A Darkening Landscape for Civil Society: Bread for the World Sounds the Alarm
Restrictions Impacting Civil Society Prevalent in Majority of Countries - Bread for the World Report - International Constraints on Civil Society: Majority of Nations Limit Community Activities Significantly
Hey there! So, democracy and human rights? Well, they're taking a toll in a whole lotta places, according to Dagmar Pruin, President of Bread for the World. At a recent get-together, she laid it all out: "Democracy's under fire in ways we haven't seen in ages," she said. "The rule of law, separation of powers, and protection from government misconduct? These fundamental pillars are quaking or nonexistent in more countries than ever."
Civil society—y'know, that grassroots movement working to safeguard democracy and advocate for justice? According to Bread for the World, only a measly 3.5% of the global population gets to enjoy full-on freedom of speech and assembly. That's right—a staggering 96.5% of people live in countries where their right to speak up and gather is restricted, suppressed, or flat-out snuffed out.
The enlightening atlas categorizes the freedom landscape into five buckets, from "open" to "closed." Only 40 countries have civil society considered "open." You guessed it—115 countries, precisely half the number of countries, are labeled "restricted," "suppressed," or "closed."
Bummer news? It's been on the decline since 2023. Take Georgia, for example, which passed a sneaky "Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence" in 2024. This piece of legislation is nothing more than a clever trick to restrict the operations of NGOs and media alike. And that's not all—life's not been too easy lately for organizations and individuals in the Netherlands or the Palestinian territories, either.
On the bright side, progress has been made in nine countries, including Poland and Japan. However, Germany still ranks among the "restricted" lot, a far cry from its "open" classification in 2023. Why the downgrade? Silke Pfeiffer, Bread for the World's Human Rights head honcho, explains: "German authorities have been unfairly cracking down on the right to assemble, like at climate rallies, and have been increasinly heavy-handed when dealing with protesters."
Tough times call for tougher action, right? Pruin chimed in with an urgent appeal to our new federal government: "It's high time you stepped up your game and reinforced your commitment to a flourishing civil society and democratic engagement." This call for action expands beyond our borders too: "To defend democracy and the rule of law, the coalition must advocate worldwide for an effective civil society, independent courts, and a free press," she added.
- Civil Society: Underdogs taking a stand
- Democracy: The people's power
- Bread for the World: Activists on a mission
- Human Rights: Everyone's right to freedom
- Defensive: Guarding democracy from threats
- World Population: People fighting for their rights
- Berlin: Germany's political heart
- Germany: Land of the "restricted"
Enrichment Data:
Bread for the World's report reveals several key factors contributing to the stranglehold on civil society globally:
- Using Existing Laws to Hindrance: Governments, judiciary, and businesses are increasingly invoking existing laws to fetter civil society, social progress, and human rights. These laws can pave the way for denying registration to organizations that criticize the government.[1]
- Restrictive Registration and Surveillance: In some countries like Georgia, civil society organizations are forced to register with authorities and notify them about their employees and collaborators. This is often justified as a promoter of transparency, but it can be utilized to keep tabs on and control organizations that are perceived as a threat by the government.[1]
- Restrictions on Freedoms: Freedom of speech, assembly, and association is being significantly curtailed in numerous countries. This includes laws such as Cambodia's NGO law, which has led to investigations and legal charges against civil society organizations.[1]
- Authoritarian Actions: The report highlights a global trend where authoritarian governments aggressively suppress civil liberties and dissent, resulting in organizations being forced to shut down or relocate.[5]
- Bread for the World, in their recent report, has identified politics as a major factor threatening civil society, including employment policies in various countries, as these policies can be manipulated to hinder civil society, social progress, and human rights.
- The employment policies, political landscapes, and general-news stories indicate a widespread suppression of freedom of speech, assembly, and association, which are fundamental pillars for a flourishing civil society and democracy, as highlighted by Bread for the World.
