Over the past decade, countries have increasingly recognised civic space as a cornerstone of functioning democracies. This Practical Guide for Policymakers builds on the 2022 OECD global report "The Protection and Promotion of Civic Space: Strengthening Alignment with International Standards and Guidance". The global report presents a comparative perspective on the protection and promotion of civic space, based on data collected from 52 OECD and partner countries, and offers 10 high-level recommendations. This guide for policymakers provides specific guidance for implementing these recommendations, highlighting relevant actors, policies, and practices. It includes tables, checklists, and figures to help public officials take concrete steps in various areas that affect civic space.
Practical Guide for Policymakers on Protecting and Promoting Civic Space
Abstract
Executive Summary
There is a growing recognition of the role that civic space plays in facilitating more responsive, democratic and inclusive governance. While OECD member countries are making efforts to protect civic space, they often lack a comprehensive and strategic approach, leading to disjointed and siloed initiatives with limited impact. It is crucial that countries recognise the need to protect and promote the many dimensions of civic space to build resilience to democratic backsliding. This guide underlines four key steps to protecting and promoting civic space:
Recognising civic space as a national policy priority;
Reviewing the extent to which relevant policies, laws and institutions are fit for purpose and in line with international standards;
Responding to identified needs and gaps; and
Regularly monitoring how civic space is protected and promoted in practice.
This guide offers practical advice on implementing each of the OECD’s ten high-level recommendations by identifying relevant actors, policies, institutions, and practices, based on evidence. The guide demonstrates that every public official can help protect civic space, and focuses on tangible support based on good practices in countries.
The 10 high-level recommendations to protect and promote civic space
Copy link to The 10 high-level recommendations to protect and promote civic space1: Foster an enabling environment for CSOs that facilitates their positive contribution to society Civil society organisations (CSOs) advocate for diverse needs, provide policy expertise, monitor government actions, contribute to public debates, and deliver services. For CSOs to operate effectively, the legal environment governing their activities is particularly important. Key aspects of an enabling policy framework include developing strategies and policies for the CSO sector; guaranteeing transparent and accessible registration procedures; providing predictable, accessible, and sustainable government funding; and gathering and publishing data to support and develop a strategic approach to CSOs.
2: Protect and facilitate freedom of expression. Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democratic societies, enabling open debate and diverse perspectives. OECD member countries could introduce measures such as decriminalising defamation, introducing provisions to provide legal protection for public interest information, and adopting legal measures to protect individuals and organisations from SLAPPs (strategic lawsuits against public participation aimed at silencing activists and media workers).
3: Protect online civic space, including by countering online hate speech and misinformation and disinformation. Protecting online civic space is essential for citizens and civil society to access information and engage in public life without fear. At the same time, privacy breaches, harmful online content and hate speech can undermine trust in government and hinder participation. Governments can take a holistic approach to tackling online hate, including education, victim support, better access to justice, and training for authorities in recognising and responding to hate speech. Governments can also commit to a whole-of-government and whole-of-society policy framework for building resilience against mis- and disinformation and strengthening information integrity.
4: Foster a public interest information ecosystem that promotes access to information and protects independent media. Access to information and an independent media allow citizens to gather information, form opinions, participate in decision making, and monitor government activities. Governments can take a range of actions, including improving accessibility, inclusivity, and oversight of access to information; preventing media concentration; promoting media pluralism; and safeguarding oversight bodies to monitor media freedom.
5: Safeguard and protect at-risk human rights defenders, as well as CSO members, activists, and media workers, who play an essential role in raising awareness of critical issues among policymakers and the public. This role can nonetheless expose them to harm, ranging from stigmatisation and public harassment to violent attacks. Creating and maintaining a safe environment for them requires governments to adopt comprehensive legal and policy frameworks, introduce protection mechanisms, and gather data to monitor intimidation, threats, attacks, and killings.
6: Protect and facilitate freedom of peaceful assembly and the right to protest. The right to assemble peacefully is a prerequisite for an open and democratic society. It includes the right to hold meetings, sit-ins, strikes, rallies, events, and protests. Governments can safeguard this right through legal frameworks and practical measures, such as enhancing transparency through information portals; facilitating dialogue between law enforcement and assembly organisers; updating operating procedures for law enforcement; ensuring the safety of media workers during assemblies; and responding proportionately to outbreaks of violence.
7: Respect privacy and ensure personal data protection to avoid arbitrary intrusion and interference in civic life: The right to privacy helps create the conditions for people to inform, express and organise themselves without undue interference. Governments can help safeguard against the use of surveillance technology; mitigate risks associated with personal data collection, retention, and use; strengthen independent oversight; and empower individuals’ control over their data.
8: Counter the discrimination, exclusion and marginalisation that disproportionately affects certain groups and acts as an obstacle to equal participation in public life: Democracy is stronger when all members of society can exercise civic freedoms on an equal basis. Discrimination or exclusion, on the other hand, can undermine citizens’ trust and their ability and willingness to engage with state institutions. To reduce discriminatory practices, governments can introduce comprehensive legal frameworks; support equality bodies; strengthen data collection; and counter hate crimes.
9: Systematically protect and promote civic space as an enabler of citizen and stakeholder engagement in public decision making to foster more open, transparent and accountable governance: Enshrining citizen and stakeholder participation in a range of legal and institutional frameworks and practices can complement and reinforce traditional democratic processes and systems such as elections. This could include promoting the use of participatory and deliberative processes; enshrining the right to participation in legal frameworks; creating institutional frameworks for participation; and embedding participatory processes in decision making.
10: Protect civic space both domestically as well as in non-member countries as part of a coherent policy approach: OECD member countries can take action – as part of development co-operation, humanitarian assistance, foreign, trade and climate policy – to ensure a coherent policy approach to protecting civic space. This requires awareness of national policy impacts on partner countries and sustained, high-level political commitment. Governments can co-ordinate to protect civic space both at national and at international level while supporting CSOs in partner countries and upholding the do-no-harm principle.