abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

11 Jun 2015

Author:
Mandeep. S. Tiwana, CIVICUS, in IPS (Inter Press Service)

NGOs and activists exposing businesses’ negative human rights impacts increasingly vulnerable to persecution, says analyst

'Opinion: why are threats to civic space growing across the world?', 11 Jun 2015:...In recent years, there has been a perceptible rise in restrictions on…the fundamental freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly…[D]angers to civic freedoms come not just from state apparatuses but also from powerful non-state actors including influential business entities…[C]ivil society groups exposing corruption and/or environmental degradation by…businesses are extremely vulnerable to persecution due to the tight overlap and cosy relationships among elites…labour, land and environmental rights activists are [also] facing heightened challenges. At least 29 environmental activists were reported murdered in Brazil in 2014…[while] efforts of Greenpeace India to protect forests from the activities of extractive industries have led it to be subjected to various forms of bureaucratic harassment…