ICNL is pleased to announce that our President, Douglas Rutzen, will speak at a High Level Event on Supporting Civil Society hosted by President Barack Obama. The event will be held on Monday, September 23 from 3:00 – 4:00 pm EST, on the margins of the 68th United Nations General Assembly in New York. To watch the event live, please visit: https://www.whitehouse.gov/live.

Speakers will include US President Barack Obama, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico, President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj of Mongolia, U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association Maina Kiai, Burmese activist Khin Lay, and Douglas Rutzen of ICNL.

Panelists will engage in a discussion about growing restrictions that are being placed on civil society organizations worldwide. They will also coordinate strategies to respond to these restrictions.

This event marks a significant recognition by world leaders that protecting civil society must be a priority for the international community. ICNL is honored to be a part of this exceptional initiative to advance civil society law reform around the world.