Sebastian Barros/Forus

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Sebastian Barros/Forus

Global crackdown on enabling environments for civil society – recent alarming trends

by Clarisse Sih and Bibbi Abruzzini, Forus, EU SEE consortium partner

Across multiple continents, recent weeks marked a disturbing increase in actions undermining the enabling environment for civil society.  Data from EU SEE indicates that fundamental freedoms, legal protections, and access to resources are facing threats, dramatically shrinking the space for civil society’s meaningful participation in political and public life. 

Enabling environment trends

In Burundi, the enabling environment deteriorated significantly ahead of upcoming local elections. The arrest of civil society leaders and tightened media controls signal an upcoming pre-election clampdown. These actions restrict fundamental freedoms and actively undermine civil society’s essential watchdog role in the electoral process. 

“The civic environment in Burundi is deteriorating in a concerning manner in the run-up to the elections. The criminalization of the work of human rights defenders, media censorship and intimidation of civil society actors are not signs of an inclusive democratic process. On the contrary, these practices risk seriously undermining the credibility of the election,” says Gervais Nibigira, Programme Coordinator of SOS-Torture Burundi and EU SEE network members. 

Meanwhile in El Salvador, a newly enacted “foreign agents law” targets NGOs receiving international funds, while prominent anti-corruption activists have been detained, further weakening civil society’s role in holding the state accountable. These measures threaten the very foundation of a supportive legal and regulatory framework essential for civil society to operate transparently and sustainably. 

Indonesia raised serious concerns as well with President Prabawo’s public condemnation of civil society organisations working with international actors, accusing them of serving foreign interests, fuelling mistrust and suspicion.  

“Such statements risk deepening suspicion against NGOs and jeopardizing both development collaboration and the supportive cultural and social attitudes necessary for a thriving civil society,” says Infid, EU SEE member in Indonesia.  

Over in Panama, the use of excessive force against mainly union and  labor protesters together with a dismissive and authoritarian discourse from the Executive,  shows that state actors are increasingly criminalizing  the right to protest and strike.   These actions significantly erode the fundamental rights to peaceful assembly and expression, core components of an enabling environment. 

“In a democracy fundamental civic freedoms must be always guarded by law enforcement, not trampled. Even when there are two rights clashing, like freedom of movement and freedom to protest, for example, the role of law enforcement in restoring order must be proportionate, peaceful and respectful of the integrity of all citizens and due process,” says Olga de Obaldia, executive director of Transparency International Panama (Fundación Libertad Ciudad), EU SEE network member.   

These patterns are not isolated. In Somalia, over 50 journalists were arrested in a wave of media repression linked to political reporting. This repression severely limits civil society’s capacity to monitor governance effectively and undermines transparency and democratic accountability.  

These incidents are interconnected symptoms of a broader global challenge:  an active and strategic pushback against civil society’s role in shaping inclusive, democratic societies. From Central America to East Africa, repressive legal tools and state violence are converging to silence civil society.  

“Press freedom is not merely a democratic principle — it is the foundation upon which the rule of law and the protection of human rights are built. In the absence of a free and independent media, transparency erodes, accountability weakens, and civic participation is diminished. Silencing the press is not only a threat to journalists; it is a threat to justice, governance, and the public’s right to know. Upholding press freedom is not optional — it is a legal and moral obligation in any society that aspires to be democratic and inclusive,” saysIman Abdikarin, CEO and founder of Hiil Law Firm. 

Addressing this coordinated global rollback demands urgent action from governments, international institutions, and donors to reinforce safeguards, promote responsive governance, and ensure a robust enabling environment for civil society worldwide. 

Read about a few wins recorded in June by the EU SEE network here.

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