🔎New Watchlist looks at deterioration of rights in: 🇮🇳Broad legal measures to jail activists 🇧🇫Military dismantles NGOs & political parties 🇧🇭Sweeping crackdown on dissent 🇬🇪Jail & heavy fines for protesters 🇪🇨Govt extends & expands emergency powers web.civicus.org/WLQ326

🇲🇾#Malaysia: The state of #civicspace remain 'obstructed'. #Activists have been facing baseless investigations, charges, travel bans and freezing of accounts. There are also concerns over the cybercrimes law and the proposed Freedom of Information Bill that are inconsistent with international human rights law and standards More here: web.civicus.org/MalaysiaSept…

🇲🇲#Myanmar: The state of #civicspace remain 'closed'. In recent months, there have been reports on the continue repression, criminalisation and attacks on #humanrights defenders. Some #activists have been jailed for 37 years for their peaceful election #protest. Torture and ill-treatment of political prisoners and other detainees persists while independent media has been blocked and the licences of three news outlets revoked More here: web.civicus.org/MyanmarSept2…

Civic freedoms are the bedrock of any open & democratic society. For #DemocracyDay, a look at the 39 countries & territories where these freedoms are fully protected: 🇦🇩 🇦🇹 🇧🇸 🇧🇧 🇨🇦 🇨🇻 🇨🇿 🇩🇰 🇪🇪 🇫🇮 🇬🇩 🇮🇸 🇮🇪 🇯🇲 🇯🇵 🇰🇮 🇱🇻 🇱🇮 🇱🇹 🇱🇺 🇲🇭 🇫🇲 🇲🇨 🇳🇿 🇳🇴 🇵🇼 🇵🇹 🇱🇨 🇼🇸 🇸🇲 🇸🇹 🇸🇮 🇰🇳 🇻🇨 🇸🇪 🇹🇼 🇹🇹 🇹🇻 🇺🇾 : web.civicus.org/Open

🇵🇰#Pakistan: The state of #civicspace remains 'repressed'. In recent months, #activists have been targeted & #Baloch rights defenders convicted. Police also detained Aurat March Karachi organisers while Punjab passed a law to allow ‘secret’ terrorism trials. A #protest movement in Azad Jammu and Kashmir was designated as ‘terrorists’, the internet was blocked, and #journalists restricted and detained. More here: web.civicus.org/PakistanSept…

🇦🇬 #AntiguaBarbuda: After nearly a decade of legal challenges, environmental defenders in Barbuda have secured a full court hearing over a controversial airport project they say lacked proper environmental assessment and public consultation. Full country update: web.civicus.org/ABSept26

🇹🇭#Thailand: One year since Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul came to power, civic freedoms remain 'repressed' Activists, journalists, critics & the political opposition have been criminalised, detained, banned or faced deportation. More here: monitor.civicus.org/country/…

#Australia: The state of #civicspace remains 'narrowed'. In recent months, #protesters have continued to be targeted while states continue to push for anti-protest laws. The govt also rejected UN recommendations on #civicspace More here: web.civicus.org/AustraliaSep…

New from @CIVICUSMonitor: Timor-Leste's parliament has dropped plans to criminalise defamation after civil society backlash — but concerns remain over proposed cybersecurity legislation and police use of excessive force during an eviction protest. Read the full civic space update: monitor.civicus.org/explore/… Photo: Fernanda Lay, President of Timor-Leste's National Parliament. (Credit: Tatoli)

🇮🇩#Indonesia: #Civicspace remains at risk as #activists are criminalised, harassed and vilified, film screenings blocked, #protests disrupted and #impunity persists for violations More here: web.civicus.org/IndonesiaAug…

🇺🇾#Uruguay: Online intimidation is an increasing threat to journalists, with reporters facing death threats & harassment. Meanwhile, lawmakers are debating a bill to make allocation of official advertising more transparent & protect media independence: web.civicus.org/UruguayAugus…

Today, as we mark the International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances, our reflections on the devastating impact on victims and their families should prompt immediate action. Jointly crafted by States, victims and human rights organizations in 2006, the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance offers legal tools to search for disappeared people, investigate their disappearance, sanction the crime and promote international assistance. By ratifying this Convention, States gain full access to these powerful tools. Given the low ratification rate in South and South-East Asia, the Convention’s 20th anniversary serves as an urgent call for States in the region to commit to the eradication of enforced disappearances now. Learn more about how ratification strengthens the rule of law, builds public trust and promotes international cooperation: bit.ly/4gnyMPU

Families of the disappeared, organizations in MENA sound the alarm over crackdown on families amid continued crimes Marking the International Day for the Victims of Enforced Disappearance, we raise alarm over the scourge of enforced disappearance @amnesty amnesty.org/en/documents/mde…

Good to see the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances highlight concerns in #Pakistan especially risks to #humanrights defenders in their latest report the UN Human Rights Council ahead of the #HRC63 session docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/63/28

🇦🇫#Afghanistan: Five years since the #Taliban takeover the state of #civicspace remains 'closed'. In recent months, NGOs, journalists, cultural activists and educators were targeted. There has also been harassment, arrests & surveillance of activists. web.civicus.org/AfghanistanA…

🇩🇲 #Dominica: Quarry activities near Indigenous land have sparked protests, amid concerns over environmental damage and the exclusion of affected communities from decision-making processes. Our latest country update: web.civicus.org/DominicaAugu…

🇻🇳#Vietnam: The state of #civicspace remains 'closed'. In recent months #activists, religious actors, book publishers and #journalists have been criminalised as a new retaliatory decree targeting #lawyers comes into effect More here: web.civicus.org/VietnamAug20…

🇩🇴 #DominicanRepublic: Newly approved Penal Code retains provisions that could restrict freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, despite concerns raised by civil society. Latest country update also covers the use of excessive force against protesters: web.civicus.org/RDAugust2026

🇮🇳#India: A month since the #CockroachJantaParty protests, which was met with arrests & excessive force, students have continued to face harassment amid a wider #civicspace clampdown. This is why the country is on our #Watchlist More here: web.civicus.org/IndiaAug2026

🇲🇳#Mongolia: The state of #civicspace remains 'obstructed'. In recent months, there have been concerns about a #parliamentarian facing charges, risks to #LGBTQI+ defenders and the re-criminalisation of #defamation. More here: web.civicus.org/MongoliaAug2…

🇧🇫 #BurkinaFaso: The authorities have intensified restrictions on civil society, political parties and independent media while critics face arrests, enforced disappearances and forced conscription. 🔎Country added to our latest Watchlist: web.civicus.org/WLQ326