In October 2016, CSOs introduced two initiatives that will strengthen cross-regional collaboration among global activists. CIVICUS released a new web platform, CIVICUS Monitor, to provide “reliable, and up-to-date data” about the “volatile” conditions that affect global civil society. With an interactive map interface, viewers can easily explore curated, verified information on civic space developments. Many…
The transgender community scored a historic victory last week when the Islamabad High Court granted their writ petition ruling that authorities must add a transgender category to the national census form. Since September 2016, the Trans Action Alliance Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Trans Action KP) has been pushing a writ petition calling for a more inclusive national…
On October 26, 2016, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Board stated that if Azerbaijan’s government fails to amend restrictions on NGOs before next March, their EITI membership will be suspended. The EITI is an initiative that oversees the international “standard for transparency and accountability around countries’ oil, gas and mineral resources.” Azerbaijan’s EITI membership…
Lily Mengesha discusses political prisoners and the human rights situation in Ethiopia with the World Movement for Democracy in an interview. On October 8, 2016, the Ethiopian government declared a six-month state of emergency in response to the anti-government protests throughout the Oromia and Amhara regions of Ethiopia. Journalist Lily Mengesha is one of many…