Discover and learn from the Solidarity Playbook on cybersecurity
Strengthening cybersecurity
With increased digitalisation (international) civil society organisations – (I)CSOs – have faced an increase in digital threats and cyberattacks carried out by malicious actors interested in financial gains...
Learn MoreIn solidarity with Civil Society in Hungary
On 13 February 2018, the Hungarian government tabled to Parliament a proposed legislative pack of three laws, commonly
referred to as “Stop Soros”. The newly proposed legislation would further restrict Hungarian civil society ability to carry out
their work, by requiring organizations that “support migration” to obtain national security clearance and a government permit
to perform basic functions. The proposed law would also require organizations to pay a tax of 25% of any foreign funding aimed
at “supporting migration”.
Failure to do so, would subject them to steps so serious that they could lead to exorbitant fines, bankruptcy, and the dissolving
of the NGO involved.
These come in a context of already shrinking space for civil society in Hungary and contravene Hungary’s obligations under
international law to protect the right to freedom of association, expression and movement.
We believe the new proposals represent the latest initiative in the Hungarian government’s escalating effort to crackdown on
the legitimate work of civil society groups in Hungary seeking to promote and defend human rights, provide legal and social
services to people in need in the country, and publicly express dissenting opinions in the press and online.
As defenders of rights and freedoms, we want people everywhere to be able to speak out without being attacked, threatened
or jailed. Open debate on matters relating to government policies and practice is necessary in every society, and human rights
defenders should not face criminalization for voicing their sometimes dissenting voices. Countries need to put laws in place
which keep human rights defenders safe from harm, rather than introducing repressive laws that aim to silence those who
speak out.
Human rights defenders defend the rights of people in their own communities and their countries, and in doing so they protect
all of our rights, globally. Human rights defenders are often the last line of defence for a free and just society and undertake
immense personal risks and sacrifices to do their work.
We stand in solidarity with civil society and human rights defenders in Hungary.
They are courageous people, committed to creating a fairer society. Without their courage, the world we live in would be less
fair, less just and less equal.
We are calling on the Hungarian Parliament to reject the proposed laws in their entirety and let the NGOs and defenders
continue their work, instead of defending themselves against such attacks.
Arbitrary arrests of trade unionists in the republic of Congo
Global Participe and the Congolese Coalition for the Civic Charter are concerned about arrests and detention since 16 and 17 February 2018 to the Directorate-General for territorial monitoring (Dgst) young student leaders and their collaborators, including: Anaclet Singou, President of the Free Union of Students of the Faculty of Law arrested on 16/02/2018 and Nelson Apanga President of Movement of Congolese Students and Teachers arrested on 17/02/2018, while other students were forced to hide in order to escape the savage repression and arbitrary arrests in the schools and faculties of Ngouabi University.
Two student unions had called all students at Marien Ngouabi University to a general meeting on 20 February 2018 to discuss issues related to their education and well-being.
Indeed, Ngouabi University suffers from several evils. After the teacher’s strike on the claims of their unpaid salaries, which lasted 8 months, since the academic year in October 2017, first year students have never started school, university restaurants are still closed and school scholarships for 10 months are unpaid.
Global Participe and the Congolese Coalition for the Civic Charter recalls that freedom of association is recognized by the constitution of 25 October 2015, whose preamble ” declares an integral part (…), the fundamental principles proclaimed and guaranteed by:
– the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 10 December 1948;
– the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights of 26 June 1981;
– the Charter of National Unity and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms of 29 May 1991;
Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “every person has the right to form and join trade unions in the defence of his or her interests” Article 20 of the same declaration also states that: “any person entitled to freedom of assembly and
peaceful association”
And Article 9 of the constitution of 25 October states that “the freedom of the human person is inviolable. No one shall be arbitrarily accused, arrested or detained. “As a result, Global Participe and the Congolese Coalition for the Civic Charter call for respect for the
rights and freedoms of student unions and demand the immediate release of arbitrarily arrested students.
For more information:
Contact Ms. Léonie Mabirou, Head of Communication of the Congolese Coalition for the Civic
Charter: + 242 06 464 99 14
Global Participe and the Congolese Coalition for the Civic Charter demand their right to be consulted in new CSO law
Press Release Brazzaville, February 8th 2018. Global Participe and the Congolese Coalition for the Civic Charter informs the national and international community that the Judicial Affairs Commission of the national assembly of the Republic of the Congo is currently revising the law that maintains the advisory council of the civil society and nongovernmental organizations. The right of civil society to be consulted is enshrined in the constitution of the 25th of October 2015, article 238. This revision is being done without consulting with the diverse civil society components and limiting the scope to only two structures: The Congolese Federation of Human Rights Organizations and the National Union of Handicapped Persons. These two actors’ relations with authorities are beyond doubt because of their secular connections with organisations previously related to only one party, the Congolese Party of Work (PCT). The PCT gained the power they have today via the Coup of the 5th of June 1997 and their active participation in the organisation of barely credible and dubious elections which caused an outbreak of violence and arbitrary arrests of opponents and actors of the independent civil society of the Congo.
Global Participe and the Congolese Coalition for the Civic Charter fear that such a law will put in place a repressive organ that restricts the rights and freedoms of civil society organizations in Congo.
Global Participe and the Congolese Coalition for the Civic Charter call for transparency, and the implication of all components on civil society in Congo to be reviewed in the aforementioned law.
Global Participe and the Congolese Coalition for the Civic Charter urge parliamentarian to extend openness and comprehension in such procedures so as to protect the still fledgling democracy of the Republic of the Congo.
Calling upon the republican commitment of governments and parliamentarians of Congo, the Global Participe and the Congolese Coalition for the Civic Charter urge the international community to put pressure on the Congolese parliament in order to allow different actors of civil society to be included in the procedures of consultations underway. This would enable the advisory council of the civil society and of nongovernmental organisations of the Congo to have a judicial frame that allows it to render rights and liberties of the civil society in the Republic of the Congo essential and crucial.
For more information please contact Mrs Lèonie Maribou, communication responsible of the Congolese Coalition for the Civic Charter.
+242064649914
globalparticipe@gmail.com
