Event series International Talks
The International Talks always take place during the semester. Always online. Always discussion format. Always socially relevant, international topics. The format includes an impulse with discussion, in which the participants can take part via chat. The talks get a special dynamic through the moderation of different experts. The International Talks are open to all students, colleagues and interested persons, especially including international students.
Shrinking and Closing Civil Society Space – a Serious Threat to Democracy, Peace and Development: Christine Meissler, Brot für die Welt)
Thursday, 16th of May, 2024, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Shrinking and closing civil society is a symptom of the current global crisis of democracy. Worldwide fundamental human rights such as freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association are under threat. Not only democracy and human rights are affected: Without independent and critical civil society actors, who can fulfill a watchdog role, claim rights of marginalized, criticise public decisions and hold the government accountable, social injustices and poverty, but also violent conflict are likely to increase.
Brot für die Welt observes for years with great concern how workingconditions of partners and other civil society actors are declining or even made impossible. Foreign donations are restricted, civil society organisations lose their registration or are dissolved. Activists, human rights defenders and journalists are persecuted, threatened or even killed. To document and raise awareness, Brot für die Welt has been publishing the Atlas der Zivilgesellschaft since 2018.
Christine Meissler is Policy Advisor for the Protection of Civil Society at Brot für die Welt. From 2007 to 2013 she worked as advisor and project manager at FriEnt and InWEnt mainly on peace building issues. As staff member and delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross, she worked in Geneva, Manila and Addis Ababa. She holds a diploma in Political Science of the Free University Berlin and a Master in International Human Rights Law of Oxford University.
Participation
All Talks will be realized as videoconference.
Certificats
Available on request