CIVICUS published its People Power Under Attack Report 2024, highlighting global and regional threats to civic space. Alarmingly, only 40 out of 198 countries maintain an open civic space rating, while 72.4% of the world’s population lives under repressive conditions, with nearly 30% experiencing completely closed civic spaces. In Europe and Eurasia, civic freedoms face increasing pressures. The far-right gained ground in EU states like Austria and Slovakia, worsening conditions for CSOs and minorities. Hungary escalated its crackdown with anti-CSO laws, and Georgia adopted foreign agent legislation, sparking mass protests met with violence. Serbia saw protests against a lithium mining project quashed by arrests and intimidation. Despite these challenges, Slovenia and Poland demonstrated progress by strengthening government-CSO relations, highlighting how constructive dialogue can lead to meaningful change. The report, highlighting findings from the Western Balkans, was presented at a hybrid event co-organized by BCSDN, Civic Initiatives, and CIVICUS. Read more here.
Source: CIVICUS, Civic Initiatives, BCSDN