Recommendations
To governments:
- • Take measures to foster a safe, respectful and enabling environment in which civil society activists and journalists can operate freely without fear of attacks, harassment, intimidation, or reprisals.
- • Work with civil society to establish effective national protection mechanisms that respond to the needs of those at risk, recognising distinct needs of women, children, LGBTQI+ people, young people and people with disabilities.
- • Repeal legislation that hinders civil society and criminalises HRDs, journalists, protesters and excluded groups.
- • Ensure adequate consultations with civil society before drafting laws impacting freedoms of association, expression and assembly.
- • Carry out impartial, transparent investigations into attacks on HRDs and journalists and ensure accountability.
- • Desist from excessive force against protesters and adopt best practices in line with human rights standards.
- • Update human rights training for police and security forces with assistance from independent CSOs.
- • Establish independent investigations into excessive force by law enforcement agencies and prosecute those responsible.
- • Safeguard freedom of expression and refrain from censoring media; ensure restrictions follow due process.
- • Strengthen legal protections for digital rights.
- • Maintain reliable internet access and cease shutdowns that block essential information.
- • Repeal laws criminalising expression based on vague terms such as disinformation and ‘fake news’.
- • Condemn intimidation and attacks on civil society groups, excluded communities and HRDs.
- • Address misinformation through policies and collaboration with CSOs, independent media and tech platforms.
- • Condemn foreign agents laws and challenge false transparency narratives.
- • Impose sanctions on officials responsible for restrictive legislation against civil society.
- • Ensure national authorities know how to detect and respond to transnational repression.
- • Implement recommendations accepted by states in UN mechanisms and rapporteurs.
- • Invest in effectiveness of regional and national human rights mechanisms.
- • Investigate attacks against climate defenders, Indigenous activists and environmental HRDs.
- • Support anti-corruption work and transparent governance mechanisms.
- • Respect the right to protest, including youth and artists, and ensure accountability for abuses.
- • Respect protest rights in solidarity with Occupied Palestinian Territories and stop repression and vilification.
To the United Nations and international bodies:
- • Provide access for communities and civil society to meaningfully engage in UN decision-making processes and work closely with states to ensure laws, travel restrictions and technologies do not limit access to the UN. Introduce reforms to enable civil society’s participation, starting with the appointment of a UN civil society envoy.
- • Urge states to repeal or substantially amend restrictive legislation that contradicts international standards on freedoms of association, expression and peaceful assembly.
- • Strengthen existing mechanisms and implement new mechanisms to address reprisals against HRDs, particularly attacks against artists, child and youth HRDs, environmental defenders, women HRDs and those mobilising solidarity with Palestinians.
- • Condemn democratic backsliding and human rights abuses and apply consistent diplomatic pressure on states that fail to comply with human rights obligations.
- • Take measures to ensure activists and civil society personnel are not put at risk due to information they provide, and formally call out states that restrict civil society engagement.
- • Create platforms for cooperation on shared concerns, including digital repression, foreign agents laws, and attacks on Indigenous, LGBTQI+ and environmental HRDs, among others.
- • Intensify regional and international cooperation with partners such as independent media and technology companies to counter misinformation and harmful narratives.
- • Support the work of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders against stigmatisation of HRDs, while promoting positive narratives on human rights work.
- • Ensure balance between the UN’s pillars of human rights, peace and sustainable development by evening out budget allocations and expanding civil society roles.
- • Regional human rights mechanisms should ensure accountability, monitoring and redress structures are established to address transnational repression.
To the private sector:
- • Align business policies with international human rights standards, including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and resist being complicit in human rights violations perpetrated by governments.
To donors:
- • Provide long-term, unrestricted and core support for civil society in countries where civic space is rapidly shrinking.
- • Provide specific support to groups conducting advocacy in contexts with escalating civic space restrictions.
- • Adopt participatory approaches to grant-making, including involving human rights organisations in scheme design and conducting assessments with CSOs. Maintain engagement throughout to allow adaptation and reallocation when contexts shift.
- • Prioritise security. In sensitive contexts, balance transparency needs with protection. Where HRDs are criminalised or surveilled, keep identity, location and activities undisclosed when necessary.
- • Support programmes ensuring civil society actors and HRDs have the necessary equipment, training and security resources to work safely.
- • Adapt grant-making modalities to evolving social movements, youth-led organising and other contemporary forms of civic action.