Defending Civil Society

Over the past five years, 76 countries have proposed more than 275 legislative initiatives that impact civil society.

Of these initiatives, more than 85% have been restrictive. The trend is truly global, with no geographic region immune. Restrictions have emerged in both authoritarian and democratic states, ranging from barriers to forming organizations and intrusive oversight procedures to limits on access to resources and the exercise of rights online.

However, it’s not all bad news. Dozens of states have also introduced initiatives that enhance civic space. Moreover, ICNL works to strengthen our partners – civil society organizations, government reformers, donors, and diplomats – to counter restrictive measures and ensure that civil society can operate effectively.

(Icon credit: Kokota & Swifticons)

Key Initiatives

Civic Space Initiative

The Civic Space Initiative is an alliance of four global organizations—ICNL, Article 19, CIVICUS, and the World Movement for Democracy—that seeks to create a world in which civil society can thrive.

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Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund

Through the Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund, ICNL provides rapid-response advocacy and resiliency grants to civil society organizations coping with urgent threats to freedoms of association, expression, and assembly.

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Enabling & Protecting Civic Space

ICNL is a core partner in the Illuminating New Solutions and Programmatic Innovations for Resilient Spaces consortium, which tackles threats to civil society with cutting-edge research, strategic interventions, and a robust learning agenda.

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Key Resources

Effective Donor Responses to the Challenge of Closing Civic Space

This 2018 report examines the ways in which donor governments can effectively support civic space in challenging environments.

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Defending Civil Society, Second Edition

This 2012 report provides examples of the legal barriers that governments use to constrain civic space and articulates international legal principles to protect civil society.

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A Global Assault on Nonprofits

This 2015 Journal of Democracy article by ICNL president Douglas Rutzen summarizes recent developments in the global crackdown on civil society.

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All Defending Civil Society Resources

Summary of the UNHRC Panel on the Promotion and Protection of Civil Society Space

Report on The Regulation of Foreign Funding of Nonprofits in a Democracy
This report (A/HRC/27/33) summarizes a March 11, 2014, panel discussion convened by the UN Human Rights ... Read More

Closing Space: Democracy and Human Rights Support Under Fire

Report on The Regulation of Foreign Funding of Nonprofits in a Democracy
After seeing its reach increase for decades, international support for democracy and human rights faces ... Read More

The CIVICUS Enabling Environment Index

The CIVICUS Enabling Environment Index
This global composite index from CIVICUS used secondary data to assess the governance, socio-cultural, and ... Read More

Submission on an Enabling Environment for Civil Society To the UN High Level Panel on the Post 2015 Development Agenda

activists in Palestine; analysis icon image
In this submission, ICNL and our partners in the Civic Space Initiative (CSI) urged the ... Read More

Defending Civil Society Report (Second Edition)

Report on The Regulation of Foreign Funding of Nonprofits in a Democracy
This report, published by the World Movement for Democracy and ICNL, lists legal barriers constraining ... Read More

CIVICUS State of Civil Society 2011 Report

Report on The Regulation of Foreign Funding of Nonprofits in a Democracy
On April 10, 2012, CIVICUS released State of Civil Society 2011. The report highlights the ... Read More
Explore our full resource collection, which includes reports, legal analysis, and curated collections of materials covering an array of issues impacting civic space around the world.