This briefing paper addresses the proliferation of new institutions and the “soft” law standards they produce, with particular emphasis on the implications of these developments on the functioning of civil society organizations and on civic space.

This briefing explores how states’ responses to the climate crisis over the next two decades will affect civic space for a range of established and new civic actors. It is one in a series commissioned by ICNL as a part of its Civic Space 2040 initiative to help inform civic space advocates about the opportunities and challenges ahead.

The coronavirus is a significant threat to public health; it does not need to be a significant threat to civic freedom. In this article, ICNL explores this tension and how governments can move quickly while upholding human rights in their response to a public health crisis.

In Uzbekistan, civil society organizations face acute problems with financial sustainability, which significantly weakens their ability to implement public benefit activities. ICNL’s legal analysis reviews provisions of the Uzbek government’s June 2022 regulation on foreign grants, identifies problematic provisions that may impact implementation, and provides a preliminary assessment of its potential impact.

The first International Migration Review Forum will take place in May 2022. This report looks at current problems facing migrants and explores twelve key ways for states to get back on track.

In order to advocate for barrier-free access to resources, civil society organizations need to be aware of the legislation affecting their income. To help organizations build awareness, the USAID Civil Society Engagement Program (CSEP), implemented by the East-West Management Institute, Inc., ICNL, and ECNL formed a team to prepare an assessment of the legal environment for civil society financial sustainability and corporate and individual philanthropy in Georgia.

These guidelines are designed to help activists from Belarus and other Eurasian countries who relocate to Georgia to organize their work in compliance with Georgian law.

This report makes recommendations that aim to ensure internet freedoms and freedom of expression in Malaysia, creating an environment where people can safely discuss issues related to race, religion, and royalty without fear and self-censorship.