The 2025 CIVICUS Monitor report paints a concerning picture of shrinking civic space globally, highlighting the top ten violations undermining freedoms of expression, assembly and association.
These violations reflect growing repression by states facing political unrest, economic strain or public dissent. Leading the list is protester detention, a tactic increasingly used to suppress demonstrations and silence dissenting voices.
Closely related is the detention of journalists, a trend fuelled by governments seeking to control narratives and limit exposure of state abuses.
Equally alarming is the detention of human rights defenders, individuals who play essential roles in documenting violations, supporting victims and holding authorities accountable. Their targeting signals a direct assault on accountability mechanisms.
The report also highlights attacks on journalists, including physical assaults, threats and harassment—acts that create a climate of fear and self-censorship in the media.
Other critical violations include the use of excessive force, often seen during protests where police resort to live ammunition, tear gas and violent dispersal tactics.
Protest disruption, through curfews, bans or internet shutdowns, further restricts public participation in civic processes.
Intimidation of journalists and censorship indicate broader attempts to restrict access to information and manipulate public discourse.
Restrictive laws—ranging from NGO regulations to cybercrime statutes—form another layer of control, giving governments broad powers to surveil, criminalise or shut down civic actors.
Finally, the prosecution of human rights defenders adds a legal dimension to repression, turning justice systems into tools of intimidation.
