It is with great pleasure and pride that we announce today that ActionAid, a global justice federation, with a strong presence in 45 countries across Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe, is taking over the facilitation role of the Civic Charter from the International Civil Society Centre effective from 01 July 2019

In the three years since its launch, the Civic Charter has grown from a declaration into a tool for advocacy and campaigning, and into a community of social justice activists, who support each other in their respective struggles through solidarity and shared learning. The International Civil Society Centre has been serving this community as a facilitator, bringing activists together online and offline, offering learning and exchange opportunities, and connecting respective campaigns to strengthen our global movement for people’s participation.

In 2018, the Centre critically examined its own role and found that the Civic Charter community would be better served by an organization with a strong network of grassroots infrastructure and connections. The Centre consequently approached ActionAid, which had been closely involved with the Civic Charter since its development. Arthur Larok, formerly ActionAid Uganda Country Director, now Federation Development Director, was a member of the Steering Committee during the development of the Civic Charter and has first-hand experience of using the Civic Charter.

Arthur describes ActionAid’s task at hand to “deepen the Civic Charter’s rootedness locally while strengthening its global appeal and connection.”

“ActionAid is well placed to unleash the full potential of the Civic Charter and its community in strengthening our global struggle for people power and participation,” believes outgoing Civic Charter Project Manager, Miriam Niehaus. The Centre’s Executive Director, Wolfgang Jamann, adds that “Launching the Civic Charter and developing its community has been an exciting journey for the Centre, and we are looking forward to remaining a strong future partner.”

ActionAid Secretary General Adriano Campolina concludes: “We are humbled and excited to take on the role to serve this community of activists. We look forward to further strengthening this important community to advance our collective struggle to extend the boundaries of civic space and people’s participation.”

The Civic Charter on Social Media!
The Civic Charter has a new Twitter Channel. Please follow @CivicCharter! This account will be managed by ActionAid. Please tweet at and about us to help raise our following. This will be the channel through which we can also give visibility to your struggles and campaigns.
Join the Civic Charter Facebook group and invite your activist peers to join as well.

ActionAid prend en charge la facilitation de la Charte civique.

C’est avec grand plaisir et fierté que nous annonçons aujourd’hui qu’ActionAid, une fédération mondiale de la justice, lequel a une forte présence dans 45 pays d’Afrique, d’Asie, des Amériques et d’Europe, prend en charge le rôle de facilitateur de la Charte civique de l’International Civil Society Centre. Cette transition entra en vigueur le 1^er juillet 2019.

Trois ans après son lancement, la Charte civique est passée d’une déclaration à un outil de plaidoyer et de campagne, et à une communauté de militants pour la justice sociale, qui se soutiennent mutuellement dans leurs luttes respectives par la solidarité et l’apprentissage partagé. The International Civil Society Centre a servi cette communauté en tant que facilitateur, réunissant des activistes en ligne et hors ligne, offrant des opportunités d’apprentissage et d’échange et reliant les campagnes respectives pour renforcer notre mouvement mondial de participation populaire.

En 2018, le Centre a fait un examen critique de son propre rôle et a conclu que la communauté de la Charte civique serait mieux servie par une organisation avec un réseau de connexions et d’infrastructures locales. Le Centre, par conséquent, a fait appel à ActionAid, qui avait été en étroite collaboration avec la Charte civique depuis son élaboration. Arthur Larok, anciennement Directeur de ActionAid en Ouganda, maintenant Directeur du développement de la Fédération, était membre du Comité de pilotage lors de l’élaboration de la Charte civique et possède une expérience directe de son utilisation.

Arthur décrit la tâche à accomplir d’ActionAid « d’approfondir l’enracinement de la Charte civique tout en renforçant son attrait et son lien avec le monde entier. »

« ActionAid est bien placée pour libérer tout le potentiel de la Charte civique et de sa communauté pour renforcer notre lutte mondiale pour le pouvoir des peuples et leur participation, » estime Miriam Niehaus, chef de projet pour la Charte civique. Le directeur général du Centre, Wolfgang Jamann, a ajouté que « le lancement de la Charte Civique et le développement de sa communauté ont été un voyage passionnant pour le Centre et nous sommes impatients de rester un partenaire solide pour l’avenir. »

Le secrétaire général d’ActionAid, Adriano Campolina, conclut : « nous sommes honorés et excités de jouer ce rôle et de servir cette communauté de militants. Nous sommes impatients de renforcer encore cette communauté important afin de faire progresser notre lutte collective pour repousser les limites de l’espace civique et de la participation des personnes. »

La Charte civique sur les médias sociaux!

La Charte civique a un nouveau canal Twitter. Veuillez suivre @CivicCharter! Ce compte sera géré par ActionAid. S’il vous plaît, tweetez sur et à propos de nous pour nous aider à améliorer notre suivi. Ce sera le canal par lequel nous pourrons également donner de la visibilité à vos luttes et à vos campagnes.

Rejoignez le groupe Facebook de la Charte civique et invitez vos pairs activistes à se joindre également.

The heart of these abuses is the retaliation directed toward the workers who decided to bring complaints against the employer to demand compensation for their rights abuses. This business practice clearly will be undermining labour rights protection and access to remedies mechanism for the marginalized communities.

Below are the Observatory press release and links to more material about the case,  feel free to help distribute the information:

https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/thailand-thammakaset-must-end-its-judicial-harassment-of-human-rights

https://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/obsthailande2019web.pdf

https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa39/0420/2019/en/

THE OBSERVATORY – PRESS RELEASE

THAILAND: Thammakaset must end its judicial harassment of human rights defenders

Paris-Geneva, May 23, 2019: Thai company Thammakaset must immediately end all acts of harassment against human rights defenders and workers for exposing labour rights violations at its poultry farm, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (a joint FIDH-OMCT partnership), urges today. The Observatory makes its call on the eve of the start of the trial against human rights defenders (HRDs) Ms. Sutharee Wannasiri, a human rights specialist from Thailand, and Mr. Nan Win, a former worker at the Thammakaset farm, from Myanmar.

In conjunction with its call, the Observatory is releasing a 13-page fact sheet that details the 14 criminal and civil cases filed by Thammakaset against a total of at least 22 defendants, including HRDs, workers, and two reporters, for alleged defamation of the company. Ms. Sutharee and Mr. Nan Win will appear before the Criminal Court of Bangkok for the first hearing of Thammakaset’s criminal defamation complaint against them on May 24, 2019.

“The ongoing attacks by Thammakaset against human rights defenders endanger Thailand’s reputation as a global exporter of food products. The Thai authorities and Thammakaset’s stakeholders must act urgently to ensure that the company immediately withdraws all complaints filed against defenders and workers, and upholds its responsibility to respect human rights,” said FIDH Secretary-General Debbie Stothard.

The Observatory also calls on Thai judicial authorities to dismiss all existing cases filed by Thammakaset against the HRDs and workers for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of opinion and expression and to ensure that no further legal actions against them are pursued.

“Sutharee, Nan Win, and all other individuals who have been targeted by Thammakaset should not be dragged into lengthy, costly, and baseless judicial proceedings. Thai authorities must ensure these individuals are not subjected to Thammakaset’s reprisals for their legitimate human rights work,” said OMCT Secretary General Gerald Staberock.

On April 4, 2018, at the end of its ten-day visit to Thailand, the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Business and Human Rights issued a statement that urged the Thai government to “ensure that defamation cases are not used by businesses as a tool to undermine legitimate rights and freedoms of affected rights holders, [civil society organisations] and HRDs.”

The Observatory also calls on Thailand to immediately amend defamation provisions (Articles 326 and 328) of the Criminal Code and the 2007 Computer Crimes Act in order to bring them into line with international standards.

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) is a partnership created in 1997 by the FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and aims to intervene to prevent or remedy concrete situations of repression against human rights defenders. FIDH and OMCT are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union mechanism for human rights defenders implemented by international civil society.

In May 2019, we hosted a webinar on the wellbeing of activists. We took it as an opportunity to start the conversation about the mental health of activists, but much more still needs to be done to raise awareness and bring this topic to the forefront of our sector.  Therefore, for those interested in furthering their understanding of the subject, please give this report a read!

The study found that organizations have responded poorly and much more needs to be done at all levels—individual, organizational, and field-wide. It addressed: (1) the sources of stress and the harms advocates see as resulting from poor mental health and stress exposure; (2) the challenges to improving well-being; and (3) the positive organizational practices for supporting well-being and building more resilient advocates and organizations.

You can find the full report here, or alternatively, you can read the 6-page summary here.

You can also read the author’s recommendations to funders here.

Below we have examples of pictures you can use to help promote this campaign. Please share them on Twitter, Facebook, and within your own networks. Help us spread the word and keep free voices loud!

In order to share these images, please download them from this post and upload them individually to either Facebook or Twitter.

Sample messaging you can use on Twitter and Facebook:

• Rosa Parks’ defiance towards a system of oppression inspired a movement of freedom. We support all human beings who stand up for not only what is right, but for our own human rights. Join the community of activists fighting every day for justice by signing the #CivicCharter! https://civiccharter.org
• Nelson Mandela’s devotion to democracy and equality challenged the narrative. As human beings, we must join forces to demand a better future. The #CivicCharter defends everyone’s right to participate in shaping society. Transform history together; sign the #CivicCharter today! http://civiccharter.org
• Be a part of the #CivicCharter collective and sign on today! We support all persons who use their voice to protest on behalf of those who cannot use theirs, just like Malala. http://civiccharter.org

You can use any of the below messages to reach out to your networks:

1. Celebrate with us what champions of positive change have achieved and share the #CivicCharter campaign messages. Together with our fellow activists worldwide, we are standing up for our diverse causes – for what is ecologically, socially, and economically just. Sign the Civic Charter and become part of a global community of activists who support each other in solidarity.
2. Join us in enlarging the Civic Charter community by signing the Civic Charter, the Global Framework for People’s Participation and a global community of solidarity. In May 2019 we are celebrating champions of positive change of the past, whose activism inspires us in our struggle for a better future. Share the messages to make sure our voices are louder together!
3. The Civic Charter was designed to help civic rights and human rights be universally recognized and supported. It is important that every person know they have an inherent right in helping shape their society, signing the Civic Charter promotes exactly this message. Our upcoming social media campaign offers an opportunity to increase the scope of our reach– make sure to post, tweet, and share the posts so we can continue to be fearless champions of what is moral and just, and find more recruits along the way!

La Coalition Congolaise pour la Charte Civique a été créée le 16 mars 2017, en République du Congo, à l’initiative de plusieurs organisations impliquées dans la défense des droits humains, développement de la démocratie et la protection de l’environnement.

L’objectif majeur de la coalition est de faire que les populations soient impliquées aux affaires communautaires.

Les acteurs de la coalition sont convaincus que la charte civique est un outil pertinent par lequel on peut engager le peuple à s’impliquer aux affaires d’intérêt locale, départementale (provinciale}, nationales et internationales.

Nous saisissons cette opportunité pour vous présenter notre expérience au cours de ces deux premières années en répondant aux questions suivantes :

Pourquoi une coalition nationale autour de la charte civique ? Qu’est-ce que la coalition fait depuis sa création ?  Quelles sont les ambitions de la coalition au plan national et international ? Quelles sont les difficultés que la coalition rencontre au niveau national et international ? Pour terminer nous formulons une recommandation.

1- Pourquoi une coalition nationale autour de la charte civique ?

La coalition a été créée pour favoriser un rapprochement, une mutualisation des forces impliquées dans la défense des droits humains, les droits et libertés de la société civile, la protection de l’environnement. En effet, dans notre pays, la société civile indépendante est mis à l’écart par des pratiques instituées par des gouvernants : la création d’une société civile bis non indépendante qui bénéficie des faveurs du gouvernement et qui contribue à embellir l’image de la dictature  au Congo, l’institution de restriction de la société civile. Il était devenu nécessaire que la société civile non gouvernementale trouve un cadre d’expression plus large et inclusif avec une grande ouverture sur le plan international pour mettre en place un grand programme d’enracinement des valeurs et principes internationaux qui protège l’homme et la nature en général. La charte civique est pour nous le lieu approprié d’expression et d’exaltation de nos ambitions associatives.

2- Qu’est-ce que la coalition fait depuis sa création ?

En deux ans d’existence, notre coalition a organisé 12 campagnes de sensibilisation, d’information et d’adhésion à la charte civique. Aujourd’hui la coalition pour la charte civique est connue sur le plan national comme une plateforme associative œuvrant pour les droits humains, la démocratie et la protection de l’environnement. En plus de ces campagnes, la coalition a organisé 2 ateliers pour le renforcement des capacités de ces membres et organisée une assemblée générale qui lui a permis de se doter d’un programme et des organes dirigeants.

La coalition assiste ses membres dans l’harmonisation des plans d’action avec la charte civique et le programme de la coalition. Pour créer l’équilibre entre les organisations membres de coalition, la coalition accompagne ses membres dans le déroulement de leurs activités et la recherche des partenaires ainsi que la recherche des financements.

A ce titre, deux organisations viennent de bénéficier de l’assistance de la coalition pour l’obtention des financements. C’est le cas de Espace vert d’Afrique (EVA} et de Initiative Plus qui ont obtenu, respectivement les financements de Urgent action Fund et de la Fondation EBINA, dans les déroulements des activités sont en cours. D’autres associations comme PsysAides, ACDF (Association Congolaise pour le développement de la femme, ACDSR (Association Congolaise pour le droit à la santé de la reproduction} sont dans les processus de signature de contrats.

La coalition est aujourd’hui consultée par des institutions nationales comme Le Conseil National de Dialogue pour contribuer au dialogue politique nationale, le Conseil consultatif des Associations et Organisation non Gouvernementale pour contribuer à l’élaboration du guide de la société civile et le Conseil Economique et Social pour aider à protéger les droits des femmes violées par des pratiques des multinationales d’extraction minière dans les département de la Bouenza.

La coalition vient d’obtenir un partenariat avec le GPPAC pour conduire les activités liées à la résolution pacifique des conflits en République du Congo, avec la collaboration de la Fondation Hirondelle. Actuellement est en discussion avec ICNC pour organiser les formations sur les stratégies non violente des résolutions pacifiques des conflits.

3- Quelles sont les ambitions de la coalition au plan national et international ?

Au niveau national, la coalition veut s’organiser comme une structure de référence pour l’émergence de la société civile et des libertés de lutte contre les antivaleurs. Au niveau international, elle veut participer à l’élaboration à un nouveau cadre de référence pour les droits humains, la démocratie, minorité, et la protection de l’environnement.

4- Quelles sont les difficultés que la coalition rencontre au niveau national et international.

Au niveau national, la coalition rencontre encore quelques incompréhensions en face des autorités administratives et sécuritaires. Sur le plan international, la coalition a encore des difficultés pour bénéficier des financements en tant que plateforme.

La coalition recommande la prise en compte du Français comme langue d’usage à toutes les rencontres internationales de la plateforme Charte Civique.

The Congolese Coalition for the Civic Charter was created on March 16, 2017, in the Republic of Congo, at the initiative of several organizations involved in the defense of human rights, development of democracy and protection of the environment.

The major objective of the coalition is to get people involved in community affairs. Coalition stakeholders are convinced that the Civic Charter is a relevant tool by which we can engage people to get involved in matters of local, departmental (provincial), national and international interest.

We take this opportunity to present our experience during these first two years by answering the following questions: Why a national coalition around the Civic Charter? What has the coalition been doing since its creation? What are the ambitions of the coalition nationally and internationally? What are the difficulties that the coalition encounters at the national and international levels? Finally, we make a recommendation.

1- Why a national coalition around the civic charter?

The coalition was created to promote reconciliation, a pooling of forces involved in the defense of human rights, the rights and freedoms of civil society, and the protection of the environment. Indeed, in our country, independent civil society is sidelined by practices instituted by governors: the creation of a non-independent civil society that enjoys the favor of the government and contributes to the image of dictatorship in the Congo, and the institution of civil society restrictions. It became necessary for civil society to find a broader and more inclusive framework of expression in order to put in place a major program of rooting international values ​​and principles that protects human and nature in general. For us, the Civic Charter is the appropriate tool of expression and exaltation of our associative ambitions. 

2- What has the coalition been doing since its creation?

In its two years of existence, our coalition has organized 12 campaigns based on awareness, information, and adhesion to the Civic Charter. Today, the coalition for the Civic Charter is known nationally as an associative platform working for human rights, democracy, and environmental protection. In addition to these campaigns, the coalition has organized two capacity-building workshops for its members, as well as organizing a general assembly, which enabled it to set up a program and governing bodies.

The coalition assists its members in harmonizing action plans with the Civic Charter and the coalition program. In order to create a balance between the coalition member organizations, the coalition supports its members in the development of their activities, in their search for partners, and in their search for funding. As such, two organizations have just benefited from the assistance of the coalition to obtain funding. This is the case of the African Green Space (EVA) and Initiative Plus, which have received funding from the Urgent Action Fund and the EBINA Foundation, respectively. Other associations such as PsysAides. , ACDF (Congolese Association for the Development of Women, ACDSR (Congolese Association for the Right to Reproductive Health) are in the process of signing contracts.

The coalition is now consulted by national institutions, such as the National Dialogue Council to contribute to the national political dialogue, the Consultative Council of Associations and Non-Governmental Organization to contribute to the development of the civil society guide, and the Economic and Social Council to help protect the rights of women raped by the practices of multinational mining companies in the department of Bouenza. The coalition has just obtained a partnership with the GPPAC to lead activities related to the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the Republic of Congo, with the collaboration of Fondation Hirondelle. Currently, it is in discussion with ICNC to organize training on non-violent strategies of peaceful conflict resolution.

3- What are the ambitions of the coalition nationally and internationally?

At the national level, the coalition wants to organize itself as a reference structure for the emergence of the civil society and the freedom to fight against values contradictory to civil society. At the international level, it wants to participate in the creation of a new frame of reference for human rights, democracy, minority, and the protection of the environment.

4- What are the difficulties that the coalition encounters at the national and international levels?

At the national level, the coalition still faces some misunderstanding by administrative and security authorities. Internationally, the coalition still struggles to benefit from funding as a platform.

The coalition recommends the inclusion of French as a language of use at all international meetings of the Civic Charter platform.

Lets spread the word about this new translation. You can find a copy of it here.

For further readings, especially on how organisations can improve the wellbeing of their advocacy staff, we recommend the following:

From a Culture of Unwellness to Sustainable Advocacy (Summary)

From a culture of Unwellness to Sustainable Adovocacy (Full Paper)

Recommendation to Funders

Your Wellbeing as an Activist

Friday 03 May at 13:00-14:00 CET

Click here to register

This webinar will focus on the tools and resources that activists can employ in order to take care of their own wellbeing. Human rights defenders often find themselves in high-stress working environments, where they are required to focus on the wellbeing of others, and not necessarily themselves. They often suffer from burn-out, post-traumatic stress, and are in need of psychosocial support. As the topic of mental health is finding its way to the forefront of day-to-day discourse, we believe it is the right time to initiate dialogue regarding the topic of wellbeing in our sector, so activists can begin to prioritize their own mental health in order to continue performing the necessary work they do.

Please join us to find out more about the ways you can implement tools that will help you take care of yourself, and to get answers to your wellbeing questions!

“For nothing is fixed, forever and forever and forever, it is not fixed; the earth is always shifting, the light is always changing, the sea does not cease to grind down rock. Generations do not cease to be born and we are responsible to them because we are the only witnesses they have. The sea rises, the light fails, lovers cling to each other, and children cling to us. The moment we cease to hold each other, the sea engulfs us and the light goes out.”

– James Baldwin

In times of despair, remembering past struggles for freedom becomes imperative. Throughout history, we have seen countless men and women fighting tirelessly to uphold human dignity and build a just world for each and every one of us. The stories they told and continue to tell can teach us, among other things, that we don’t have to fight the war waged against our humanity alone. The solidarity formed among activists the world over has always allowed the seeds of hope to grow even in the face of unimaginable difficulties.

In the spirit of solidarity, more than thirty activists from different continents were gathered by the serene Sampran riverside in Thailand from March 4^th to March 6^th to discuss ways in which a coalition to uphold civic rights could be built and strengthened. This meeting was organized by the International Civil Society Centre – an organization dedicated to realizing the spirit of the Civic Charter.

What I found immensely energizing about the meeting was the openness to discussing not only strategies that could be employed in activism, but also the need to rethink and rebuild a politics that would pave the way for genuine and meaningful change. It is noteworthy that all the activists present at the meeting unanimously agreed that intersectionality would be used as an approach to understanding, challenging, and dismantling all forms of oppression.

The meeting also opened up a space for different voices coming from different experiences and realities. Listening to these different voices, particularly those constantly pushed to the margins, was important in understanding the different forms of oppression marginalized communities face. This process also compelled us to recognize our privilege, which would more often than not perpetuate exclusion. Only by truly understanding our privilege, can we center marginalized voices and build more inclusive politics.

The unity among activists over the three days was simply re-enforced, as bi-lateral, tri-lateral, even unilateral plans were developed for after the meeting. Some plans larger in scope, like those establishing a peer-to-peer solidarity network, creating a community-building webinar series, or designing an app for rapid response and reporting on civic space. While other individuals committed to promoting the Civic Charter within their communities, disseminating information to their networks, and finding endorsements for the document.

The collective learning and unlearning that took place throughout the three-day meeting allowed us to rethink the meaning of democracy, as we understand it today. Understanding what democracy truly means, and what it ought to mean enables us to be critical of the uneven political playing field, power hierarchies, and differentials. It allows us to come together and devise strategies urgently needed to dismantle the existing oppressive structures and systems. The Civic Charter community workshop extended a platform to achieve just this. Activists were able to convene, to create a narrative of change, and to put plans in motion.

Rapid-response mechanisms and resources for frontline human rights defenders: ProtectDefenders.eu

Thursday 07 February 2019 at 10:00 – 11:00 CET

Why do we hold this webinar?

You, the Civic Charter Community, have told us that you need to be better prepared when crisis hits. There may be some mechanisms and resources provided by different organisations, but you are not sure what they are or how to access them. In this webinar you will learn about a range of different mechanisms and resources.