The OECD’s first Global Civic Space Report
30.12.2022 | The report assesses data and good practices from over 50 countries, providing an insight into civic spaces around the world
On 16 December, Dr. Rupert Strachwitz attended the virtual presentation of the OECD’s first report on Global Civic Space.
The OECD’s Gillian Dorner, Deputy Director of the Public Governance Directorate, gave the opening remarks, with moderation from her colleague Alessandro Bellantoni, Head of Unit, Open Government and Civic Space Unit. The OECD’s Observatory of Civic Space presented the reports’ findings, preceding reactions from civil society experts and actors, such as Michael O’Flaherty, Director, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.
The report is entitled ‘The Protection and Promotion of Civic Space: Strengthening Alignment with International Standards and Guidance.’ It compiles data from 33 OECD members and 19 external countries. This is coupled with “a nuanced overview of the different dimensions of civic space,” aspects that include civic freedoms and civic space in the digital age. To gain this overview, researchers assessed legal frameworks and good practices, among other issues, from the aforementioned countries, alongside data from civil society.
The OECD Observatory of Civic Space increases the visibility of the current and planned work on civic space. It builds on almost two decades of OECD work on open government, supporting governance cultures based on transparency, integrity, accountability and stakeholder participation.
Our research on shrinking civic space aims to assess the paradox that “civic space is simultaneously growing and shrinking.” With generous financial support from Porticus and the Open Society Initiative for Europe (OSIFE), we are working with our network of partners to research civic space in Europe.
