New brief on #SriLanka by CIVICUS reviewing the #civicspace record of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a year since he came to office. Concerns remain on the targeting of #activists & #journalists and restrictions on expression and peaceful assembly. web.civicus.org/SLBriefSept25

#Nepal: Youth-led anti-corruption #protests forced political change, despite a lethal crackdown by security forces that left scores dead. Protesters and civil society are now demanding for #accountability and #reforms Our latest #civicspace update: web.civicus.org/NepalSept2025

#China: The state of #civicspace remains 'closed'. In recent months, the regime has continued to criminalise #activists, increase digital restrictions and deploy transnational repression against #protesters More here: web.civicus.org/ChinaSept2025

#Afghanistan’s #civicspace has collapsed, CIVICUS Calls for Urgent Action at the UN Statement at the UN Human Rights Council's 60th Session, Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Afghanistan with the Special Rapporteur www.civicus.org/index.php/me...

#India: The state of #civicspace is rated as 'repressed'. In recent months, the govt has continued to deny bail to #activists detained under the UAPA, ban books in #Kashmir, block social media and crackdown on protests. More here: web.civicus.org/IndiaSept2025

#Myanmar: Repression including #torture and death of political prisoners and targeting of #journalists continue, as junta announces sham elections Our new #civicspace update: web.civicus.org/MyanmarAug2025

#Bangladesh: A year after the fall of the regime, positive steps have been taken to improve #civicspace. However, our new brief shows that more must be done to protect #activists & #journalists, repeal restrictive laws & strengthen #accountability More here: web.civicus.org/BDbriefAug24

#Thailand: 5 years ago, activist Arnon Nampa was arrested for participating in a protest. He now faces 29 years in prison on multiple charges, primarily for royal defamation. We call on Thai authorities to release him & drop all charges. See chronology here : web.civicus.org/Timeline-Arnon

📰NEWSLETTER: #HK diaspora media mergers, #TransnationalRepression of #HongKongers in the spotlight and World Justice Project comes under fire for helping #HongKong authorities whitewash repression. Read it in full: thecfhk.org/transnationa...

The CIVICUS Monitor has added #Indonesia to its watchlist. It assesses that within Indonesia, instances of state intimidation, legal manipulation, and the violent suppression of dissenting opinions are rampant, placing the nation's civil space in a concerning state. en.tempo.co/read/2034134...

The new CIVICUS Monitor #civicspace Watchlist, launched today, highlights serious concerns regarding the exercise of civic freedoms in El Salvador, Indonesia, Kenya, Serbia, Turkey and the United States of America . More here: web.civicus.org/WatchlistJul...

A joint UPR submission by CIVICUS and the Melbourne Activist Legal Support (MALS) where we assess #Australia’s compliance with its international human rights obligations to ensure a safe and enabling environment for civil society and civic space Submission here: www.civicus.org/documents/up...

#Indonesia: The state of #civicspace is rated as 'obstructed' In recent months, the #Prabowo government has targeted #humanrights defenders & journalists, cracked down on #protests & pushed problematic law revisions More here: web.civicus.org/IndonesiaJul...

An op-ed I co-wrote, on the increasing use of restrictive laws to jail #humanrights defenders across the Asia region thediplomat.com/2025/07/repr...

#SriLanka's #civicspace is rated as 'repressed'. Since early 2025, President Dissanayake's government has silenced critical voices & disrupted student #protests. The government has also retained the restrictive Online Safety Act. More here web.civicus.org/SriLankaJune...

#India: The state of #civicspace is rated as 'repressed'. In recent months, critical online commentary on the conflict with Pakistan was #censored, #journalists targeted, while communities in Chhattisgarh face military operations. Our latest update: web.civicus.org/IndiaJune2025

#Pakistan: It has been 3 months since human rights defender Dr. Mahrang Baloch was unjustly arrested by police during a peaceful sit-in to protest police violence. She is being detained in Hudda Jail. We call for her immediate & unconditional release.

🇮🇳 #India: Today Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez will celebrate his 48th birthday in prison. He has been in detention for three & a half years now. Together with rights groups, we call for his immediate release: web.civicus.org/Khurram #FreeKhurram #StandAsMyWitness

#Afghanistan: Today the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, presents his report on 'Access to justice & protection for women and girls and the impact of multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.' Full report here: www.ohchr.org/sites/defaul...

Jailed Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong hit with new charges

#Thailand: Conviction of #humanrights defender & lawyer Arnon Nampa to 2 years in jail on 28 May for his speech on monarchy reforms is outrageous & must be overturned. He faces a total sentence of 24 years under the #lesemajeste law. We stand in solidarity and call for his release #StandAsMyWitness

🇦🇺#Australia: As the Labor government starts its second term in power, the authorities have continued to criminalise #protests, police with #impunity and increase restrictive legislation & policies Our latest #civicspace update: web.civicus.org/AustraliaMay...

The #civicspace situation in #ASEAN continues to regress with 3 countries rated 'closed' and 5 rated 'repressed'. #Malaysia as the 2025 Chair must seriously address the backsliding of fundamental freedoms in the region, including the ongoing crisis in #Myanmar #ASEAN2025

In #Myanmar, ASEAN stands for complicity in A - Atrocities S - Sanctions evasion E - Economic crimes A - Arming war criminals N - Negotiating with terrorists 🪧✊🏽 Ready to take it to the streets? Download a sign for your demonstration 👉🏽 buff.ly/CNMLSjo #DirtyOver30 #ActNowASEAN #ASEAN

UN Special Rapporteur wrote to the Government of #Thailand about the criminal proceeding & charges pressed against several human rights defenders for their participation in a Malay-Muslim cultural gathering in Pattani province srdefenders.org/thailand-cri...

#Cambodia: The government has fabricated evidence to criminalise & jail, dozens of opposition politicians, #activists, trade unionists & critics. Now they are going after their critics abroad and the Anwar Ibrahim govt & #ASEAN chair is facilitating #TransnationalRepression

#China: a coalition of 58 NGOs led by RSF is sounding the alarm over the arbitrary and prolonged detention of journalist #ZhangZhan on the 5th anniversary of her arrest. Her health is deteriorating in detention. It’s time to #FreeZhangZhan! rsf.org/en/china-rsf...

#HongKong: National security police have arrested the father and brother of #humanrights defender and director of Hong Kong Democracy Council, Anna Kwok www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...

#Malaysia: More than 1,500 people gathered today to take part in a Labour Day rally. Among the key demands were an increase in the national minimum wage to RM2,000 and the implementation of a comprehensive affordable housing policy. www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nat...

TAIWAN: Unions protest against Taipei Metro over lost paid leave www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6098441

We condemn Thailand & BIMSTEC’s decision to allow Min Aung Hlaing to attend the Summit. Welcoming a #WarCriminal responsible for atrocities in disaster-stricken regions is disgraceful, tarnishing BIMSTEC's image. BIMSTEC: put Myanmar's people's lives above economic ties!

#Cambodia: RSF condemns the physical assault on 3 journalists from news site #EagleNews who were reporting on a deforestation case on 24/02 when 4 unidentified men attacked. We call for a thorough investigation into the crime & urge the 🇰🇭 gov to ensure the protection of environmental journalists.

Hearing disturbing news about the harassment of CSO KontraS, reportedly linked to its advocacy against recent legislative reform expanding the military’s role in domestic affairs. #Indonesia must ensure that civil society & HRDs can voice their legitimate concerns without restriction.

Disturbing news from Pakistan: Mahrang Baloch, a powerful voice for the voiceless, has been detained. ⚠️ Her fight for justice is a human right — not a crime. She must be released. 🕯️🇵🇰 #ReleaseMahrangBaloch #HumanRights

STARVING FOR JUSTICE: Academic Freedom and Human Rights in Thailand 25 March (Tuesday), 8 pm CDT (Madison) 26 March (Wednesday), 8 am ICT (Bangkok) Register here: bit.ly/4kJU4J5 Organized by the JSEALab and Article 112 Project at UW-Madison.

🚀 The CIVICUS 2025 State of Civil Society report is out! #SOCS2025 It covers conflict, democracy, economy, climate, tech, gender rights, migrants' rights & the United Nations. Read & download the full report publications.civicus.org/publications...

#USA Trump administration has abruptly placed all VOA staff on administrative leave. RSF condemns this decision as departure from the U.S.'s historic role as a defender of free information & calls on the U.S. government to restore #VOA & urges Congress to take action against this unprecedented move

New #civicspace watchlist looks at the deterioration of rights in: 🇵🇰Criminalisation of HRDs/journalists 🇷🇸Protesters, CSOs under attack 🇨🇩Journalists, HRDs targeted, censorship 🇮🇹Restrictive draft security law 🇺🇸Gross abuses of executive power ➡️ web.civicus.org/WLMarch2025

The United States has been added to the CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist, which identifies countries that the global civil rights watchdog believes are currently experiencing a rapid decline in civic freedoms. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

On International Women's Day, I stand in solidarity with women human rights defenders in #Asia who are in prison for their activism & demand their release #IWD2025 - Chow Hang-Tung (#HongKong) - Pham Doan Trang (#Vietnam) - Phuon Keoraksmey (#Cambodia) - Gulfisha Fatima (#India)

🚨🆕 #CIVICUSVoices Season 4 is out! 🌎✊ Dive into how protests disrupt the status quo, challenge injustice & demand change. Tune in to Episode 1 🎧🎙️ web.civicus.org/Podcast-S4

🚩 NEW REPORT: “In a Prison Cell Waiting for Daybreak” documents 1,545 prisoners of conscience in #China (2019-2024). Our findings support #UN concern that the scope and scale of arbitrary detentions may constitute #CrimesAgainstHumanity. youtube.com/shorts/9eazm...

#Indonesia: Crackdown on #protests, stifling of expression and repression in #Papua continues in #Prabowo’s first four months in power More here: web.civicus.org/IndonesiaFeb...

IN PURSUIT OF JUSTICE: In Pursuit of Justice: Arnon Nampa, Article 112 and Human Rights in Thailand Zoom Webinar Wednesday, 5 March 2025 7 am CST | 8 am EST | 8 pm ICT Registration: bit.ly/4gTghBq Speakers: Akarachai Chaimaneekarakate (TLHR) Akanit Tadi (Freedom Bridge ) Frank Munger (NYLS)

#Thailand: Prosecution of activists and transnational repression persist as the government takes its place on the UN Human Rights Council. The country is currently on our #civicspace Watch List More here: web.civicus.org/ThailandFeb2...

#Malaysia: Extremely worrying that #humanrights defenders Sevan Doraisamy & Azura Nasron from SUARAM are going to be charged under s5 of Protected Areas and Protected Places Act. This is a clear form of judicial harassment to stifle their activism t.co/IERfyI3aew

CIVICUS joined 11 human rights organisations in a joint letter urging the EU to take action on human rights concerns in #India, ahead of the College of Commissioners visit. This includes the crackdown on peaceful dissent, press freedom & civil society www.civicus.org/index.php/me...

#Australia: CIVICUS speaks with Brenna McNeil the coordinator of Melbourne Activist Legal Support (MALS), about increasing restrictions on the right to protest as states introduce increasingly restrictive legislation & police adopt more aggressive tactics lens.civicus.org/interview/at...

In an interview with CIVICUS, CFU’s Executive Director Rushan Abbas highlighted the urgent need to protect #Uyghur refugees in Thailand and facilitate their safe resettlement. The world cannot stay silent as China expands its transnational repression. lens.civicus.org/interview/th...

#Myanmar: Four years since the coup, the junta continues its deadly attacks on civilians & systematic repression of activists. We call on #ASEAN to end its complicity with the junta, take serious steps to restore democracy & act to ensure accountability 🔗 web.civicus.org/EndComplicit...