Anti-Western propaganda against civil society in North Macedonia: The case of CIVIL Published: 3 May 2021 Commentary In North Macedonia, it has become the norm for pro-Russian politicians to attack activists, human rights defenders and journalists with outrageous online behaviour, bullying and threats to our lives. My case, as the President of the human rights organisation CIVIL, is not an exception, but certainly is one of the most illustrative ones. By Xhabir Deralla
Peace processes need a feminist vision! Published: 24 March 2021 Background Much has been achieved at international level in the critical field of women, peace and security in recent years. Yet women are still woefully underrepresented in the Afghan peace process. The basic rights for which they fought so hard are at stake in the country’s internal negotiations with the Taliban. By Anna Schwarz and Sarah Weiß
The peace process in Afghanistan: Perceptions of the people Published: 30 November 2020 Documentation Summary of the online debate „The peace process in Afghanistan: Perceptions of the people“ of 11 November 2020 with representatives of Afghan civil society, Afghan media, the Afghan government delegation to the peace negotiations in Doha and the German Foreign Office. By Jost Palachy
Black Lives Matter! Published: 6 July 2020 Article George Floyd just had time to tell his executioners “I can’t breathe”. His words were heard in Belgium, where they succeeded in toppling King Leopold II, whose face was daubed with red paint when he was not simply torn down. Black lives matter! An autopsy of the controversial movement, which is no longer in its test phase. By Wendy Bashi
“Trump’s election defeat won’t end structural racism” Published: 10 June 2020 Interview The murder of George Floyd has thrown the United States into a state of unrest. President Trump is throwing fuel on the fire in an attempt to increase his re-election chances. The main problem, however, is historical, structural racism – and not just in the U.S. An interview with Bastian Hermisson, Head of the Foundation’s office in Washington, and Mekonnen Mesghena, Head of Migration and Diversity at the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Berlin. By Bastian Hermisson and Mekonnen Mesghena
A political map of Slovakia two years after the tragedy of the murder of Ján and Martina Published: 11 March 2020 Background February 2020 will be written into the modern political history of Slovakia as a month with a great turning point which combined in a special way two dramatic themes in the internal political development of the country. By Grigorij Mesežnikov
Lebanon rising Published: 16 December 2019 Background The protests sweeping Lebanon are breaking social divides, taboos and stereotypes. For the first time since the civil war, there is a unified call to end corruption, while women are on the frontline of the protests. By Anna Fleischer
Civic Charter Published: 27 October 2016 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.
The Unloved Compromise. Black Umbrellas, White Coats and Abortion in Poland Published: 20 October 2016 Over the last weeks Poland has witnessed an unprecedented mobilisation of women against the tightening of the abortion law. Our colleague Gert Röhrborn from our Warsaw office sheds light on recent events. By Gert Röhrborn
Habitat III: New Urban Agenda and the importance of civil society Published: 14 September 2016 Close on the heels of the UN adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2015 the HABITAT III conference offers the international community a timely opportunity to revisit and revision its commitments to putting human rights at the heart of sustainable urban development. The global context is adverse, marked by growing inequity, rising levels of homelessness and landlessness, forced migration, environmental degradation and climate change. By Poonam Joshi
