News and updates from BCSDN and the region
From attacks on human rights defenders to limits on civil society’s work, we are facing an emergency on civic space. Many of the current restrictions on civil society are knee-jerk responses, sometimes pre-emptive, to popular mobilizations, a sad and unexpected result of the initial hope of the so-called Arab Spring. Of course, this pattern is
Read more →Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize societies in positive ways. However, as with any scientific or technological advancement, there is a real risk that the use of new tools by states or corporations will have a negative impact on human rights. While AI impacts a plethora of rights, ARTICLE 19 and Privacy International
Read more →A sustained and escalating crackdown curtailed the vital work of human rights defenders in Turkey and left swathes of society in a state of constant fear, a new report from Amnesty International has revealed. The report, Weathering the storm: Defending human rights in Turkey’s climate of fear, reveals how few areas of Turkey’s once vibrant
Read more →A collection of articles produced within the project Raising capacities and advocacy potential towards more substantive involvement of CSOs of the Visegrad countries (V4) and the Western Balkans (WB6). This collection provides insights into challenges of civil society participation in policymaking in three countries of the Visegrad Group (Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia), in the
Read more →Non-profit organizations around the world are impacted by issues of financial access – inordinate delays in cash transfers, onerous due-diligence requirements, inability to open bank accounts and arbitrary closure of bank accounts – collectively classed as ‘de-risking’ activities by financial institutions. This study examines the drivers of this de-risking, situating it at the intersection of
Read more →Collective action on business integrity involves different stakeholder groups including civil society, government and business coming together to effect change, to create a business environment where corruption is no longer accepted and integrity prevails among all actors. This guide is for CSOs, such as Transparency International chapters, that are considering embarking on collective action initiatives
Read more →The Department for Cooperation with Non-Governmental Organizations of the General Secretariat is organizing consultative meetings with the civil society sector regarding its Draft Strategy of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia for Cooperation with and Development of the Civil Sector, including the Action Plan 2018-2020. The consultations will be held in Skopje on April
Read more →The Online Platform for public consultations is a very important, although not the only tool for implementing the minimum standards for public consultations. Functional as of February 2017, this platform has enabled publishing of hundreds of different documents for public consultation. However, it is still halfway to fulfill its goal. The Kosovar Civil Society Foundation
Read more →Civic engagement, including that by CSOs, in governance is the bedrock of democracy. An informed and active citizenry, particularly skilled and engaged CSOs, have the potential power to strengthen public policies, promote the interests of the people, and hold elected officials accountable. CSOs — often in collaboration with government and the international community — have
Read more →In times when the local trends of violations to civic space are in fact global ones, across the world CSOs can do a lot to promote the civic space – from exchanging experiences, showing solidarity and building broad coalitions, to using new technologies and using international leverage. BCSDN developed a paper based on the discussions
Read more →A new CONCORD paper examines civil society at the heart of democracy and sustainable development and looks at the key components of civic space which are necessary to enable an environment where civil society can peruse and express basic rights. Civil society organisations can play an important facilitating role to make the voices of people
Read more →This Toolkit, co-authored by NED’s World Movement for Democracy and ICNL, compiles the experiences of those who have engaged in legal reform initiatives in over dozens countries worldwide and providews tips, tools, and strategies that organizations and activists around the world can consider as they plan their efforts to reform legal frameworks for civil society.
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