How Can Member States Improve the UN’s Counterterrorism Strategy?

In this Just Security article, Nicholas Miller and Jordan Street argue an updated UN approach to counterterrorism should reflect global changes and address current shortcomings in protecting civic space, meaningfully integrating gender, defending principled humanitarian access, and delivering human rights oversight.

Malawi’s Non-Governmental Organizations Bill

Malawi's 2020 Non-Governmental Organizations Amendment Bill still contains problematic provisions for NGOs and citizens to exercise their fundamental freedoms.

Legal Obstacles to Indigenous Mobilization and Representation in Brazil

This Portuguese language report investigates the legal barriers to organization and representation of indigenous peoples in Brazil today.

COVID-19 and Civic Freedoms in Asia and the Pacific

To get a full picture of how COVID-19 measures have impacted civil society in the Asia-Pacific region, ICNL conducted a survey in December 2020 to assess government practices. We received responses from organizations in 14 countries across the region.

Guide to the Right of Peaceful Assembly in the Middle East and North Africa

A comprehensive guide on the right of peaceful assembly including what defines peaceful assembly, when is considered peaceful, states obligations to protect this right and the restrictions imposed on it, revision of notification and authorization procedures, authorities of law enforcement agencies, and a comparative studies of regional practices during states of emergency and armed conflict.

Forum on the Fundamental Freedoms of Kenyan Civil Society Online

ICNL, in collaboration with the Civil Society Reference Group (CSRG) and Article 19 Eastern Africa, hosted a digital forum on the protection and promotion of fundamental freedoms of Kenyan civil society online.

Cambodia: Fundamental Freedoms Monitoring Project

The Fundamental Freedoms Monitoring Project, which began in 2016, examines and evaluates the extent to which the freedoms of association, expression and assembly are exercised in Cambodia.

Requirements for Recipients of Foreign Funds in the Republic of Kazakhstan

This analysis reviews the key provisions of Kazakhstan’s 2016 Law on Payments that have affected non-commercial organizations (NCOs), including the introduction of reporting requirements for foreign funds and liabilities for violating these requirements. The analysis compares the Law on Payments with international law and international best practices, followed with recommendations on how to improve such provisions.

Countering Authoritarianism in Asia During COVID-19: Findings & Resources

From 2020 to 2024, ICNL worked with FORUM-ASIA, Media Defence and over a dozen local civil society organizations to address authoritarian measures enacted throughout the Indo-Pacific region in response to COVID-19.

A Toolkit for National Human Rights Institutions

The goal of this Toolkit is to provide National Human Rights Institutes (NHRIs) in Africa with practical information that will assist them to better document, analyze, and report on digital rights topics in their countries.

New Assessment Outlines Steps to Increase Financial Sustainability of Moldovan Civil Society

In recent years, civil society organizations (CSOs) in Moldova have witnessed several improvements to the legal environment. However, CSOs are still hindered by their reliance on foreign funding, which limits their financial sustainability.

Civic Space after COVID

On May 24th 2021, ICNL and Sida are hosting a high-level virtual conversation on emergency measures, fundamental freedoms, and revitalizing civic space in the wake of COVID-19.

Tanzania: Understanding Your Right to Information

This guide from MISA Tanzania outlines the right to information for civil society and Tanzanians and how to request information from government entities.

5 Things to Know About Thailand’s Proposed NPO Bill

ICNL outlines five key concerns with Thailand's draft law, which presents a highly securitized approach to the non-profit sector and may violate international law.

ECNL: Tax Benefits Stimulating Philanthropy

There are several ways in which governments can actively foster an enabling environment for philanthropy. Providing tax benefits for donations to civil society organizations is one of them. This analysis, published by ECNL, reviews the existing mechanisms to stimulate philanthropy in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, and Poland.

Time for a Course Correction on Counterterrorism and Civic Space

This Just Security article, written by ICNL’s Senior Legal Advisor, Nicholas Miller, and ECNL’s Executive Director, Katerina Hadzi-Miceva Evans, lays out how and why the UN’s counterterrorism system must change. They argue the first steps must include creation of greater room for civil society participation in counterterrorism policymaking and a recognition by the UN and its member states that the UN counterterrorism system has the potential to cause human rights harms.

ACHPR Checklists for Law Reform Advocates

These two checklists were created by the ACHPR to deepen the understanding and compliance by States and other stakeholders with their obligations to promote and protect the freedoms of association and peaceful assembly as laid out in the Guidelines on Freedom of Association and Assembly in Africa.

Georgia: The Foreign Agents Registration Act

This ICNL brief highlights key differences between the Georgian FARA and the US FARA and Georgia’s international law obligations with respect to Georgian FARA.

Enabling Civil Society in Development and Humanitarian Assistance

This report by the OECD Development Assistance Committee provides recommendations for including and enabling civil society in development and humanitarian processes.

Nigeria’s COVID Regulations and Civic Space

This ICNL briefer outlines the civic space implications of Nigeria’s Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Health Protection Regulations 2021, including an analysis of provisions that may fail to meet applicable human rights standards governing pandemics.

India’s 2020 FCRA Amendments Impact on Association

This ICNL legal briefer provides a brief history and context of the FCRA, followed by an international legal analysis of the recent 2020 FCRA amendments. Many of the provisions violate international law and threaten civil society’s ability to address COVID-19 and other urgent challenges.

Civic Space, Corruption, and COVID-19

On June 30, 2021, ICNL hosted an online discussion for civil society organization representatives from around the world to share best practices on how to address corruption in public responses to COVID-19.

Financial Action Task Force Toolkit

Practical Guide to Zimbabwe’s PVO Act (2025 Amendments)

This practical guide helps civil society organizations in Zimbabwe navigate recent changes to the Private Voluntary Organizations (PVO) Act.