Civic Charter – The Global Framework for People’s Participation

Cissy Kagaba, Executive Director Anti-Corruption Coalition of Uganda

Restricting citizens voices and engagement is detrimental to freedom of association and expression. The anti-corruption movement in Uganda fully endorses this Civic Charter as our tool of engagement.

Adriano Campolina, CEO ActionAid International

Shrinking civil and political space across the world is an attack on people and an acknowledgement of the important work we are doing. The Civic Charter is a bold statement and commitment to a sustained struggle for social justice all over the world.

Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director Oxfam International

In a world assailed by huge, multiple threats from poverty, extreme inequality, exclusion, climate change and conflict, we must foster a strong and active citizenry for answers.[more]

Individuals everywhere need safe space to raise their voices and hold their governments, companies and other duty-bearers to account. The Civic Charter is an emphatic statement of how a flourishing civil society should be helping citizens to shape a better future for humanity.

Lysa John, Secretary General, CIVICUS

On every continent, forces seek to undo the advances for human rights we have achieved in our communities. But around the world, we are seeing diverse civic movements emerge despite these odds as individuals and organisations continue to call out injustices and organise for change. [more]

The Civic Charter is an important reminder that we need to do more - much more - to ensure that civil society is protected and supported. The quality of citizenship that future generations will enjoy significantly depends on the actions we take to strengthen civic freedoms today.

Katie Redford, Co-Founder and Director, EarthRights International

Protest matters and protest works. The rights to speak out, criticize and organize collectively are fundamental to communities and activists challenging powerful corporations and institutions. The Civic Charter is an important tool in our collective efforts to shift power from the few to the many to achieve a more just and equitable world.

Joan Chirwa, Journalist and Founder, Free Press Initiative Zambia

Now is the time for more collaboration in protecting the civic space and defending human rights that are being violated all over the world. Several tyrannical governments around the world feel threatened by a free press, freedom of speech and the full exercise of human rights because they are seen as a distraction [more]

to their continued hold on power. But together, we can protect the people's rights and ensure more space for free speech.

Matt Beard, Executive Director, All Out

LGBT+ people around the world are so often on the frontline of the struggle for human rights, citizenship, safety and dignity. The Civic Charter is a rallying call for the freedom and democracy that LGBT+ people need to win these struggles. [more]

It is also an anchor for the intersectional solidarity we need across movements to achieve human rights and a sustainable planet for all.

Laurie Adams, Chief Executive Officer Women for Women International

It’s deeply important to protect civic space and support the Civic Charter so the women we work with can create better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities. [more]

The women we serve through our program are change makers and peace-builders in their communities. They are rebuilding war-torn societies from the ground up, creating dialogue in their communities, and providing economic prosperity to their households.

Rajiv Joshi, Managing Director, The B Team

Business can’t thrive where civil society is threatened. The Civic Charter must be a call to action not just for civil society, but for business leaders around the world, to stand up for freedom of expression, association and assembly. To defend our democracies and end the political capture and crony capitalism that threatens our common future.

Han Hui Hui, Human Rights Activist

I would like to live in a world where people are not afraid to have a child, fall sick, have a home and to retire. Those in power should be humane in their duty to protect the people while respecting fundamental rights to freedom of expression and public assembly.

Maryam al-Khawaja, Special Advisor Gulf Center for Human Rights

Once you see people get shot, beaten in the streets or killed; once you’ve interviewed your first torture victim; you know that you’ll never be able to live your life knowing that you witnessed injustice and didn’t do anything to stop it from happening.[more]

Whether change happens in my generation or the next, I hope we get to a point where we don’t have to be afraid of going to sleep because we worry about what’s going to come the next day. I want to see a world, or at least I want my nieces and nephew to see a world, that is free from hate, free from fear and more importantly, free from helplessness. I want them to live in a world where they feel powerful; where they feel like they matter. Fighting for rights and having vibrant civil society is how we get there, and the Civic Charter is one tool for doing so.

Brett Solomon, Executive Director Access Now

It’s important, in today’s digital age, that we support, strengthen, and diversify online spaces for civil society to represent, defend, and advocate for human rights. [more]

Just as we insist on our rights offline, the rights to freedom of expression, opinion, association and more must now be fought for in the ever expanding and increasingly ubiquitous online world.

Kate Kroeger, Executive Director Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights

The women and trans* human rights defenders we support have been working tirelessly to bring social change to their communities and have been particularly affected by increasing restrictions on civic space. In the context of rising extremism and repression, it is urgent to protect civic space and those who defend it.

Joshua Wong, Secretary General Demosisto

Though we may come from different backgrounds and cultures, and have different political systems and histories, we believe in the same universal principles of human freedom.[more]

In Hong Kong, the struggle to protect the rights to freedom of speech and association, and to be represented by democratically-elected publicly officials continues. I signed the Civic Charter because it unites activists from around the world in the fight to support these principles.

Caroline Harper, CEO Sightsavers

The key theme of the recent Global Goals for Sustainable Development, agreed by the nations of the world in September 2015, was to ‘leave no one behind’. And to reach those furthest behind as a priority.[more]

Sightsavers supports the Civic Charter as it articulates fundamental principles which are required if we are to make a real difference to the lives of those who have previously been left behind, such as people with disabilities – universal responsibility, accountability and participation.

Cissy Kagaba, Executive Director Anti-Corruption Coalition of Uganda

Restricting citizens voices and engagement is detrimental to freedom of association and expression. The anti-corruption movement in Uganda fully endorses this Civic Charter as our tool of engagement.

Adriano Campolina, CEO ActionAid International

Shrinking civil and political space across the world is an attack on people and an acknowledgement of the important work we are doing. The Civic Charter is a bold statement and commitment to a sustained struggle for social justice all over the world.

Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director Oxfam International

In a world assailed by huge, multiple threats from poverty, extreme inequality, exclusion, climate change and conflict, we must foster a strong and active citizenry for answers.[more]

Individuals everywhere need safe space to raise their voices and hold their governments, companies and other duty-bearers to account. The Civic Charter is an emphatic statement of how a flourishing civil society should be helping citizens to shape a better future for humanity.

Lysa John, Secretary General, CIVICUS

On every continent, forces seek to undo the advances for human rights we have achieved in our communities. But around the world, we are seeing diverse civic movements emerge despite these odds as individuals and organisations continue to call out injustices and organise for change. [more]

The Civic Charter is an important reminder that we need to do more - much more - to ensure that civil society is protected and supported. The quality of citizenship that future generations will enjoy significantly depends on the actions we take to strengthen civic freedoms today.

Katie Redford, Co-Founder and Director, EarthRights International

Protest matters and protest works. The rights to speak out, criticize and organize collectively are fundamental to communities and activists challenging powerful corporations and institutions. The Civic Charter is an important tool in our collective efforts to shift power from the few to the many to achieve a more just and equitable world.

Joan Chirwa, Journalist and Founder, Free Press Initiative Zambia

Now is the time for more collaboration in protecting the civic space and defending human rights that are being violated all over the world. Several tyrannical governments around the world feel threatened by a free press, freedom of speech and the full exercise of human rights because they are seen as a distraction [more]

to their continued hold on power. But together, we can protect the people's rights and ensure more space for free speech.

Matt Beard, Executive Director, All Out

LGBT+ people around the world are so often on the frontline of the struggle for human rights, citizenship, safety and dignity. The Civic Charter is a rallying call for the freedom and democracy that LGBT+ people need to win these struggles. [more]

It is also an anchor for the intersectional solidarity we need across movements to achieve human rights and a sustainable planet for all.

Laurie Adams, Chief Executive Officer Women for Women International

It’s deeply important to protect civic space and support the Civic Charter so the women we work with can create better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities. [more]

The women we serve through our program are change makers and peace-builders in their communities. They are rebuilding war-torn societies from the ground up, creating dialogue in their communities, and providing economic prosperity to their households.

Rajiv Joshi, Managing Director, The B Team

Business can’t thrive where civil society is threatened. The Civic Charter must be a call to action not just for civil society, but for business leaders around the world, to stand up for freedom of expression, association and assembly. To defend our democracies and end the political capture and crony capitalism that threatens our common future.

Han Hui Hui, Human Rights Activist

I would like to live in a world where people are not afraid to have a child, fall sick, have a home and to retire. Those in power should be humane in their duty to protect the people while respecting fundamental rights to freedom of expression and public assembly.

Maryam al-Khawaja, Special Advisor Gulf Center for Human Rights

Once you see people get shot, beaten in the streets or killed; once you’ve interviewed your first torture victim; you know that you’ll never be able to live your life knowing that you witnessed injustice and didn’t do anything to stop it from happening.[more]

Whether change happens in my generation or the next, I hope we get to a point where we don’t have to be afraid of going to sleep because we worry about what’s going to come the next day. I want to see a world, or at least I want my nieces and nephew to see a world, that is free from hate, free from fear and more importantly, free from helplessness. I want them to live in a world where they feel powerful; where they feel like they matter. Fighting for rights and having vibrant civil society is how we get there, and the Civic Charter is one tool for doing so.

Brett Solomon, Executive Director Access Now

It’s important, in today’s digital age, that we support, strengthen, and diversify online spaces for civil society to represent, defend, and advocate for human rights. [more]

Just as we insist on our rights offline, the rights to freedom of expression, opinion, association and more must now be fought for in the ever expanding and increasingly ubiquitous online world.

Kate Kroeger, Executive Director Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights

The women and trans* human rights defenders we support have been working tirelessly to bring social change to their communities and have been particularly affected by increasing restrictions on civic space. In the context of rising extremism and repression, it is urgent to protect civic space and those who defend it.

Joshua Wong, Secretary General Demosisto

Though we may come from different backgrounds and cultures, and have different political systems and histories, we believe in the same universal principles of human freedom.[more]

In Hong Kong, the struggle to protect the rights to freedom of speech and association, and to be represented by democratically-elected publicly officials continues. I signed the Civic Charter because it unites activists from around the world in the fight to support these principles.

Caroline Harper, CEO Sightsavers

The key theme of the recent Global Goals for Sustainable Development, agreed by the nations of the world in September 2015, was to ‘leave no one behind’. And to reach those furthest behind as a priority.[more]

Sightsavers supports the Civic Charter as it articulates fundamental principles which are required if we are to make a real difference to the lives of those who have previously been left behind, such as people with disabilities – universal responsibility, accountability and participation.

Cissy Kagaba, Executive Director Anti-Corruption Coalition of Uganda

Restricting citizens voices and engagement is detrimental to freedom of association and expression. The anti-corruption movement in Uganda fully endorses this Civic Charter as our tool of engagement.

Adriano Campolina, CEO ActionAid International

Shrinking civil and political space across the world is an attack on people and an acknowledgement of the important work we are doing. The Civic Charter is a bold statement and commitment to a sustained struggle for social justice all over the world.

Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director Oxfam International

In a world assailed by huge, multiple threats from poverty, extreme inequality, exclusion, climate change and conflict, we must foster a strong and active citizenry for answers.[more]

Individuals everywhere need safe space to raise their voices and hold their governments, companies and other duty-bearers to account. The Civic Charter is an emphatic statement of how a flourishing civil society should be helping citizens to shape a better future for humanity.

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What is the Civic Charter?

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