Throughout the week of April 25, 2016, World Movement for Democracy participants engaged in CIVICUS’ International Civil Society Week (ICSW) in Bogota, Columbia.  In partnership with the Latin American and Carribean Network for Democracy (REDLAD), the World Movement organized a series of activities to convene activists and citizens around issues of closing civic space and political prisoners.

The Civic Space Initiative partners, including the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) Article 19, CIVICUS, and the World movement, organized a session on the global right to protest, in which activists learned about international norms on the global right to protest and how to apply those norms in advocacy at the national and local level. The World Movement also screened its CSI Faces of Civil Society video series for ICSW participants and the general public in Bogota. The videos highlight the positive work of civil society and provide activists with helpful lessons they can apply to their challenges. After discussing the films and distributing DVDs, many individuals plan to show the films in their own communities.

Over 50 civil society participants joined the World Movement for Democracy to discuss the theme “Art to Action.” In the session, activists collaborated to review and build upon strategies that civil society can adopt to engage artists and use art (i.e. music, photography, video, sculpture, paint, dance, etc.) to create change. The panel, which was introduced by Gina Romero of REDLAD, consisted of Taimur Rahman of Laal, Micaela Hierro of Juventud LAC, and #SetThemFree Campaign Ambassador Margaret Rose. Following up on the workshop titled “Going Beyond the Usual Suspects” held during the Eighth Global Assembly in Seoul, Korea in November 2015, the panel began with an overview of art’s value as a way to challenge social norms. The panel then shared their perspectives on what civil society needs from artists, the selection of artists, and the need to integrate art into a broader strategy to achieve action. Participants from many countries shared successes and challenges in using art in activism on issues such as social security, marginalization, and freedom of speech. Many participants have since followed up to continue strategizing and determining ways to use art and to advance the #SetThemFree campaign.

A number of activities were held for the #SetThemFree Campaign. The musicians working with the World Movement joined with Columbian artists Pablo Belalcazar, Alex Arce, Sebastián Valencia, and the band Contrastes to perform a public concert in Bogota. Around 100 people attended the concert. The musicians played songs addressing social issues, including the #SetThemFree campaign songs. Margaret Rose and Taimur Rahman also performed their songs for the CIVICUS World Assembly.

Please find pictures from the activities here.