Closing civic space
Generating innovative and evidence-based strategies to increase civil society’s sustainability and resilience
The Human Rights Initiative (HRI) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) created an international consortium (iCon) of scholars and experts from around the world to conduct research and develop concrete recommendations on how best to address and push back on closing space around civil society. The ultimate goal of iCon is to develop evidence-based solutions that enhance the resilience and sustainability of civil society and broaden constituencies for human rights.
iCon fills existing gaps in the current response to closing space by exploring legal and non-legal strategies that can and should be used to counter closing space. iCon members conduct research that is not only rigorous and academically informed but also relevant for policymakers. Moreover, this effort incorporates the voices and reflects the experiences of civil society, particularly those human rights and social justice groups that are under pressure.
Advisory Group
Eight well-respected international organizations serve as an Advisory Group to iCon. Members of the Advisory Group play an instrumental role in providing strategic guidance to CSIS on the work of iCon and on the overall direction of research. The Advisory Group also ensures that the research that is generated by iCon is transmitted to key constituencies around the world.
- The Fund for Global Human Rights
- CIVICUS
- The Prague Civil Society Centre
- Conectas Human Rights
- Business and Human Rights Resource Centre
- The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law
- Dejusticia
- PEW Research Center*
- Erin McCarthy, Civil Society Advisor, U.S. Agency for International Development**
- The Centre for Applied Human Rights, University of York
* The Pew Research Center’s role is limited to generating research findings. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. The opinions expressed herein, including any implications for policy, are not attributed to Pew Research Center.
**Erin McCarthy is serving as an individual member of the Advisory Group.
All Closing civic space Content
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Cambodian Civil Society at a Critical Juncture
Report by Lana Baydas and Lauren Mooney — June 19, 2018
Donors' Perspectives on Closing Civic Space
Report by Barbara Smith — June 5, 2018
Counterterrorism Measures and Civil Society
Event — March 22, 2018
Counterterrorism Measures and Civil Society
Report by Lana Baydas and Shannon N. Green — March 22, 2018
Rethinking Civil Society Sustainability
Event — February 20, 2018
Time to Renew the Democracy Playbook
Commentary by Shannon N. Green and Lauren Mooney — January 12, 2018
Freedom of the Press Under Attack
Event — January 10, 2018
Freedom of the Press Under Attack
Podcast Episode by Lana Baydas — January 10, 2018
Opening Up Civic Space through Effective Civil Society and Government Cooperation
Blog Post — January 10, 2018
Civil Society at a Crossroads
Report by Shannon N. Green — October 12, 2017