The World Movement for Democracy and international community welcome the release of Evan Mawarire, a Zimbabwean evangelical pastor turned activist who created the popular #ThisFlag Movement. On July 6, 2016, Mawarire called for a “stay-away day,” urging Zimbabweans to stay home from work to protest against the chronic delays in paying civil servants, cash shortage,…
On June 19, 2016, Francisco Pancho Marquez Lara and Gabriel San Miguel, two Venezuelan activists, were arrested during a traffic stop by the Venezuelan National Guard on charges of having “opposition paraphernalia” in their car. Both are members of Venezuela’s opposition party, Voluntad Popular, and were traveling to the rural state of Portuguesa…
The new report issued by the office of the UN High Commissioner provides examples of how countries can create and maintain a robust civil society. Recommendations from the report include examples of effective legislation that protects human rights, investments in strong judiciary institutions, open access to information, international human rights institutions and mechanisms, as…
On May 27, 2016, Chinese authorities detained seven activists in Beijing, and the Sichuan Province, after a photograph was posted online showing six of them calling for the commemoration of Tiananmen Massacre, as well as the release of political prisoners Guo Feixiong (郭飞雄), and the detained Yu Shiwen (于世文). Three other activists were detained in…