Democratization

Civil society space is under attack worldwide. In her welcoming speech to the Global Perspectives Conference, Barbara Unmüßig urged 160 representatives of civil society organisations from around the globe to stand in solidarity with each other and to put the issue of shrinking and closing spaces back on the political agenda.

Repression of civil society is on the rise all over the world. The charter aims to support civil society organizations as activists throughout the world, to advocate for their rights and freedom of action, and to demand government guarantees.

A recent research by Kadir Has University, Istanbul indicates that there is almost a de-facto abortion ban all over Turkey.

The pressure on the media in Turkey has reached a new peak with the recently introduced “Periodicals Regulation,” and especially its parts concerning the official Press Announcement Agency

The NGO Global Witness documents 185 known deaths of environmental activists worldwide in 2015 - the highest annual death toll on record. Claudia Rolf spoke to one of the authors of the report, Billy Kyte.

The Mothers and activists have come together for the 600th time on September 24, 2016 with the following demands: unclose the fate of the disappeared; put the perpetrators on trial; never let anyone be disappeared again.

Since 2009 the foundation has been annually awarding the International Hrant Dink Prize, the most prestigious human rights award in Turkey. 

Male violence on a public bus because of wearing shorts. What next?

The repression of civil societies activites in countries like Egypt and Russia are justified with the "protection of the states sovereignity" and the "principle of non-intervention". When unwelcomed critique is silenced, activists need all our solidarity and support.

In many regions of the world the freedom of the Internet is just an illusion. Especially in Arab countries, the neighbouring states of Russia and Subsahara-Africa the year 2015 marked the lowest point for democratic participation and civil liberties.