final phase of negotiations is underway and membership could come by 2028, contingent on continued reforms and strong civil-society involvement.

via Euronews.com|

#accession-treaty #civil-society #eu-enlargement

world5 months ago•13 min saved

Tunisia shuts down landmark rights group as crackdown widens

President Kais Saied’s government suspended the Tunisian League for Human Rights, one of Africa’s oldest rights groups, signaling a broadening crackdown on civil society and drawing domestic and international criticism over shrinking space for independent organizations.

via AP News|

#civil-society #crackdown #human-rights

world-news5 months ago•75 min saved

Families comb cartel lands for missing loved ones in Mexico

Civilian groups and relatives in Mexico scour remote, cartel-controlled areas searching for missing loved ones, often facing danger and limited government support, in a bid to uncover answers, recover remains, and gain closure amid ongoing violence and impunity.

via AP News|

#cartels #civil-society #families

world6 months ago•5 min saved

Zambia-US health aid deal sparks data-sharing and mining concerns

A leaked five-year US health-financing plan offers about $1.012 billion for Zambia in exchange for 40,000 new health workers, $400 million in health services, and extensive health-data sharing (including 25-year pathogen data) linked to mining concessions; civil-society groups warn the terms are worse than similar deals, risk undermining Zambia’s health programs, and could give Washington outsized leverage, prompting potential legal challenges.

via The Guardian|

#civil-society #data-sharing #health-financing

technology1 year ago•4 min saved

Citizen Lab Chief Warns of US Authoritarian Shift in Cyber Industry

The director of Citizen Lab warns the cybersecurity community about the growing threat of authoritarianism and government spyware, urging increased vigilance and support for threat intelligence efforts, especially as major tech companies may reduce their cybersecurity initiatives amidst political pressures.

via TechCrunch|

#authoritarianism #big-tech #civil-society

politics1 year ago•19 min saved

Human Rights Groups and Journalists Flee El Salvador Amid Bukele's Crackdown

Human rights defenders, journalists, and activists are fleeing El Salvador due to President Bukele's crackdown, which includes arrests, harassment, and the dismantling of civil society organizations, amid a broader trend of authoritarianism and global right-wing alliances.

via Rolling Stone|

#bukele #civil-society #el-salvador

international-relations2 years ago•0 min saved

"US Condemns Venezuela's Crackdown on Opposition and Civil Society"

The United States expresses deep concern over the arrest orders and detentions of 33 Venezuelans, including opposition members, civil society figures, former military personnel, and journalists, emphasizing that these actions contradict the October 2023 electoral roadmap agreement. The US calls for an end to politically motivated harassment and urges adherence to the agreement, including announcing a clear timeline for the 2024 presidential election and reinstating all political candidates.

via Department of State|

#arrests #civil-society #democracy

politics2 years ago•2 min saved

Argentina's Milei Implements Controversial Measures to Quell Protests

President Javier Milei's new anti-protest measures in Argentina, which allow security forces to use force to clear blockades and arrest protesters, are being put to the test as social and labor groups plan to protest his economic measures. Critics fear a crackdown on civil society, while supporters argue that the measures aim to prevent disruptive blockades rather than protests themselves. Opposition groups have petitioned international bodies and filed claims in national courts against the measures. A recent poll shows that a majority of Argentines support stopping blockades. The outcome of today's protests will determine if Milei's administration takes a more authoritarian turn.

via Reason|

#argentina #civil-society #javier-milei

media-freedom2 years ago•2 min saved

Hungary's Controversial 'Sovereignty' Law Sparks Media Backlash

Ten independent Hungarian media outlets have warned that a new law approved by the Hungarian parliament could severely restrict press freedom and make it difficult for independent newsrooms and journalists to operate. The law creates a sovereignty protection office with broad powers to investigate foreign interventions in Hungary's democratic processes. Critics argue that the true aim of the legislation is to intimidate and silence critics, while civil society groups have raised concerns about its constitutionality. The International Press Institute has condemned the law and called for an EU challenge against it.

via The Guardian|

#civil-society #foreign-interventions #hungary