CIVIC
SPACE
Civic space encompasses the fields of action of civil society, within environments where a prevailing role is played by the conditions that either favor or hinder its free and effective performance. The following are virtues of civic space that strengthen societies:
- The pluralistic construction of common affairs, within cultures of free and democratic mindsets.
- The capacity for self-transformation, to create more integrated, inclusive, peaceful, and solidary forms.
- Empowerment through the instruments with which they can forge their own future.
FREEDOM OF
ACTION
Civil society brings together the set of organized expressions of action, with civic origins and goals that interest and improve society, in the fields of:
- Common living, in an autonomous manner, through associative strength and self-organization.
- Vocations and commitments to socially relevant issues, changes, or needs.
- Collective efforts, oriented and made possible by freedom of action.
- Active participation in the opinions and decisions of the public sphere.
SAFE
ENVIRONMENTS
Environments anywhere in the world must offer security for civil society to perform freely and legitimately, without any fear, guaranteeing:
- Public recognition and support, in its own right.
- Protection under national and international law and justice.
- Respect for freedom of action, information, and democratic participation.
- Facilitation and support for its fulfillment, stability, and access to long-term resources.
INTERNATIONAL
LAW
In international law, regardless of contexts and challenges, all individuals, society, and humanity as a whole are subjects and actors with full rights to self-determination, dignity, liberty, and peace, grounded in universal values, rules, norms, and instruments.
Civil society is part of this expression, in the individual, collective, and social exercise of:
- Freedoms of association, peaceful assembly, thought, opinion, expression, and communication.
- Rights to life, integrity, personal liberty, and human security.
- Rights to participation, free initiative, and action in peacebuilding, humanitarian response, the defense of human rights, justice, democracy, the environment, and economic and social development, among others.
STRATEGIC AREAS
PILLARS
We work systematically and periodically on the monitoring, documentation, standardization, and analysis of information regarding the state of civil society and the conditions offered by its environments to guarantee the protection of civic space. We generate knowledge, methods, tools, and historical memory, based on international law standards, which allow for evidence collection, shared analysis, advocacy, and the systematization of learning and lessons regarding the challenges, efforts, and experiences of civil society worldwide.
Analysis and Advocacy
We act in joint strategic advocacy efforts with an impact on public sphere policies and decisions aimed at overcoming obstacles or unsafe environments for civic space, civil society, associative life, and citizen freedoms. This is done effectively and sustainably over time, based on context analysis, the construction of scenarios, the articulation of action agendas, advocacy, and deliberation in national, international, or global spaces, as well as mobilizing the interest and support of public opinion and allied actors.
Defense and Litigation
We participate alongside other civil society organizations in defense and litigation actions before state bodies (parliamentary, judicial, and executive) or within protection systems and institutions (national and international), seeking truth and justice, corrective measures, and guarantees of non-repetition, through accountability, advocacy, defense, and diplomacy, in favor of victims, organizations, and the restoration of safe environments in adverse or closed contexts.
Associative Fabric
We support civil society in the construction and strengthening of organizations, associative fabrics, governance capabilities, and access to resources, according to their vocations, commitments, and work plans. This is done through horizontal, collaborative approaches of equality and autonomy, using an online educational platform, fostering cooperation that supports joint transformative efforts, demanding protection frameworks in safe environments, and building common interests, trust-based relationships, and resilience capabilities in challenging situations or contexts.
Self-Protection and Care
Listening and providing assistance and support to organizations and their members in situations of risk, through tools and practices of self-protection, self-care, and mutual security from different disciplines, building bridges with collaborators and accredited aid services close to the organizations and individuals affected.
ABOUT US
We are an organization of international scope, non-profit, autonomous, independent, pluralistic, and non-partisan, dedicated to the knowledge, promotion, empowerment, and protection of local, national, and international civil societies in any country, in all the diversity of their forms of action and associative fabrics.
We believe that the world can be transformed into a dignified, safe, and better place for all humanity if societies organize with full rights and freedom of action, from civic, peaceful, free, and democratic perspectives, to work in favor of human rights, humanitarian action, development, peace, democracy, and justice.
Our mission:
- To conduct documentary, historical, and follow-up research on the situation of civil societies, their experiences, and performance challenges, to recover evidence, share analysis, and reconstruct the memory of violations of international standards.
- To promote open and safe civic spaces through the action of free civil societies, recognized and supported in their own right, in environments that guarantee the norms and standards of international law.
- To empower dynamic, robust, and influential civil societies at the forefront of goals, initiatives, and efforts that protect human dignity and have transformative impacts on what affects societies.
- To protect and defend individual, collective, and social rights of a fundamental nature for the legitimate presence, voice, and action of civil societies within legal, political, economic, and social systems.
Our main activities:
- Promote international law norms regarding civic spaces
- Train and accompany civil societies in their actions.
- Understand and report on the status and contribution of civil societies.
- Engage in accountability, advocacy, and litigation in favor of civil societies.
- Mobilize recognition, backing, and support for civil societies.
- Prepare civil societies for risks of rights violations.
- Manage support, protection, and security for civil societies.
- Provide visibility and resonance to the voices and experiences of civil societies.
- Participate in international associations and coalitions.
- Foster dialogue and cooperation between civil society sectors.
