Safeguarding Civil Society Space at the United Nations

Since the founding of the United Nations, civil society organisations have played a pivotal role in shaping and advancing global human rights protections. Through advocacy, expertise, and amplifying the voices of those affected by abuses, they have become indispensable actors in maintaining the system’s legitimacy, responsiveness, and practical effectiveness. Yet today, the conditions that once enabled meaningful civil society participation are increasingly under strain.

Against this backdrop, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Geneva Office have issued the report “Safeguarding Civil Society Space at the United Nations - A Crucial Element in Human Rights Promotion and Protection”. This report analyses the importance of civil society participation in the UN human rights system and the risks posed by shrinking civic space, funding constraints and institutional reforms, which threaten legitimacy, inclusivity and the effectiveness of multilateral human rights mechanisms. It will officially be launched on 17 March at 14:00, at a side-event organised by ICJ and FES on that matter during the 61st session of the Human Rights Council.

The event will offer the opportunity to reflect on these issues at a time when multilateralism, the UN and the human rights pillar in particular are under severe attacks and reform.

Program

Speakers:

• H.E. Ambassador Noel White, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the UN in Geneva
• H.E. Ambassador Doreen de Brum, Permanent Representative of the Marshall Islands to the UN in Geneva
• H.E. Ambassador Gustavo Gallon, Permanent Representative of Colombia to the UN in Geneva
• H.E. Ambassador Muhammadou Kah, Permanent Representative of the Gambia to the UN in Geneva
• H.E. Ambassador Michele Cervone D’Urso, Deputy Permanent Observer of the EU
• Santiago Canton, Secretary General of the International Commission of Jurists
• Inès Osman, Executive Director of the MENA Rights Group

Moderator: Renate Tenbusch, Director of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Geneva Office

The event will also be live-streamed on webex!