Freedom of Association in Arab Countries

The Arab region witnessed tremendous changes between 2011-2013 as the result of popular uprisings in response to decades of lack of democracy and freedom, economic and social deprivations and inequalities, and a rise in unemployment, particularly among youth, poverty and social marginalization.

UNODC Comprehensive Study on Cybercrime

As required by General Assembly resolution 65/230, this 2013 Study was prepared by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) with a view to ‘examining options to strengthen existing and to propose new national and international legal or other responses to cybercrime.’

Effective Measures and Best Practices to Ensure the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Context of Peaceful Protests

This report (A/HRC/22/28) by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights examines effective measures and best practices to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protests.

Keeping Up the Momentum

This publication, written by the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law, is the first regional report on the state of cooperation between civil society organizations and public institutions in the countries of the Western Balkans and Turkey.

Monitoring Matrix on Enabling Environment for Civil Society Development

This matrix and its accompanying monitoring methodology - published by the European Center for International Law - are designed to be used by CSOs to monitor the principles and standards identified as crucial to a supportive and enabling legal environment for CSOs.

Enabling Civil Society’s Contributions to Development

A briefing discussing how an enabling environment for civil society can be integrated into the post-2015 development agenda.

Report on the Monitoring of Freedom of Peaceful Assembly in Selected OSCE Participating States (May 2011–June 2012)

This report presents the findings of the monitoring of public events undertaken by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in selected OSCE participating States between May 2011 and June 2012.

Volunteering Infrastructure in Europe

This publication from the European Volunteer Centre (CEV) details the physical structures, support mechanisms, human resources, knowledge, research and sustainable funding, made available to support volunteers and volunteer organizations in 29 European countries.

Legal Framework for Social Economy and Social Enterprises

This report by the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law compares the distinctive features of the legal framework for social economy/social enterprises in Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Slovenia and Austria.

Engaging Civil Society in Countering Violent Extremism

In this research paper from the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, Dr. Bibi van Ginkel takes an in depth look at how multilateral institutions engage with civil society to counter violent extremism.

UN Secretary-General’s report on the 10th anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers

This report is in response to the requests of the General Assembly that the Secretary-General report to it at its sixty-seventh session on the tenth anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers, 2001, and to propose recommendations to further integrate volunteerism in peace and development during the next decade and beyond.

Reshaping United Nations Counterterrorism Efforts

This report by the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation attempts to provide independent, fresh, long-term thinking about how to reshape and maximize the value of UN counterterrorism efforts.

CSOs on the Road from Accra to Busan

This 2012 publication - published by BetterAid in cooperation with the Open Forum for CSO Development Effectiveness - provides an overview of the CSO initiatives that strengthened development effectiveness and the enabling environment for CSOs.

Defending Civil Society Report (Second Edition)

This report, published by the World Movement for Democracy and ICNL, lists legal barriers constraining civil society organizations (CSOs) around the world; addresses state justifications rationalizing these legal barriers; and identifies a set of international principles that defends civil society.

Global Survey on Internet Privacy and Freedom of Expression

This 2012 UNESCO publication seeks to identify the relationship between freedom of expression and Internet privacy, assessing where they support or compete with each other in different circumstances.

Meeting the Challenge: A Guide to United Nations Counterterrorism Activities

Over the past decade, the United Nations' work to combat global terrorism has expanded dramatically.

UN Special Rapporteur’s Report on Best Practices in Promoting Assembly and Association Rights

In this report (A/HRC/20/27), Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai's first to the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur highlights best practices worldwide that promote and protect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, covering areas such as:

The Supreme Court, Material Support, and the Lasting Impact of Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project

Over the course of the post-9/11 era, the U.S. Supreme Court has had much to say about the government’s response to terrorism as that response relates to military detention and trial before military commissions.

Protection of US Non-Governmental Organizations in Egypt under the Egypt-U.S. Bilateral Investment Treaty

In 2011, armed personnel of the Egyptian government detained employees and seized documents and computers from several NGOs.

Freedom of Assembly in Czech Republic

Freedom of assembly in Czech Republic is generally in compliance with international standards and best practices.

Inter-American Commission Human Rights Report on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in the Americas

This report on human rights defenders in the Americas, published in 2011 by the Inter‐American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), is a follow up to the body's 2006 report on the same subject.

Summary of the Human Rights Council Panel Discussion on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Context of Peaceful Protests

This report, prepared by the UN Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, summarizes a Human Rights Council panel discussion on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protests.

Criteria for Selection of CSOs in Cross-Sector Bodies

This paper, co-authored by the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law, was written for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to help develop participatory and transparent law-making process in Macedonia.

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