Kyrgyzstani Parliament Adopts Restrictive Amendments to NGO Law Introduction In a concerning move, the Kyrgyzstani parliament has adopted amendments to a law that would severely restrict freedom of association and hinder the work of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the country. Amnesty International’s Central Asia Researcher, Maisy Weicherding, has expressed disappointment […]
Tag: civilsociety
Tunisia’s Proposed NGO Law: A Threat to Civil Society and Democracy
Tunisian Lawmakers Must Reject Highly Restrictive NGO Law, Warns Amnesty International Amnesty International has called on Tunisian lawmakers to reject a proposed NGO law, fearing that if passed it would severely curtail the activities of independent civil society organizations in the country. The draft law, which seeks to replace the […]
Kyrgyzstan’s Controversial Draft Law: Suppressing Civil Society?
Kyrgyzstan‘s Parliament Considering Draft Law to Curb Civil Society On Tuesday, Kyrgyzstan‘s parliament will hold the first reading of a highly repressive draft law that aims to interfere with the activities of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) receiving funding from abroad. If adopted, this bill would have a chilling effect on Kyrgyzstan‘s […]
An Ode to Osman Kavala: Council of Europe Prize Shines Light on a Lingering Injustice
Political Persecution and Injustice: The Case of Osman Kavala Introduction The recent awarding of the 2023 Václav Havel Prize to Osman Kavala, a Turkish prisoner of conscience, by the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly highlights the ongoing travesty of justice and political persecution in Turkey. While this recognition is a […]
India: Using Terrorism Financing Watchdog Recommendations to Suppress Civil Society
New Report Exposes India‘s Abuse of FATF Recommendations to Target Civil Society Groups Introduction Amnesty International, in a recently released briefing titled “Weaponizing counter-terrorism: India’s exploitation of terrorism financing assessments to target civil society,” highlights how the Indian authorities have been using the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force […]
UAE’s Crackdown on Civil Society: Implications for COP28
Marking a Decade: UAE‘s Mass Trial and the Call for Prisoner Release Introduction As the United Arab Emirates (UAE) prepares to host the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Heba Morayef, […]
Kyrgyzstan’s Suppression of Freedom of Association: An Urgent Call for Change
The Threat to Civil Society in Kyrgyzstan: Amendments Restricting Freedom of Association Introduction In a controversial move, the parliament of Kyrgyzstan is set to vote on amendments to its laws that further restrict freedom of association, particularly targeting the work of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). These amendments, if passed, will have […]
Kyrgyzstan’s Proposed Law Endangers Civil Society
Kyrgyzstan‘s draft law on “Foreign Representatives,” which requires non-governmental organizations that receive foreign funding and engage in political activity to register with the Justice Ministry as “foreign representatives,” has been highly criticized by civil society advocates and legal experts for enforcing repressive laws that curtail freedom of expression and association. […]
Saudi Authorities Must Uphold Civil Society’s Vision for Respect and Rights
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International recently issued a statement calling on Saudi Arabia to respect civil society organizations, activists, and dissidents who are advocating for human rights and demanding a future for their country that prioritizes those rights. The call comes in the wake of a public event organized […]
Saudi Arabia Under Pressure to Respect Civil Society Vision
Human Rights Defenders in Saudi Arabia Call for Reform Civil Society’s Right to Voice Their Vision for Reform Saudi Arabian human rights defenders, activists, and dissidents have come together to create a roadmap titled “A People’s Vision for Reform in Saudi Arabia.” This vision outlines a future for the country […]