This form collects organisational signatures for the declaration. Please read the full text before signing.
We met at a time of escalating crises. Civilians are being targeted in conflicts including in Myanmar, Ukraine, Sudan Democratic Republic of Congo, and the genocide in Gaza. Rising authoritarianism is driving an onslaught on human rights: under four per cent of the world’s population live in countries where freedoms to organise, mobilise and speak out are respected. Wealth is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a tiny elite who are capturing politics. Disinformation is undermining democracy. Climate change is accelerating as powerful states and fossil fuel companies refuse to take responsibility. The rules-based international order is being replaced by transactional might-is-right diplomacy. Excluded groups are struggling to defend hard-won rights, with women’s rights and sexual and reproductive freedoms under attack.
Civil society faces a deepening funding crisis. Governments are cutting funds to prioritise military spending, and a growing number are passing laws to restrict international funding. But despite these challenges, grassroots organisations and movements continue to provide vital help to communities, advocate for better policies and hold human rights violators accountable. Civil society plays an essential role in defending democracy and human rights. Without us, authoritarianism would go unchallenged, abuses would increase and vulnerable people would face even greater dangers.
Global civil society calls for urgent action
We call on governments, global institutions and fellow civil society organisations to stand up and uphold democracy and civic freedoms. Democracy is vital because it gives people power, enabling them to shape their societies. Civic freedoms - the rights to assembly, association and expression - allow people to demand change and hold those in power to account.
a. Protect and advance democracy and good governance
- Governments must safeguard democratic institutions and democratic processes, uphold the rule of law, ensure an independent judiciary and respect fundamental freedoms.
- Enact and enforce fair election laws, ensure the impartiality of electoral commissions, enhance defences against disinformation and prevent the use of state resources for political campaigning.
- Repeal and amend repressive laws that stifle dissent and guarantee the right to peaceful protest and media freedoms. Strengthen transparency, accountability and efficiency measures, including independent anti-corruption commissions, transparent public procurement processes and asset declaration for public officials.
- Fund civic education, digital and media literacy and inclusive participation processes. Enact laws that support the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and support independent youth commissions.
b. Unconditionally respect human rights
- Do everything in their power to immediately stop, protect and confront all form of aggression, attacks against civilians, crimes against humanity and genocide, including by working collectively in multilateral forums.
- Investigate and prosecute all allegations of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other grave human rights abuses.
- Refrain from imposing internet shutdowns and censorship and protect people’s right to privacy online.
- Create a safe and enabling environment where activists, human rights defenders and journalists can work without fear of reprisals.
- Unconditionally release all political prisoners.
- Ratify and fully implement key international human rights conventions.
- Support independent human rights commissions.
c. Ensure environmental protection and climate justice - Phase out fossil fuel subsidies, invest in renewable energy, promote green jobs and sustainable agricultural practices and fund international climate financing mechanisms.
- Strengthen environmental protections and hold corporations liable for climate and environmental harm.
- Take urgent action to halt deforestation, protect endangered species and conserve ecosystems.
- Protect environmental human rights defenders and involve local communities, Indigenous peoples, and other vulnerable groups in the planning and implementation of climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
d. Protect the rights of minorities and excluded groups - Adopt comprehensive legislation that prohibits discrimination based on grounds including age, disability, ethnicity, gender, religion and sexual orientation.
- Guarantee the meaningful participation of excluded groups in political and public life.
- Strengthen laws and policies to prevent and respond to all forms of violence against women and girls, and people with diverse sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.
II. For Global Institutions (including UN, ASEAN and European Union):
a. Promote and defend democracy
- Condemn democratic backsliding and human rights abuses and apply consistent diplomatic pressure on states that are failing to comply with democratic and human rights norms.
- Provide financial and technical assistance to support free and fair elections, independent judiciaries and a vibrant civil society.
- Apply targeted sanctions against people and entities responsible for gross human rights violations and undermining rights and democracy.
- Cooperate internationally to combat disinformation and improve AI governance.
- Ensure responsiveness of regional human rights mechanisms in addressing human rights violations.
b. Uphold international law and human rights - Establish independent international mechanisms to investigate and document serious human rights violations.
- Encourage countries to ratify the Rome Statute and cooperate with the International Criminal Court.
- Integrate human rights considerations into all development, diplomatic and trade cooperation.
c. Address transnational challenges - Establish channels for regular consultation and collaboration with a diverse range of civil society, including youth-led movements.
- Hold regimes accountable for transnational repression that targets civil society beyond their borders, and provide enhanced scrutiny, sanctions and protective mechanisms to confront and limit cross-border authoritarian influence that undermines democracy.
- Create platforms for dialogue and cooperation on issues of shared concern, including climate change, transboundary pollution, human trafficking, business and human rights and global tax governance.
Our call for a more just, equitable and democratic future is resounding. State leaders and the international community must respond. And as civil society, given today's challenging context, we must reimagine how we champion democracy, human rights and inclusion. We must mobilise across new frontiers and reach beyond the traditional confines of civil society by widely engaging with grassroots communities, corporations, educators and a broader range of people. We commit to being more imaginative, adaptable and resilient, so we can make our contribution towards building a better world for everyone. 