Virtual Engagement Session | Civic Space Under Threat: Mobilizing Legal Strategies to Protect Civic Freedoms
Background
Governments around the world are deploying increasingly restrictive regulations and policies. This new legislation is often framed as ordinary regulations but can quickly become an existential threat to civic space, giving governments another way to restrict civil society’s work. Civil society organizations (CSOs) everywhere are confronting a growing set of bureaucratic hurdles, barriers to funding, sanctions, and many other challenges, forcing many organizations to reduce their operations or shut down completely.
In this session, we heard diverse perspectives on the tactics governments use to turn regulatory legislation into a tool to silence dissenting voices and repress important advocacy work. Speakers discussed the importance of pro bono work and solidarity to push back against restrictions, and shared valuable insights into actionable steps to mitigate the threats posed by these types of laws.
Our Speakers
- Romina Canessa, Senior Staff Attorney, Human Rights & Access to Justice Program, Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice
- Gina Romero, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association
- Benson Olugbuo, Founder & Managing Partner, Benson Olugbuo and Company in Abuja, Nigeria
- Javier Alonso de Belaunde, Senior Associate, Hernández & Cía in Lima, Peru and member, Alianza Pro Bono Perú
Key Takeaways
Three common tactics that governments use to repress civil society are:
- Hostile narratives that stigmatize civil society activists and human rights defenders;
- Restrictive laws targeting collective action; and
- A national security framing that justifies surveillance and harsh punitive measures and reinforces a false paradigm that presents freedom and security as opposing goals.
UNSR Gina Romero contextualized the discussion by noting two trends that have shaped these increased restrictions on civic space. The first is “the decline of democracy worldwide, which has been marked by the growing of authoritarianism and also the increase of armed conflicts, violence, and wars.” The second is the “changes in relations between countries and the objectives of multilateral action.”
Nigeria has seen increased regulation of CSOs. There are more bureaucratic policies and rules around registration, and not every organization has the finances or capacity to register with the required agencies. In some cases, organizations are blocked from opening bank accounts or soliciting funding. These barriers and red tape go beyond Nigeria and are part of a larger global trend.
In Peru, the “APCI law” had a similar effect, imposing arbitrary rules and regulations on CSOs. Law No. 32301, also known as the APCI Law, was passed in April 2025, modifying the law that created the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI). Read more about it here. A new policy requiring government approval for any action or work done by a CSO placed these organizations under even closer scrutiny.
Under these laws, the government can disband an organization or remove it from the APCI register at its own discretion. To combat this, Javier emphasized that pro bono work has become more important than ever. Pro bono lawyers have been able to help Peruvian CSOs comply with new regulations and understand the threats to civic space posed by APCI laws and similar legislation in other countries. He mentioned a recent case for which he and his colleagues at the firm provided legal support to CSOs working on transgender rights.
“Legal support builds trust only when it is respectful, collaborative, and accessible. And when that trust exists, the legal work becomes meaningful and truly helps strengthen civil society and civic space.” – Javier Alonso de Belaunde
UNSR Romero mentioned that even the act of proposing restrictive laws, even if they are ultimately not adopted, can advance harmful narratives that negatively impact civil society. She noted that an important part of her mandate involves ensuring that institutional procedures and recommendations, like those of the Financial Action Task Force, are not misused
Protecting civic space requires sustained, coordinated action. As governments increasingly use regulations to restrict advocacy and silence dissent, pro bono lawyers can play a vital role in helping CSOs navigate complex legal barriers, challenge unjust restrictions, and continue their work safely and effectively. All three speakers emphasized that, by standing with these organizations, legal professionals can help defend the broader democratic freedoms that make public participation, accountability, and human rights work possible.
“Different actions are needed at the same time by different actors, not only one.” – UNSR Gina Romero
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About Our Work
Our civil society clients are at the core of the Vance Center’s mission. In addition to providing pro bono legal support, the Vance Center is committed to defending civic space to ensure these civil society groups can continue their essential work. We draw on our global pro bono network to represent CSOs and showcase how these restrictions violate international human rights standards. We have also:
- Conducted in-depth legal and policy analyses grounded in these international standards;
- Connected civil society actors under threat with lawyers in their countries;
- Organized timely informational webinars and developed accessible reports to break down complex laws and provide guidance to affected organizations; and
- Coordinated statements to draw international attention to this issue.
Learn more about our Human Rights Program
Supporting the Vance Center strengthens our capacity to mobilize our legal network to support CSOs under threat around the world and assist international experts working to protect civic space.