The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA; DSO/MO) and the INCLUDE Knowledge Platform on Inclusive Development Policies are pleased to invite you to the lunch seminar titled ‘Civic Space and Non-State Actors’.
There is a worrying trend of closing civic space worldwide. In many countries social movements are repressed, journalists are persecuted, internet is censored and human rights defenders are harassed. While it is getting clearer how and why states limit civic space, little is known about the role of non-state actors – such as societal groups, companies and para-legal security forces – in closing civic space.
In our seminar two research groups will share their first findings on the role of non-state actors. Their research projects make cross-continental comparisons on the following topics:
- Dilemmas in sustainable development and civil society in Bangladesh and Zambia: What is the effect of legal and extra-legal measures on the civil society sector in Bangladesh and Zambia? (Dr. Luc Fransen – University of Amsterdam) https://includeplatform.net/downloads/research-group-facts-fransen/
- Impact of non-state actors on civic space in Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Palestine: How do the activities of non-state actors influence the political or civic space of CSOs? (Mr. Dominic Perera – CIVICUS) https://includeplatform.net/downloads/research-group-facts-perera/
These researches are part of a larger research programme – in collaboration with NWO-WOTRO and knowledge platform INCLUDE – which scrutinizes the assumptions behind the Dialogue and Dissent policy framework. As these researches are geared towards policy relevance, we will focus our discussion on questions of how we as donors or as civil society partners can use this knowledge to support our partners in difficult circumstances.
Program:
12:00 Lunch (provided by MFA)
12:30 Welcome by To Tjoelker (head DSO/MO)
12:40 Presentations by the research groups
13:10 Reflection by panel
13:25 Open discussion and Q&A
14:00 Closing
Where:
Black stairs 4th floor (04.A.036), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rijnstraat 8, The Hague
Please sign up through samen-tegenspraak@minbuza.nl
If you have any questions or remarks, please send an e-mail to samen-tegenspraak@minbuza.nl