Sound the Alarm: Stifling Civil Society Across the Globe
Limited Civil Society Influence in Many Countries: Bread for the World Analysis - Restrictions on Civil Society: Severe Limitations in Multiple Nations on the Provision of Food and Community Advocacy
In today's world, democracy and human rights are under fire, and it's been quite some time since we've witnessed such a relentless attack, as stated by Dagmar Pruin, President of Bread for the World at a recent event. The rule of law, the separation of powers, and the protection against unjustified government actions are waning in more countries than ever before.
A thriving democracy needs a free civil society for advocacy and justice, Pruin emphasized. According to Bread for the World's investigation, using evaluations by the global network Civicus, only a minuscule 3.5% of the global population lives in nations where freedom of speech and assembly are unbridled.
The Atlas categorizes freedom rights into five tiers, ranging from "open" to "closed." Only 40 countries are classified as "open," while civil society in 115 out of the total 197 countries falls under "restricted," "suppressed," or "closed."
From the year 2023 to the present, the civil society situation has worsened in nine countries, including Georgia. In 2024, Georgia passed a "Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence," making it challenging for nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and media to function. Additionally, deteriorations were observed in the Netherlands and the Palestinian territories.
Yet, there are also improvements in nine countries, such as Poland and Japan. Germany remains in the "restricted" category, having been in the top tier "open" in 2023. Silke Pfeiffer, Bread for the World's head of the Human Rights department, cited factors like excessive restriction of the right to assemble, for example at climate protests, and increased use of force by police against protesters as reasons for the classification.
Pruin urged the new federal government to bolster its support for democratic engagement in civil society. This call extends to foreign policy: "To defend democracy and the rule of law, the coalition must advocate worldwide for an effective civil society, independent courts, and free media," Pruin said.
Behind the Scenes: Challenges Facing Civil Society Today
- Internet Shutdowns and Censorship: Countries like Iran and Ethiopia have been known to impose internet shutdowns to quell dissent and protests[2].
- Disinformation and Misinformation: The spread of false information is a major issue for civil society, as local actors struggle to counteract it effectively. There is often a disconnect between funders and activists' priorities, leading to inadequate responses[1].
- Restrictions on Assembly: Legislation is being used worldwide to limit freedom of assembly. Attacks on individuals trying to exercise their right to assemble have surged in certain areas[4].
- Decline in Global Press Freedom: The Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) World Press Freedom Index has reached an all-time low in 2025, reflecting a grim state for press freedom globally[5].
- Misuse of Judicial Systems and Laws: Civicus highlights cases where judicial systems and laws have been abused to silence freedom of expression, as seen in Sri Lanka and elsewhere[2].
These developments underscore the difficulties civil society faces in exercising its rights to express itself freely and assemble peacefully. Organizations like Bread for the World and Civicus continue their efforts to combat these challenges and advocate for justice and democracy.
- The relentless attack on democracy and human rights, as highlighted by Dagmar Pruin, President of Bread for the World, is evidenced by the waning rule of law and protection against unjustified government actions in numerous countries, a situation that is compounded by challenges such as internet shutdowns and censorship, as observed in countries like Iran and Ethiopia.
- The political landscape, as portrayed in the global news, is increasingly hostile towards civil society, with the misuse of judicial systems and laws, declaration of restrictive employment policies in certain countries like Georgia, and the decline in global press freedom, as reflected in the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty World Press Freedom Index, all contributing to the stifling of civil society and democracy.
