Civic space in the Europe and Central Asia region continues to decline. Report of an international organization Civicus Monitor says.
Of the region’s 54 countries, civic space is rated as open in 19, narrowed in 21, obstructed in seven, repressed in three and closed in four. Over the past year, experts of the organization have documented a notable decline in civic space in established democracies such as France and the UK, with legislative developments threatening fundamental freedoms.
According to them, civic space in other European countries is in decline, with the civic space rating of four countries being downgraded. In Central Asia, governments continue to restrict the already limited space for civil society, often deploying tactics of harassment and intimidation against journalists and HRDs.
Additionally, increasingly authoritarian leadership was documented under a new president in Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov.
The report is based on the data from independent research partners of Civicus Monitor, including updates on Central Asia prepared by the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) and its partners in the region.
