"2017 State of Civil Society Report: Civil Society and the Private Sector"

As business continues to grow in influence globally, the State of Civil Society Report discusses serious concerns over private sector practices that are leading to increased human rights abuses and attacks on fundamental freedoms. The report proposes, as a minimum starting point, a ‘first do no harm’ principle. But it asks the private sector to go beyond this and make an active commitment to work with civil society to uphold the rule of law, human rights and people’s rights to the freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and expression....Just three per cent of the world’s population live in countries where civic space is fully open. Given the growing global role of business, this year’s report sets out an urgent need to make the business case for civic space. The report calls for greater civil society engagement with the private sector, and new relationships, based on honesty, transparency, respect and shared commitment to advance common goals. 27 freshly commissioned articles from our members and partners present a thought-provoking range of insights, full of practical ideas for civil society to influence, work with and address the power of the private sector.