Civic Space Developments
Friday 12.8.2022 Sierra Leone - Latest Developments -
Authorities declare nationwide curfew amid deadly protests sparked by the rising cost of living
At least a dozen people were killed during protests that erupted in Freetown and other major cities in Sierra Leone on 10th August 2022. The demonstrations, gathering hundreds of people, were sparked by high inflation, the rising cost of basic goods and the perceived failure of the government to cushion the effects of these rising prices. Read more
Wednesday 10.8.2022 Ireland - Latest Developments -
CSOs raise concerns over lack of consultations during parliamentary process
Irish civil society is becoming increasingly alarmed by the government’s abuse of the legislative process in the Irish Parliament. Recent controversies have emerged regarding the adding of extensive last-minute amendments to important legislation, with no time for scrutiny, and the guillotining of debates. For example, in late March 2022, the revised Electoral Reform Bill was published by the Irish parliament. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) was disappointed to note that the recommendations which the organisation fought to have included in the pre-legislative scrutiny report on civil society freedom haven’t been included in the revised Bill. Read more
Wednesday 10.8.2022 Colombia - Latest Developments -
Colombia: human rights defenders and local leaders impacted by violence in rural areas
On 26th July 2022, the UN Human Rights Office published a report on the rising violence in rural areas of Colombia. According to the study, violence fell dramatically after the signing of the Peace Agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 2016, but increased again as non-state armed groups and criminal organisations expanded their presence, particularly over the past two years. Read more
Wednesday 10.8.2022 El Salvador - Latest Developments -
El Salvador: Thousands join LGBTQIA+ Pride March
On 25th June 2022, thousands of people joined the LGBTQIA+ Pride March in San Salvador. A key demand of the demonstration was the approval of a Gender Identity Law that would create an institutionalised mechanism for legal recognition of gender identity for transgender persons. Read more
Wednesday 10.8.2022 Bangladesh - Latest Developments -
Bangladesh authorities intensify persecution of rights group Odhikar, journalists, and critics
In recent months, civic space violations have continued to take place, including the judicial harassment of human rights group Odhikar and their staff as well as ongoing attacks by ruling party youth activists, carried out with impunity. There have been cases of arrests and attacks against journalists, the use of blasphemy charges against teachers, and the seven-year conviction of a student for a social media post critical of the government. Regulations to increase control over the digital space has also been proposed in the government. Read more
Monday 8.8.2022 Iran - Latest Developments -
CSOs report new wave of oppression against human rights defenders and civil society
CHRI reported that there had been an intensification in the Iranian authorities’ crackdown on dissent in the month since the intelligence chief of the Iranian military’s Islamic Revolutionary Corps (IRC) was replaced; Iranian authorities sentenced five prominent human rights defenders to prison for attempting to file a legal complaint against government agencies and officials for mismanagement of the Covid-19 crisis; CSOs draw attention to trend by authorities to repeatedly sentence and imprison women human rights defenders in a revolving prison door that will never let them be free; civil society organisations released a joint statement condemning and calling for the release of LGBTIQ+ activist Zahra Sedighi-Hamadani, known as Sareh, who has been in detention since October 2021 Read more
Monday 8.8.2022 Cuba - Latest Developments -
Cuba: Repercussions of June 2021 mass protests still felt
One year after anti-government protests broke out across Cuba on 11th July 2021, the repercussions of these demonstrations are still being felt. Judicial proceedings against protesters are still ongoing, and civil society organisations report that the supression of civic space has intensified since then. Read more
Thursday 4.8.2022 Samoa - Latest Developments -
Samoan authorities use defamation laws against critics as press freedom rankings drop
In recent months, there have been cases of defamation charges reported, including against the opposition leader, an Australian based Samoan radio station, and a radio presenter. Press freedom rankings for Samoa have dropped as access to state information has become more challenging to obtain. Read more
Wednesday 3.8.2022 Guinea - Latest Developments -
Several killed, injured, arrested in protest against the military junta’s “unilateral management of the transition”
Front National pour la Défence de la Constitution (FNDC), a coalition of political parties, civil society groups and trade unions, called for protests on 28th and 29th July 2022 in Conakry to demand more transparency in Guinea’s transition, as coordinated by the military junta. Protests also called for the establishment of an inclusive framework for dialogue. According to news reports, the military junta deployed the armed forces to maintain public order during the demonstrations, and security forces reportedly used tear gas to disperse protesters, while protesters responded by throwing stones and burning tyres. Some of the protests turned into violent clashes between protesters and security forces, particularly in the neighbourhoods of Bambèto, Sonfonia and on the route Le Prince, and which led to casualties, injuries,and dozens of arrests. Read more | Read in French
Monday 1.8.2022 Canada - Latest Developments -
Canada: The struggle for rights brings people to the streets
On 10th July 2022, hundreds of Sri Lankan Canadians gathered in Mississauga, Ontario to demand that the ruling Sri Lankan government step down. Protesters chanted “Gota, Go Home” in reference to Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his administration. Read more
