CIVICUS Monitor

🔎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

🇦🇺#Australia: Over the last two months, six #protesters were banned from protests around a defence conference in Western Australia. Protesters mobilising over the environment and climate policy have also been arrested. More here: web.civicus.org/AustraliaOct…

🇦🇫#Afghanistan: The state of #civicspace remains 'closed'. In the last two months, there was the detention of #activists and closure of a #university, school and cultural centre. Media outlets faced closures, #journalists were arrested, and cultural #artists and critics were targeted. More here: web.civicus.org/AfghanistanO…

🇱🇰#SriLanka: The state of #civicspace remains 'repressed'. In recent months, reports have highlighted surveillance, intimidation and harassment of #activists and #journalists. A new draft of the counterterrorism bill retains abusive powers while there are concerns around the NGO regulation bill. There were also reports of disruption of #protests and removal of memorials in the North. More here: web.civicus.org/SriLankaOct2…

🇷🇺 #Russia: The only anti-war party was excluded from parliamentary elections, exiled critics face new restrictions, and civil society groups continue to be targeted under "extremism" laws. Our latest country update: web.civicus.org/Russia1026

🇹🇷 #Turkey: A sweeping crackdown on #LGBTQI+ groups has triggered mass detentions, raids and online censorship. Meanwhile, journalists continue to face prosecution and authorities are tightening pressure on opposition voices. Our latest country update: web.civicus.org/Turkey1026

🇻🇳#Vietnam: The state of #civicspace remains 'closed'. In recent months, the government abducted #humanrights activists - Nguyen Duc Thuan and Tran Hiep - from Cambodia. Critics have been targeted and there are concerns over increasing controls of the media and online #censorship. Police have also tried to silence residents from criticising development protests. More here: web.civicus.org/VietnamOct20…

🇳🇵#Nepal: More than one year after the mass #protests that brought down the government, there has been lack of accountability for violations committed by the authorities. #Journalists continue to be targeted for their reporting, with arrests, raids, harassment and attacks while critics remain at risk. More here: web.civicus.org/NepalOct2026

🇮🇩#Indonesia: Two years since President Prabowo Subianto came to power, the situation of #civicspace is regressing Our new brief highlights the targeting of #humanrights defenders and #journalists, the vilification of activists, the crackdown on protests and online dissent and the repression in #Papua Full brief here: web.civicus.org/Indonesia102…

🇮🇳#India: Over the last week, the authorities have attempted to block and restrict mass #protests against electoral roll manipulation. Transport services to Delhi were cancelled or suspended. Thousands of #protesters including #student and #youth activists and the opposition were arbitrarily detained by security forces and ill-treated. Internet shutdowns were imposed and #journalists targeted. This is why the country is on our #civicspace Watchlist Our new update: web.civicus.org/IndiaOct2026

The map tells a story: governments that reserve the right to execute their citizens tend to also severally restrict their civic freedoms. A look at civic space ratings for countries that have the #deathpenalty

🇰🇭#Cambodia: The state of #civicspace remains 'repressed'. In recent months, the government has criminalised #activists and abducted two foreign activists and transferred them to Vietnam. #Opposition members are being targeted ahead of commune elections in 2027. Scores of individuals have been criminalised for their social media posts while #journalists remain at risk. More here: web.civicus.org/CambodiaOct2…

🇨🇳#China: The state of #civicspace remains 'closed'. In recent months, #activists and #artists have been arrested or convicted. There have also been reports of #torture and ill-treatment of activists in detention. #Censors barred reporting and social media posts linked to the flash flood in #Tibet as surveillance persists, including for foreigners. More here: web.civicus.org/ChinaOct2026

🇹🇭#Thailand: The state of #civicspace remain 'repressed'. In recent months, #humanrights defenders have faced threats, attacks or have been criminalised for their peaceful expression and activism. More here: web.civicus.org/ThailandSept…

🇵🇭#Philippines: Our new brief highlights the government's continued failure to implement its #humanrights obligations on civic freedoms. Human rights defenders have been red-tagged and arrested on baseless charges. #Activists have been harassed both off and online, creating a climate of fear. Peaceful #protests have been suppressed with excessive force. #Journalists remain at risk and there has been a lack of accountability. Read more here: web.civicus.org/PHResearchBr…

🇧🇩#Bangladesh: Despite commitments to undertake reforms, the government has proposed restrictive amendments to the #cybersecurity law. #Journalists and critics continue to be criminalised, harassed, threatened and attacked. The government passed a law to establish a weak National Human Rights Commission despite civil society concerns on certain provisions that were inconsistent with international standards. More here: web.civicus.org/BangladeshSe…

🇲🇾#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…