Global Priorities
Mechanisms
Development
Peace and Security
Non-Discrimination
Accountability
Participation
Activists perform the “one billion rising” dance during a protest to commemorate International Women’s Day in Manila, Philippines on March 8, 2019. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / © AFP)
Civic Space
Civic space is the environment that enables civil society to play a role in the political, economic and social life of our societies. Participation in public life by rights holders and organizations, in particular through the access of information, the engagement in dialogue and the expression of dissent or disagreement, is a fundamental principle of human rights and a prerequisite for making development and peace sustainable.
When civil society is allowed to participate in decision-making, policymaking is more informed, effective and sustainable. Each advance in protecting civic space has a positive ripple effect for communities and individuals and their rights. In South-East Asia, as in other parts of the world, civic space is increasingly under pressure.
OHCHR’s Regional Office is committed to protecting civic space and civil society actors. It works towards this goal in particular by advocating for stronger government protection of individuals and groups at risk, by supporting the adoption and implementation of laws and policies that protect civic space and that are in line with international standards, including online, and monitor trends and developments for civic space in the region and the situation of human rights defenders and social activists.
Protection tools
Digital security tips series for human rights defenders in South-East Asia
- Identifying sensitive information
- Protecting information “in transit” (securing online communications)
- Protecting your information “at rest” or in storage (login access)
- Data security for cloud storage
- Data security for physical local and external storage
- Protection of information and devices when travelling
- Online safety and security
- Safe use of social media
- Where to go for help
- Q&A Cybercrimes and cyberattacks
- Phishing attacks
- Encryption
- Day to day vulnerable practices
Videos
Stories
Reports and Manuals
Human rights impacts of new technologies on civic space in South-East Asia
While the expansion of Internet access and proliferation of digital technologies has created unprecedented opportunities, it has also brought about online harms such as the accelerated spread of hate speech and provided State and non-State actors with tools for targeting critics and competitors, and to undermine democratic governance. Digital tools have also been used to surveil and harass dissenting voices.
This report draws attention to the many recent laws and regulations governing online space in South-East Asia, several of which appear to reinforce and expand pre-existing restrictions of freedoms of expression, association and privacy.
Compilation of Recommendations Issued to South Asian Countries by the UN Human Rights Mechanisms on Issues Related to Democratic Space and Women Journalists
This compilation, prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) South-East Asia Regional Office in 2022, includes publicly available recommendations made to South Asian countries by the UN human rights mechanisms on the issues related to democratic space and women journalists from 2014 to 2022.
Compilation of Recommendations Issued to South-East Asian Countries on Issues Related to Democratic Space and Women Journalists
This compilation, prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) South-East Asia Regional Office in September 2022, includes publicly available recommendations made to South-East Asian countries by the UN human rights mechanisms on the issues related to democratic space and women journalists from 2014 to 2022.
Compilation of Recommendations Issued to Thailand on Issues Related to Democratic Space
This compilation, prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) South-East Asia Regional Office, includes publicly available recommendations made to Thailand by the UN human rights mechanisms on the issues related to democratic space from 2014 to 2020.
Widening the Democratic Space: The Role of Youth in Public Decision Making
In 2016, the United Nations Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law held its first session, with 600 participants from Member States, United Nations bodies and specialized agencies, regional and intergovernmental organizations, national human rights institutions and nongovernmental organizations, including youth advocates and representatives of youth organizations from all regions. This document is an extract of the recommendations included in the report of the Chair (A/HRC/34/46).
Parliaments as Promoters of Human Rights, Democracy and Law
In 2018, the United Nations Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law organized its second session, which was attended by representatives of States, national and regional parliaments, parliamentary associations, United Nations specialized agencies, regional and intergovernmental bodies, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations. Over 60 Members of Parliaments, from all regions participated as well. This document is an extract of the recommendations included in the report of the Forum Chair (A/HRC/40/65).
COVID-19 and Civic Space
Why does civic space matter during a pandemic? This guidance from UN Human Rights examines the importance of civil society, civic participation, access to accurate information, freedom of expression, privacy and the right to free assembly during a health crisis.
See Also
Thematic reports and explainers by OHCHR on human rights and the digital space
- Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, The right to privacy in the digital age – recent trends and challenges (04 August 2022), A/HRC/51/17
- Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Internet shutdowns: trends, causes, legal implications and impacts on a range of human rights (13 May 2022), A/HRC/50/55
- Explainer: Internet shutdowns and human rights (01 April 2021).
- OHCHR key-messages relating to a possible comprehensive International Convention on countering the use of Information and Communications Technologies for criminal purposes (2022)
- Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Civil society space: COVID-19: the road to recovery and the essential role of civil society (13 June 2022), A/HRC/51/13
- Explainer: Regulating online content – the way forward (01 November 2020).
Thematic reports by the Secretary-General on human rights and the digital space
- Report of the Secretary-General, Countering disinformation for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms (12 August 2022), A/77/287
General Comments by the Treaty Bodies relevant to human rights and the digital space
- Human Rights Committee, General comment No. 37 on Article 21 on the right of peaceful assembly (2020), CCPR/C/GC/37
- Human Rights Committee, General comment No.34 on Article 19: Freedoms of opinion and expression (2011), CCPR/C/GC/34
Thematic reports by the Special Procedures on human rights and the digital space
- Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression,Reinforcing media freedom and the safety of journalists in the digital age (20 April 2022), A/HRC/50/29
- Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Disinformation and freedom of opinion and expression during armed conflicts (12 August 2022), A/77/288
- Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression,Disinformation and freedom of opinion and expression (13 April 2021), A/HRC/47/25
- Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression,Surveillance and human rights Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression (28 May 2019), A/HRC/41/35
- Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Report on online hate speech (09 October 2019), A/74/486
- Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Online content regulation (06 April 2018), A/HRC/38/35
- Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression,Artificial Intelligence technologies and implications for the information environment (29 August 2018), A/73/348
- Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, The role of digital access providers (30 March 2017), A/HRC/35/22
- Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression,Freedom of expression, states and the private sector in the digital age (11 May 2016), A/HRC/32/38
- Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Report on contemporary challenges to freedom of expression (06 September 2016), A/71/373
- Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression,Encryption, anonymity, and the human rights framework (22 May 2015), A/HRC/29/32
- Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the digital age (2019), A/HRC/41/41
- Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, Ending Internet shutdowns: a path forward (2021), A/HRC/47/24/Add.2
Others
- Guidelines for States on the effective implementation of the right to participate in public affairs
- Secretary General’s Report on Intimidation and Reprisals to the Human Rights Council, 23 September 2020 (A/HRC/45/36)
- International Day of Democracy 2020
- Protecting and expanding civic space
- Enhancing participation and protecting civic space
- Human Rights Defenders
- Equal participation in political and public affairs
- UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity
Video Messages from former Special Rapporteur David Kaye
2020
Full Video Message
Access to the Internet
Access to Information
Misinformation
© Copyright 2020 OHCHR