BUILDING COUNTERPOWER WITH THE MOST AFFECTED GROUPS AND THEIR MOVEMENTS
WHAT WE DID: We forged alliances with groups dually affected by structural discrimination and restricted civic space.
IN NUMBERS
- 15 HRDs featured in the #StandAsMyWitness campaign acquitted and/or released
- Four thematic research reports on most affected groups published
CIVICUS has made traditionally excluded groups a focus of its new strategic plan for 2022-2027. In doing so, we are applying learnings from co-design initiatives developed in the previous strategic period to work with such groups, and specifically with young people. CIVICUS’s thematic research pieces, op-eds and blogs have also repeatedly documented the work of and challenges faced by LGBTQI+ people, youth and Indigenous peoples, providing an additional knowledge base for further action.
CIVICUS also supports spaces that coordinate solidarity actions with formal and non-formal movements through our advocacy work, Online Community and Vuka! Coalition for Civic Action. In addition, our advocacy team has hosted a series of events with Indigenous people to strengthen solidarity, create awareness of protest rights and organise effectively around the COP28 climate summit.
In Johannesburg, South Africa, we brought together over 20 network and community leaders from Africa, Asia and Latin America. A key outcome of the meeting was an agreement on tactics for influencing and expressing solidarity in a range of contexts. This built on our previous work on advancing climate justice through increased recognition and protection of land and environmental defenders ahead of COP27. Our key initiative for building counterpower with most affected groups and their movements is the #StandAsMyWitness campaign.