The most recent analysis by my CIVICUS colleagues shows that, in 2015, civic space was violated to a significant degree in more than 100 countries...it is clear that threats to civil society are continuing to emanate from both state and non-state actors. This worrying global trend...must also be of concern to the private sector...Healthy civic space is vital, not just so that civil society can advocate for change, but so that commercial enterprises can thrive...Particularly where the rights of local communities to land and natural resources are concerned, business entities are also implicated....The consequences of these restrictions for civil society are very real: community activists assassinated for opposing mining projects, environmentalists jailed for exposing land-grabbing and peaceful protesters met with brute force. The complex relationship between business and shrinking civic space is both important and often overlooked. There are three critical areas where I believe business is particularly well-positioned to reverse the trend toward closing civic space: Easing Restrictions on International Funding Critical...Protecting Open Access in Cyberspace...Global Inequality a Core Issue...