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The Report at a Glance
In 2016, the narrative of ‘closing space for civil society’ was thoroughly cemented, with well-documented restrictions and challenges in countries across every region. However, there was not yet a consensus on how the international civil society community could or should respond to those challenges. So in 2016 and 2017 CIVICUS staff and partners conducted interviews with 250 civil society leaders, and held 2 in-person consultations with leaders of regional and international organisations. Interviewees were CIVICUS members, partners and peers who have a global or regional mandate and who were concerned about civic space. The process
was not prescriptive and did not set out with a coalition or formal structure in mind. Rather, participants were asked what was missing from the way that the community was responding, and what they thought the solutions could be.
The three priorities which were identified:
- Information sharing, coordination and joint action.
- The identification, development and incubating of creative approaches.
- Improving public support and action for civil society.