CIVICUS LENS: PERSPECTIVES FOR A CHANGING WORLD

 
Building on 10 years of State of Civil Society Reports, CIVICUS Lens offers timely analysis of the major events of the day from a civil society perspective. Complementing their ongoing tracking of civic space on the CIVICUS Monitor, CIVICUS Lens highlights stories of civic action and civil society breakthroughs; they explore contemporary political, economic and social trends and their impact on civil society, and also and most importantly, the ways in which people’s movements are responding, innovating and scoring victories.

Deeply rooted in the global south, CIVICUS Lens stand firmly for social justice and on the side of those who defend human rights, call the powerful to account, demand democratic freedoms and fight for progress on the great issues of today: problems like the climate crisis, systemic racism, widening inequalities and democratic regression.

 

CIVICUS Lens intends to demystify complex issues, encourage reflection and promote solidarity, allyship and progressive action, showcasing a plurality and diversity of experiences and voices, including through interviews and consultations. IPS Inter Press Service North America and its UN Bureau are partnering with CIVICUS Lens to raise questions about some of the predominant biases in how the world is understood and how current events are analysed.

CONTACT: research@civicus.org


Nigeria: students hope to go back to school

University students demand government reaches an agreement with striking teachers so classes can resume…

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Indonesia: breakthrough on gender-based violence

Long-term civil society advocacy pays off with passing of law against forced marriage and sexual abuse…

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Twitter: takeover talk sparks hate speech fears

Elon Musk’s potential purchase of Twitter shows the need for greater regulation of social media companies…

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India: horror heatwaves bring civil society response

Civil society is helping people cope – but also calling for climate action…

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Hong Kong: another step closer to China

Hard-line pro-Beijing security chief takes power in a walkover election…

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India: hijab row the latest show of Hindu nationalism

Right-wing populist politicians target Muslim women to inflame divisions and win elections…

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Civil society campaigning achieves forced labour victory in Uzbekistan

Seventeen years of advocacy and activism leads to the end of state-imposed forced and child labour in country’s cotton industry…

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Fresh hope for civil society: right-wing populist defeated in Slovenia

Victory of new party raises hope that civic freedoms will be respected…

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Game not over: resistance against East African Crude Oil Pipeline

Victories of civil society campaign on financing sow doubts on project’s fate…

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Sri Lanka: economic meltdown sparks mass protests

Protest movement demands an end to unaccountable presidential power…

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Mexico: recall referendum ruse leaves no one satisfied

President López Obrador fails to benefit from manipulating direct democracy mechanism…

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Asylum in the UK: a one-way trip to Rwanda?

Deal to be used by UK to remove asylum seekers will enable Rwanda to deflect human rights concerns…

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CSW66: a mixed moment for women’s rights

Latest edition of the UN Commission on the Status of Women sees some successes but also wasted opportunities…

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A close call for French democracy

Even if it loses this time, the fear is that the far right is getting closer to power…

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Sleeves rolled up: Ukraine’s civil society responds to war

Activism in response to invasion shows the value of an enabled and empowered civil society…

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Costa Rica at the polls: voting or gambling?

Apathy and fragmentation yield unexpected results…

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Hungary’s election a grim day for civil society

Viktor Orbán’s latest win signals a further assault on rights…

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Ukraine war exposes weaknesses of international system

Mixed international response to Russia’s aggression makes the case for global governance reform…

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Afghanistan: back to school?

Against all odds, Afghan women and girls mobilise for their right to education…

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Peru’s oil spill raises corporate accountability questions

Campaigners call on oil giant Repsol to take full responsibility…

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Guatemala: anti-rights movement shows its teeth

Attempt to enact regressive anti-gender law defeated – for the time being…

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UAE: tyranny behind the glamour

Events like Expo 2020 and MENA Climate Week cannot conceal the reality of repression…

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Algeria: increasing repression belies promise of reform

Away from the international spotlight, country’s stable reputation depends on stifling dissent…

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Russia’s anti-war protests: Putin under pressure?

Brave protesters battle fearsome repression and relentless propaganda…

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Turkmenistan: tyranny mutates into dynasty

Ritualistic election enthrones president’s son – but his father retains power behind the throne…

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South Korean election: women’s rights the biggest loser

Presidential race winner profits from anti-feminist backlash…

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Ukraine’s refugees: will compassion prevail over prejudice?

All refugees should be treated with the empathy extended to Ukrainians fleeing conflict…

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Chile: winds of change for LGBTQI+ rights

With the Equal Marriage Law, Chile begins to catch up to the times…

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Two years of the pandemic: how civil society made the difference

Vital pandemic response makes the case for an effective and enabled civil society…

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Sisterhood back on the streets

Women’s movement emerges from pandemic in full force…

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Myanmar: junta’s economic power in the firing line

Businesses that prop up military rule under pressure to withdraw…

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Belarus: ceremonial referendum confirms Putin’s power

Constitutional changes open the door to Russia’s nuclear missiles…

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Canada: trucker protests set off alarms

No country is immune to the far-right challenge…

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Colombia rides the green wave

Constitutional Court judgment on abortion rights rewards feminist activism…

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El Salvador: regional human rights system delivers civil society victory

Landmark court ruling brings new promise for women’s rights in Latin America…

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Time’s up: UK police culture shift is long overdue

A new head won’t suffice – London’s police need a new approach…

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Energy transition: dilemmas and trade-offs

Victory in campaign against lithium mining highlights problems of transition to electric vehicles…

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Firm, unified response needed to Russia’s aggression

Putin must be made a pariah for tearing up the international rulebook…

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Divergent paths: abortion rights in Mexico and the USA

Progress south of the border as regression takes hold in the north…

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Spotify: power brings responsibilities

Podcast controversy points to need for greater corporate accountability…

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