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Civil Society Leaders Lament Rising State Aggression

By Pradeep Baisakh

10 May, 2016
Countercurrents.org

Civil Society representatives from across the globe gathered in the International Civil Society Week (ICSW) in last week of April 2016 and expressed their agony over the shrinking space of the civil society across the globe. About 900 civil society leaders from 109 countries gathered in the Bogota, capital of Colombia as part of the civil society week organized by CIVICUS with an inspiring theme of ‘Active citizens and accountable actions’. The leaders brought out the contrast in state approach toward the civil society. On one hand, the recently adopted ‘Agenda 2030’ and Paris climate deal by the member-states of United Nations called for active involvement of the civil society, on the other a study being undertaken in 101 countries by CIVICUS, a global platform of civil society, suggests aggressive state action by the government and other agencies to curtail the independent voice of the civil society and human rights activists.

However, Ali Zeddini, the Nobel Prize winner for peace from Tunisia, who participated in the civil society week, said that the civil society has a critical role to play in ensuring lasting peace in several countries, especially in the Latin America. “Civil society is the conscience of the people and as such must participate in the defense of our interests,” saidZeddini. Zeddini’s human rights league is part of the four groups in Tunisia, which got the Nobel for peace in 2015 for their crucial role in the peaceful revolution and democratic transition in Tunisia through popularly known movement: Arab Spring. “Tunisia’s example shows that organized civil society can provide education and support to move away from violence and this can inspire other countries. From the political crises in Venezuela and Brazil to the Colombian peace negotiations, civil society must have a role in the whole peace process, before, during and after,” he added.

The gathering happened against the backdrop of a global repressive trend of increased attacks on the people and organisations that defend basic human rights. “Civil society is facing a global crisis”, opined Danny Sriskandarajah, secretary general of CIVICUS. CIVICUS is tracking serious human rights violations in 101 countries, from dictatorships to democracies. Politicians fear dissenting voices. Anti-terrorism measures and the notion of insecurity are being used to shut down citizen action; political and economic inequalities are on the rise. “From activists to social movements, lawyers to media, now more than ever we need civil society to stand together in solidarity against a global tide of government repression,” said Sriskandarajah. Amongst the most brutal examples of repressive acts are the harassment, physical violence and targeted killings of human rights defenders, human rights lawyers and journalists, which continue to increase. In 2015 alone, 156 human rights defenders lost their lives and the murders of Berta Cáceres and her fellow activist Nelson García in Honduras in March highlighted again the on-going crisis.

In Latin America land, environmental, and indigenous rights activists are being specifically targeted as mines, agribusiness and megaprojects such as dams are being pushed through in countries including Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay and Peru.

A leader of civil society in India opined “Things are no better in India. We are facing a crisis time where the role and space for civil society is fast shrinking.”

Several parallel discussions were held in the four-days event of the civil society week. ‘Accountability for implementation of SDGs’ by Amnesty International, ‘Trends of global protest’ by CIVICUS; ‘Towards a global citizens’ movement’ by Global call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), CIVICUS, World Social Forum and World Democratic Forum; ‘Building a movement to fight inequality’ by ActionAid International are some to cite.

Nelson Mandela-Gracal Machel innovation award was given, as part of the week, to Smriti Nagpal of Atulyakala foundation from India and Ms. Tabassum Adnan of Khwendo Jirgafrom Pakistan on individual category. Smriti got it for running a social enterprise to promote act and paintings of the people with hearing and speaking dsability’ and providing an opportunity to love a life of dignity. MsTabassum got the award for valiantly fighting to protect women from societal violence in a patriarchal society. Two organisations also begged the award in ‘organisation category’.

The author is a freelance journalist based in New Delhi. He can be reached through e mail: [email protected]





 



 

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