"The role of the private sector in protecting civic space", 1 February 2021

Robust civic space is essential for good governance, the rule of law and for enabling citizens to influence the shape of their societies and the policies adopted by their governments...

.. .But civil society space is shrinking dramatically around the world. This is the case both for established democracies with active and diverse civic spaces – where civil society is increasingly finding it harder to operate – and for countries with developing national human rights institutions or limited freedoms – where an already difficult environment for civil society has undermined their ability to function effectively at all...

... Business and civil society operate in and benefit from a ‘shared space’ – the rule of law, accountable governance and civic freedoms are essential to the realization of good governance, accountable institutions and stable business environments. While there is an increase in corporate engagement on societal issues [...] corporate action in support of civic space is currently limited, largely ad hoc and generally confined to a small cluster of engaged multinationals. Potential routes for effective coordination or collaboration with other actors, including civil society organizations, remain under-explored.

Through a series of roundtables and webinars with private-sector actors, civil society organizations and other key stakeholders, we considered the potential for the private sector to play a greater role in strengthening and protecting civic space. We explored the drivers of, and barriers to, corporate activism; identified good practice; and discussed practical strategies for the business community. This paper summarizes key insights that emerged during these discussions, including thoughts on the way forward...