By Sarah Strack
JOHANNESBURG, Jan 31 2025 – Across the world, civil society faces increasing pressure—from restrictive laws on civil society operations to digital surveillance, funding restrictions, and direct attacks on human rights defenders. In response, a global civil society coalition is stepping up. The newly launched European Union System for an Enabling Environment for Civil Society (EU SEE) spans 86 countries, equipping civil society actors, governments and other stakeholders with the data, tools, and resources needed to anticipate and respond in real time to shifts in the enabling environment—ensuring that civil society can thrive, freely express itself, and actively shape its context.

From Paraguay to Uganda, Indonesia to Botswana and Pakistan, the latest reports from civil society organisations paint a sobering picture of deteriorating operational environment and growing restrictions.

• In Paraguay, new legislation imposes excessive bureaucratic hurdles on CSOs, while 78% of citizens feel unrepresented in parliament and 84% believe elections are fraudulent.
• In Uganda, ahead of the 2026 elections, journalists and activists face increasing state repression, with the government using digital surveillance laws to stifle dissent.
• In Pakistan, authorities have blocked access to independent media, used the military court system to sentence 60 civilians, and restricted funding for NGOs deemed critical of the government.
• In Indonesia, anti-NGO rhetoric is rising, restrictive funding laws limit CSO resources, and police continue to suppress public protests.
• In Botswana, despite constitutional guarantees of free expression, civil society actors advocating for democratic reforms face harassment, and restrictive assembly laws limit peaceful protests.
• In Pakistan the not-for-profit status of NGOs has been withdrawn and now every income of NGOs even under grants from global charities is taxable unless the NGO applies for tax exemption and gets it approved every year. This process has opened new ways of corruption for Federal Bureau of Revenue Authorities. Local and national charities are also facing immense challenges to open their bank accounts. One of the Bank Manager in Balochistan province of Pakistan said “NGO Bank accounts are punishment for us”.

“Pakistani NGOs face immense challenges, not only from state-led systemic and structural barriers but also from social and cultural norms. We are constantly walking a double-edged sword to fight for our fundamental freedoms,” says Zia ur Rehman, Chair of the Pakistan Development Alliance, which is enhancing the Pakistan Civic Space Monitor through the EU SEE initiative.

This is a moment of reckoning for civil society. We cannot afford to wait for the grip to be tightened on civic freedoms and civil society’s environment. As we face multiple challenges and common struggles, no single organisation or sector can confront these issues alone. Now is the time to come together and build a diverse global coalition of defenders for civil society—a “united front” that harnesses data, innovation, and collaboration to protect and sustain an enabling environment for civil society worldwide.

As Intan Kusuma of the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (Infid) explains, “In many countries, the escalating issue of shrinking space for civil society organisations has arisen. EU SEE will be assisting civil society in both preventing and proactively addressing legal and policy changes that might affect civil society operations. This effort will include a series of actions, such as national-level monitoring, which will generate early warnings to provide timely support to those in need.”

Yet generating data alone is not enough—collective influence, and support from policymakers, donors, and the public are also needed to turn these insights into meaningful change.

Creating an enabling environment for civil society involves shifting laws, social attitudes, and resources that not only protect fundamental freedoms but actively facilitate civil society’s ability to operate effectively and sustainably. Within such an environment, civil society can engage in political and public life without fear of reprisals, openly express its views, and actively participate in shaping its context.

Country-specific insights on these dimensions can drive evidence-based advocacy, shape policy discussions, support civil society organisations refine their strategies, access flexible financial support mechanisms, and build solidarity networks at national, regional, and global levels.

“A vibrant and free civil society provides the very foundation from which we can address the world’s most pressing challenges,” says Mandeep Tiwana, interim co-Secretary General at CIVICUS. “Civil society is the heartbeat of democracy, the voice of the marginalised, and the catalyst for social justice. We must defend it with unwavering resolve.”

Policymakers, too, must rise to the challenge. The data and trends highlighted by monitoring systems like EU SEE serve as a springboard for governments to enact policies that protect and nurture civil society. This means committing to international frameworks that uphold freedom of expression, halting internet shutdowns, fight disinformation campaigns, surveillance abuses, and ultimately build accountability and support action.

International institutions and donors must align their funding and diplomatic efforts with the pressing needs identified by civil society monitoring initiatives. Funders must prioritise flexible, long-term support for civil society, ensuring organisations have the resources to resist crackdowns.

At the same time data and follow-up actions can be used by the media to uncover patterns of repression, highlight emerging threats and opportunities, and keep the microphone on at national and global levels – bringing these issues to the forefront of public discourse.

For those believing in the power of civil society, the choice before us is clear: either stand by as enabling environments deteriorate—whether in your own country or elsewhere—or take collective action. By leveraging data and closely examining global trends, let’s act together to push back against repression and build a world where civil society not only survives but thrives.

The EU System for an Enabling Environment for Civil Society (EU SEE) is a consortium of international organisations and Network Members. The civil society organisations that form this global partnership have a wealth of experience monitoring, protecting and strengthening the conditions that enable civil society to thrive. The initiative is implemented by: CIVICUS, Democracy Reporting International, European Partnership for Democracy, Forus, Hivos and Transparency International.

IPS UN Bureau

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Excerpt:

Sarah Strack is Forus Director

By James E. Jennings
ATLANTA, USA, Jan 31 2025 – Either the new US President, Mr. Trump, is ignorant of international law or thinks he’s so brilliant that he doesn’t care about it. Either way, he seems to have stumbled into proposing an extension of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s clearly documented crime of genocide by suggesting that somebody “clear out” the people in Gaza, in effect advocating the ethnic cleansing of the territory.

Ethnic cleansing violates international humanitarian law. It is a crime against humanity and constitutes a war crime. It is also listed as part of the supreme international crime of genocide. Population transfers such as “Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group” is one of the elements defining genocide.

The UN adopted the Genocide Convention 1948 and it went into effect in 1951. Among the punishable offenses are “acts committed with intent to destroy in whole or in part a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.”

Crimes punishable under the convention include “Conspiracy to commit genocide,” “Public advocacy to commit genocide“ and “attempt to commit genocide.” You don’t actually have to kill someone yourself, or directly order someone to do it.

On a plain reading of the convention, by publicly advocating that 1.5 million Palestinians should be transferred to Jordan or Egypt, Trump has already crossed the line of advocacy. If forcible transfers should actually happen, he is prima facie complicit.

Egyptian President al-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah both announced opposition to the idea of sending the Palestinians to their territory. The King said that Jordan would not participate in such a plan, and President al-Sisi proclaimed that Egypt would not be part of an “unjust” solution.

They might have said, “Don’t you realize, you idiot, that you are advocating one of the key elements of genocide—transferring people, especially children. from one group to another group?”

According to the Genocide Convention, “conspiring to commit” genocide and “publicly advocating” genocide are equally punishable under international law as the crime itself. Genocide, which involves proving intent, is a high threshold to meet in court, but ethnic cleansing requires only that the crime be documented as having happened.

Mr. Netanyahu, who can only be pleased that the supposedly most powerful person in the world is doing his bidding, is already under indictment for war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, which has now issued arrest warrants for him.

Why doesn’t somebody just ask the Palestinians if they want to leave and where they want to go? Most have proclaimed for more than 75 years that they want to go back to their original homes in Palestine (now Southern Israel) that they were forced out of by Israeli troops in 1948.

If not that, most have said they want to rebuild Gaza and stay there, as difficult and nearly impossible as that prospect is. Gazans have pride in their heritage and homeland, and are firm in their belief in sumud in Arabic—“steadfastness.” They refuse to give up the dream of a national homeland of their own in Palestine.

The reality of what they face in a 90% destroyed environment is daunting in the extreme. Humanitarian aid is urgently needed, and will be for the foreseeable future. However, every person has the right to make choices about where they want to live.

No would-be dictator like America’s chief executive can decide their future for them.

James E. Jennings PhD is President of Conscience International and a longtime advocate for Palestinian Human and Civil Rights.

IPS UN Bureau

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The United Nations declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation to promote awareness about the role of glaciers, snow and ice. The climate system and global hydrological cycle are dependent on accumulated water in solid form as glaciers, snow and ice. Because of the global temperature rise and its impact on the Earth’s […]

By Oritro Karim
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 30 2025 – On January 19, Israel and Hamas implemented a three-phase ceasefire agreement that seeks to end the war between Israel and Palestine, facilitate the exchange of prisoners and hostages between the two nations, and begin a period of reconstruction in the Gaza Strip. Since the ceasefire took effect, humanitarian organizations have struggled to assist hordes of displaced Palestinians as they made their treacherous returns back home. Insecurity has reached new peaks as Gazans struggle to cope with inadequate levels of humanitarian aid and the dangers of unexploded ordnance. Furthermore, the Israeli Knesset’s ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) is set to greatly exacerbate living conditions and access to aid.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) released a situational report on January 28 that detailed the current conditions in Gaza. It is estimated that since the ceasefire took effect, approximately 376,000 displaced people have safely returned to northern Gaza. Additionally, as of January 27, Israeli forces have evacuated the Netzarim corridor, which served as their main zone of occupation during the war.

The flow of humanitarian aid has significantly improved since the implementation of the ceasefire. Improved access conditions have allowed aid personnel to reach struggling Gazans and provide larger quantities of life-saving supplies. In a social media post shared to X (formerly known as Twitter), Corinne Fleischer, the World Food Programme’s (WFP) Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe, stated that from January 20-24, the WFP had delivered more food to Gaza than in all of December 2024. WFP has also facilitated the operations of over 13 bakeries in Gaza, which were on the verge of shutting down in late December. These bakeries are now able to continue distributing free bread to civilians.

Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) delivered 70,000 litres of fuel to Gaza City, enabling 20 partially functional health facilities and ambulances to continue services. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) have facilitated the operation of multiple sewage pumps and water wells in northern Gaza. This is expected to provide immense relief following the complete collapse of water and sanitation systems in northern Gaza last year.

The UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) also indicated that they have delivered nearly three million liters of fuel in Gaza, stating that the current supply of humanitarian aid delivered to the enclave marks a “ten-fold increase” from the deliveries pre-ceasefire. UNRWA has reported that they have supplied approximately 550,000 people with food parcels in the past few days, in addition to 370 pallets of essential medications. UNRWA-supported health facilities in Deir al-Balah, Nuseirat, and Al Mawasi and the Beach Health Centre in Gaza governorate have also resumed operations.

A key priority for humanitarian organizations has been the clearance of remnants from the war, including unexploded ordnance and rubble, which pose significant risks to the civilians of Gaza. According to a preliminary assessment from UN-Habitat and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), there are approximately 50,773,496 tonnes of debris in Gaza, which is 17 times more than the sum of debris generated by armed conflict in the enclave since 2008. On average, there are roughly 65 kilograms of debris for each square kilometre. UNEP also estimates that clearance efforts will take 20 years and cost nearly 909 million dollars.

“The level of destruction in the Gaza Strip is without precedent. We are dealing literally with a situation where most Gazans will return to either a heavily damaged building they cannot move back into or simply a pile of rubble … But that rubble is still dangerous. Not only are there potentially bodies that have never been evacuated from there, there are also unexploded ordnance, landmines. It’s a highly toxic environment,” said Achim Steiner, the chief of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

On January 30, the Israeli Knesset’s ban on UNRWA is set to come into effect. The ban would prevent the agency from entering any access points in Gaza and the West Bank, which would essentially impede any relief missions conducted by the agency. UNRWA has been on the frontlines of this humanitarian crisis since the 1948 Palestinian War. The agency has provided over 300,000 Palestinian children with free primary or secondary education and 1.2 million Gazans with access to healthcare services. Overall, UNRWA has been the biggest provider of humanitarian services in Gaza.

“The ban would cripple the humanitarian response in Gaza and deprive millions of Palestine refugees of essential services in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. They would also eliminate a vocal witness to the countless horrors and injustices Palestinians have endured for decades,” said Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of UNRWA. Lazzarini added that the ban on UNRWA will “undermine” the ceasefire and “sabotage Gaza’s recovery and political transition”.

IPS UN Bureau Report

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By Frederic Mousseau
OAKLAND, California, USA, Jan 30 2025 – The fresh offensive by the M23 rebels and Rwanda forces in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) coincides with the first anniversary of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the European Union (EU) and Rwanda to cooperate on the supply of “critical minerals.”

The agreement could not be more appalling given its total disregard of Rwanda’s role in driving the violent conflict raging in Eastern DRC for the last thirty years, either directly through its own forces, or by supporting armed groups to fight on its behalf. The consequence has been deaths of millions, along with massive displacement and immense suffering for the Congolese.

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda justifies the war, citing concerns for peace and security for the Tutsi ethnic group, target of the 1994 genocide. It is, however, Rwanda’s illicit extraction of eastern Congo’s highly lucrative minerals including gold and the world’s largest reserves of cobalt (used in batteries) and coltan (used in modern technological devices), that is fueling this devastation.

Rwanda’s support of the rebel group M23 has allowed it to take over much of eastern Congo, capture many mines, and perpetrate massacres and egregious human rights abuses.

Internally displaced persons (IDP) in the camp in Roe, in the territory of Djugu, February 2022. Credit: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

While it is wrong and immoral for the EU to strike a deal with a country responsible for so much suffering, the very terms of the February 2024 agreement make it worse as they overlook the role of Rwanda in illicit extraction.

Over the past decade, Rwanda has exported far higher quantities of coltan than its own mines produce. It is estimated that up to 90 percent of Rwanda’s coltan exports are illegally sourced from eastern DRC, through what the NGO Global Witness has dubbed as a massive “laundromat.”

Yet, the European bureaucrats who worded the agreement stated that “[Rwanda] is a major player on the world’s tantalum extraction. It also produces tin, tungsten, gold and niobium, and has potential for lithium and rare earth elements.

In addition, Rwanda with its favorable investment climate and rule of law can become a hub for value addition in the mineral sector. One gold refinery already exists, while a tantalum refinery will soon be operational.”

The EU – like the US – has legislation in place that is supposed to prevent the use of conflict minerals from DRC but the MOU’s more than favorable terms to describe Rwanda and its business climate suggest a deliberate choice not to enforce European laws despite the country’s well documented egregious records.

Losing hope with Western regulators, last month, DRC filed criminal complaints against subsidiaries of Apple in France and Belgium, accusing the tech firm of using conflict minerals in its supply chain. Lawyers for the DRC government claim that Apple is responsible for “covering up war crimes and the laundering of tainted minerals, handling stolen goods, and carrying out deceptive commercial practices to assure consumers supply chains are clean.”

This complaint speaks to the blatant failure of the traceability schemes that have supposedly been put in place to address the issue of “conflict minerals.” Since 2010, the International Tin Supply Chain Initiative is supposed to ensure upstream traceability in the African Great Lakes Region. It operates at over 2,000 mines and has been endorsed by the Responsible Minerals Initiative and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Unfortunately, instead of restricting the entry of conflict minerals into global supply chains, the scheme has been used to illegally launder conflict-minerals from DRC or smuggled into neighboring countries. This has allowed illegally tagged minerals to ultimately end up in the products of brands such as Apple, Intel, Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, and Tesla.

The horrors unleashed due to conflict minerals in Eastern DRC are well known to governments, corporations and their shareholders. For years, the United Nations has sounded the alarm over Rwanda’s continued assistance to the M23, documenting the direct involvement of its armed forces in the conflict and the supply of weapons and ammunitions to the rebels.

Yet, Western countries remain long-time supporters. From 2001 to 2022, the US alone provided over US$3.9 billion in economic aid to Rwanda and waited until October 2023 to place Rwanda on a blacklist for military aid for violating the Child Soldiers Prevention Act due to Rwandan support for M23, which recruits child soldiers.

The UK has been hesitant to criticize Rwanda, let alone cut off military aid, as it was negotiating a migrant deportation pact with the country. While France and the EU have publicly denounced Rwanda, neither have cut off military aid, and continue cooperation as demonstrated by the critical minerals deal.

In a March 2023 press conference with President Tshisekedi, when asked if France would pursue sanctions against Rwanda, President Macron’s response blamed the Congolese government for country’s instability.

In addition to the violence, the on-going war and exploitation of DRC’s mineral resources has a dire impact on the country’s economy, draining its financial resources and preventing revenue from mineral extraction to reach its coffers. Poverty and hunger are widespread whereas access to basic services such as health and education are greatly underfunded.

The situation of countries not benefiting economically from their own natural resources has been labelled as a “resource curse.” However, looking at the forces driving and profiteering from the exploitation and violence, it is not the curse but rather the greed and cynical attitude of governments and corporate actors that is responsible.

On January 25, 2025, the EU said that “Rwanda must cease its support for the M23 and withdraw,” and warned that it “will consider all the tools at its disposal in order to hold accountable those responsible for sustaining armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC.” Sanctions on Rwanda are obviously long overdue.

An easy first step for European countries will be to end the agreement that should have never been signed in the first place. The next step must be enforcement of conflict minerals regulations and laws they have conveniently failed to apply so far.

Frederic Mousseau is Policy Director, The Oakland Institute

IPS UN Bureau

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