Trends & Analysis

It is no coincidence that the proliferation of security measures to counter terrorism and to prevent and counter violent extremism, on the one hand, and the adoption of measures that restrict civic space, on the other, are happening simultaneously… For civil society, the international primacy of security over human rights was translated into polarising political rhetoric: “with us or with the terrorists”. This has led to the targeting of civil society members who question the legitimacy of the counter-terrorism measures."

- Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism

… ‘Terrorism’ is not defined by these security laws and policies. That uncertainty is being exploited on a political basis… Public protest, for instance, has been framed as a push for regime change… So, terrorism architecture has given government absolute power to paint very serious felonies and smaller offences with the same brush."

- Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, Founder & Director of Spaces for Change, Nigeria

In the aftermath of 9/11, governments all over the world gifted themselves unprecedented new powers, and have used a security-justifies-almost-anything narrative to chip away at the rights to freedom of assembly, association and expression – often blatantly using these powers to curtail their opponents… We need to hold a mirror up to the circular arguments in this “security playbook” and expose its wholly disproportionate impact on human rights.”

- Poonam Joshi, FICS Director of FICS and Civic Futures Convener

In almost every country where the Fund for Global Human Rights supports local activists working on diverse issues including good governance, preventing violence against women and children, and climate change, states are over-regulating civil society, and many are flagrantly abusing the global standards to combat money-laundering and the financing of terrorism. If societies are to successfully navigate the next pandemic, the climate crisis, and a multitude of other challenges, these critical local actors must be able to operate in a free civic space.”

- James Savage, FGHR Program Director and Civic Futures Convener