Latest news with #CIVICUS
IOL News
3 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Green Shoots: Innovation and the imperative of action
In case you missed it on the socials, the organisation I work for is one of five recipients of the Nelson Mandela - Graça Machel Innovation Awards for 2024/25. The Awards recognise individuals and organisations around the world who are developing creative and impactful solutions to achieve a more just world. It is run by CIVICUS, a global alliance of civil society organisations and activists working to strengthen citizen action throughout the world. It's been great to be part of a convening this week that has been exploring what innovation looks like in our work, and how we can use the power of the awards to deepen the impact of these interventions wherever we are in the world. The idea of innovation is often used in technology and in business settings. We love new gadgets that are supposed to make our lives easier, or entrepreneurs who conjure up new solutions to business problems. The Oxford definition describes innovation as the process through which new products, concepts, services, or techniques are developed. It's a word that originates from Latin references to renewal or to change. With the rise of the Industrial Revolution, it was associated with science and the manufacturing of machines and industrial products. There's even an equation for it that I quite like: Innovation = Creativity +Implementation. In the conversations at the meeting this week, there's been lots of talk of technological and other innovations in responding to social problems. There are various apps that support communities at risk, or that collate and aggregate information that people might need to access services. There is even the exploration of using artificial intelligence in ways that are for the benefit of society. I have found great stimulation in learning about new approaches to engagement with local communities and the issues they face. People involved in the meeting are from all over the world, and it's been fascinating to hear about the challenges that are faced in Indonesia and Philippines, Pakistan and India, Colombia and Brazil. There are struggles for identity in Uganda, and struggles for health in Kenya. South Africa has plenty in common with these countries, and it's been an excellent opportunity to learn about other innovations that could influence and enhance our own practice. My organisation is currently in the process of making small grants to over fifty community organisations doing social justice work in Southern Africa. Many of the actions that will be supported are similar across these organisations. Most have asked for support to run workshops to raise awareness on a variety of issues that communities are battling with. Climate change, domestic violence, human rights, and a host of other themes will be covered, but the type of action will be quite similar in different locations. Most of these interventions will not fit the definition of innovation mentioned above. But they do respond to a problem. They are an expression of agency – the preparedness of people to get up and do something. These people may not be creating something brand new, but they are creating new opportunities for affected people to become active in changing their conditions. And I've learnt a great lesson in processing these applications, that we cannot let the search for the elusive silver bullet that will solve all problems stop us from getting active. That is the innovation for me – the continued commitment to action and the refusal to simply accept injustice.
The Herald Scotland
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Trump to host South African president for trade, refugee talks
Ramaphosa called accusations of racial persecution against Afrikaners a "completely false narrative." Although apartheid - in which South Africa was controlled by the country's White minority and Black South Africans were deprived of basic civil rights, ended in 1994 - white people still own a large majority of the land and control a hugely outsized share of the country's wealth. Ramaphosa to talk between South Africa and US Trump has said the White South Africans are the victims of "genocide" - an accusation the South African government and human rights experts say is not supported by evidence. Ramaphosa told reporters May 17 ahead of his trip that he wasn't worried about a hostile welcome at the White House. "There is no genocide in South Africa," Ramaphosa said. "We are going to have good discussions on trade." John Steenhuisen, the South African minister for agriculture, said on social media May 20 that he had a constructive meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. "Trade is essential between our two countries and we are determined to ensure that access for agricultural products remains open in a mutually beneficial way," Steenhuisen said. "Trade means jobs and a growing economy." The United States had an $8 billion trade deficit with South Africa in 2024. Trump suspends refugee program for most other than Afrikaners Upon taking office, Trump immediately suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and ordered most potential refugees to remain in other countries. But an exception Trump ordered Feb. 7 was for "Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination" who he offered admission and resettlement in the United States as refugees. The Trump administration warmly greeted 59 White people from South Africa upon their arrival on May 12, after granting them refugee status. But experts on South Africa say Trump's claims of anti-White discrimination - much less genocide - are baseless. "Genocide has a very clear definition and what is happening in South Africa with White South Africans does not fit the definition at all," said Mandeep Tiwana, chief officer of evidence and engagement at CIVICUS, a human rights advocacy organization headquartered in South Africa. "In fact, White South Africans are a privileged minority." "There is no White genocide. It is a story that has been sold," said Thapelo Mohapi, secretary general of Abahlali baseMjondolo, a South African poor people's movement. "It is very unfortunate, as a poor South African that lives in a shack, seeing somebody going abroad on a flight with gifts and clothing and receiving a warm welcome from the presidency in the U.S., with a lie that they are being persecuted," Mohapi said of the Afrikaners granted refugee status. "We, in fact, are the ones who are living in poverty," Mohapi said. Some White Afrikaners have praised Trump for highlighting what they say is the discrimination they face. Theo de Jager, an Afrikaner who chairs the Southern African Agriculture Initiative, wrote in a letter to Trump that "the opportunity you have extended" to enter the U.S. as a refugee could be the "only viable path forward" for some Afrikaners. But, he added, some Black families suffer "just as much--if not more." "It is critical for you to understand that the tensions in our country are not simply a black-and-white issue." Trump's admission of the Afrikaners also angered refugee assistance programs. The Episcopal Church announced it would shutter its refugee resettlement program on May 12 after Trump asked it to help resettle the group of Afrikaners - even as the flow of refugees from all other countries had stopped. "This is a corruption of the U.S. refugee program," Kenn Speicher, co-founder of Northern Virginia Friends of Refugees, said at Dulles Airport, where he was protesting the Afrikaners' arrival. Disputed claims of 'genocide' in South Africa Genocide is defined in the Genocide Convention, an international treaty that criminalizes genocide, as the killing of members of a group because of their race, religion or national origin, as in the Holocaust. "White farmers are being brutally killed," Trump told reporters May 12 in the White House Roosevelt Room. Ramaphosa has branded the claim a "false narrative." In South Africa, White people are much less likely to be murder victims than Black people. The group Genocide Watch has said that while South Africa's population is 7% White, White people make up just 2% of its murder victims. The South African government said on May 9 that "The South Africa Police Services statistics on farm related crimes do not support allegations of violent crime targeted at farmers generally or any particular race." Allegations of a White "genocide" in the country have been heavily bolstered by Elon Musk, Trump's close advisor, who is South African by birth. Last week, users of X, the social media site owned by Musk, widely reported that its AI chatbot repeatedly spitted out statements that the South African White genocide is real in unrelated conversations. Musk has also frequently used the platform to broadcast his accusations that White South Africans are victims of targeted racial violence. "When a farmer dies, then the whole world must know, because that farmer is White and the farmer is privileged," Mohapi said. "Black people can die anytime, like flies." Rubio, Kaine clash at Senate hearing over South African refugees The conflict over South African refugees erupted at a Senate hearing May 20 between Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Kaine disputed that Afrikaners are refugees because their political party is part of the government. "I assert that this claim that there is persecution of Afrikaner famers is specious," Kaine said. Rubio said the Afrikaners who arrived as refugees felt persecuted because "their farms were burned down and they were killed because of the color of their skin." Rubio denied the Trump administration favored Afrikaners as refugees because they are White. He said accepting refugees from more countries would lead to millions of more people arriving. "It was acting as a magnet," Rubio said of the refugee program. "They can't all come here." Black South Africans suffer disproportionate poverty Trump's allegations of a White "genocide" in South Africa center on recent land reform legislation signed by Ramaphosa in January called the Expropriation Act. The bill, aimed at rectifying inequality in land ownership left over from South Africa's racial apartheid system, opens pathways for the government to seize private land for public use - sometimes without compensation. The White House's executive order slammed the bill as "in shocking disregard of its citizens' rights" and Musk branded it "racist." But South Africa's racial wealth gap leans starkly in the opposite direction. Whites make up just over 7% of the population, but own around 72% of the country's farms and agricultural land, according to a 2017 government report. The country's inequality levels - consistently rated by the World Bank as among the worst globally - impact its Black population at a vastly disproportionate rate. Last year, the unemployment rate hit 37.6% for Black South Africans, while 7.9% of Whites were without a job. Around 10% of Blacks had medical care in 2018, as compared to 72% of their White counterparts. "We are finding ourselves in a very tight and difficult situation," said Mohapi. "People celebrate when they get a meal a day." "We are defending White privilege rather than to actually talk about the real issues, the bread and butter issues," he said.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
U.S. added to int'l human rights watchlist
May 11 (UPI) -- The United States was added to an international human rights watchlist on Sunday over Trump administration attacks targeting civic freedoms. CIVICUS, an international human rights monitor, said it added the United States due to "the Trump administration's assault on democratic norms and global cooperation." As reason, it listed President Donald Trump's "unprecedented executive orders designed to unravel democratic institutions, rule of law and global cooperation" as well as its slashing of federal funding for organizations supporting those in need, the dismantling of USAID and reversals on justice, inclusion and diversity. It also highlighted the Trump administration's crackdown on pro-Palestine protests through arbitrary arrests and student visa cancelations "This is an unparalleled attack on the rule of law in the United States, not seen since the days of McCarthyism in the 20th century," Mandeep Tiwana, interim co-secretary general of CIVICUS, said in a statement. "Restrictive orders, unjustifiable institutional cutbacks and intimidation tactics through threatening pronouncements by senior officials in the administration are creating an atmosphere to chill democratic dissent, a cherished American ideal." The United States being added to the watchlist comes as the Trump administration has come under mounting criticism over its attacks on American democratic institutions. It has been accused of ignoring due process rights in arresting and shipping hundreds of migrants to a notorious mega prison in El Salvador and has been condemned for its repeated attacks of the judicial system -- from calling for judges who rule against it to be impeached to arresting another on allegations of impeding an immigration-related arrest. CIVICUS also highlight the Trump administration's attacks on press freedom as reason for its inclusion the list. It pointed to the White House now determining which media outlets have access to presidential briefings and banning reporters covering political sensitive topics as proof. "The Trump administration seems hellbent on dismantling the system of checks and balances, which are the pillars of a democratic society," Tiwana said.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
10 facts on U.S.'s addition to human rights watch list: How it can impact Hawaiʻi tourism
HONOLULU (KHON2) — On Sunday, March 9, the United States was placed on the CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist. This is an international list that keeps track of international states who actively seek to violate human and civil rights. This is the first time the U.S. has ever been placed on this list. Now, while many do not care, Hawaii is not in a position not to care. Why? Because our economy nearly solely relies on tourism. This means that many people with disposable income will probably avoid a place where they will need to fear for their human and civil rights. But what does it mean to placed on this list? did a bit of investigating, and this is what we found: Inclusion on watchlist: The U.S. joins countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Italy, Pakistan and Serbia on the CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist. Our inclusion indicates there are significant concerns about the state of civic freedoms in many places across the U.S. Reasons for inclusion: CIVICUS cites actions by the Trump administration that threaten democratic norms. These include the dismissal of federal employees, appointment of loyalists to key positions, withdrawal from international organizations, restriction of media access and suppression of protests. Potential regression in civic space: The U.S., previously rated as having a 'narrowed' civic space, risks regressing to an 'obstructed' status if current trends continue. Global implications: CIVICUS warns that the U.S.'s decline in civic freedoms could embolden authoritarian regimes worldwide, and this will undermine global democratic standards like dominos. This is much like the U.S. foreign policy theory on anti-democratic maneuvers by the Soviet Union in which they compared the fall of democracies to that of falling dominos. Executive actions of concern: The administration's executive orders aim to dismantle democratic institutions, challenge the rule of law and reduce global cooperation. These maneuvers raise alarms amongst civil society organizations since they are the steps a government system take to move a system away from standards of democracy. Impact on civil society organizations: There have been significant funding cuts to organizations supporting vulnerable populations that hinder efforts toward justice, inclusion and diversity. Suppression of dissent: Incidents such as the arrest of activists and increased enforcement measures against protests highlight a crackdown on dissenting voices. Media freedom under threat: The administration's actions include restricting media access and revoking security clearances of journalists in a move to pose significant threats to press freedom. International criticism: The U.S.'s addition to the watchlist has drawn international criticism, with concerns that it undermines the country's historical role as a proponent of democratic values. Call for action: Civil society organizations are urging the U.S. government to reverse these trends, restore democratic norms and protect civic freedoms to maintain its standing in the international tourism industry is a vital component of our state's economy. It contributes significantly to employment and state revenue. So, the inclusion of the U.S. on the CIVICUS Watchlist could have several implications for Hawai'i's tourism sector: Perception of safety and stability: International tourists may perceive the U.S., including Hawai'i, as less stable or welcoming which could lead to potential declines in visitor numbers, overall. Travel advisories: Some countries might issue travel advisories cautioning their citizens about visiting the U.S., which could deter potential tourists from traveling to the U.S. state of Hawaiʻi. Economic impacts: A decline in tourism could affect Hawai'i's economy and lead to reduced revenues for businesses reliant on tourists and potential job losses in the hospitality and service industries across the state. Cultural sensitivities: The spotlight on human rights issues might amplify existing concerns about the negative impacts of tourism on Native Hawaiian culture and the environment. This could lead to increased calls for sustainable tourism practices. You can click to read more about our inclusion on the list. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 Being placed on this list isn't a permanent situation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Russia Today
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Soros-linked group adds US to human rights watchlist
A group of NGOs linked to billionaire George Soros has placed the US on a watchlist of 'countries with faltering civic freedoms,' citing executive orders signed by President Donald Trump since he assumed office in January. According to the South African-based CIVICUS, the Trump administration has launched an 'assault on democratic norms and global cooperation.' '[The] United States, once a global champion of democracy and human rights, joins the first 2025 watchlist along with Democratic Republic of Congo, Italy, Pakistan, and Serbia,' the organization said in a statement on Monday. 'Unprecedented executive orders designed to unravel democratic institutions, rule of law, and global cooperation raise alarm,' it added, citing Trump's decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), and the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Trump terminated US membership in the WHO and UNHRC over an alleged lack of reforms, disproportionate financial contributions, and their handling of international crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic. USAID, Washington's primary channel for sending money to causes abroad, was accused of misusing taxpayer money and fostering corruption, and had most of its employees laid off or placed on leave. Placing countries on the list aims to highlight an alleged 'decline in respect for civic space,' and to pressure the governments to 'end the ongoing crackdowns,' CIVICUS said. A self-proclaimed 'global alliance of civil society organizations and activists working to strengthen citizen action,' CIVICUS has received funding from the Open Society Foundations (OSF), established by Hungarian-American financier Soros, according to Spanish outlet Okdiario. Soros is well known for financing liberal causes and political candidates across the Western world. The 94-year-old has been a significant donor to the Democratic Party. Most recently, Soros has been accused of spending millions of dollars to block Trump's political agenda, a claim that has been supported by the US president's close ally and adviser, Elon Musk.
