Civil Society Forum

Today, on World NGO Day, we celebrate our community of more than 160 member organisations working across borders, united by a commitment to human rights and to the values of democracy and the rule of law. This day is a good opportunity to say thank you to everyone working in the nonprofit sector.

Following our #BerlinHub series on civil society under authoritarian pressure, we turn to environmental organisations in Russia. We asked Angelina Davydova, environmental and climate journalist, to share her view on the topic.

Read the full article below.
csf-ev.org/environmenta...

We are glad to welcome a new member to our network, Migtact, a community-driven organisation based in Prague that works to strengthen civil society by supporting the active civic participation of people with migration backgrounds and fostering a sense of belonging in civic life. Welcome to CSF!

Across Europe, anti-gender laws are spreading. With support from the Civil Society Forum, our member Quarteera published Queer Women, on how war, repression and anti-gender policies shape queer women’s lives in Russia. Download it for free here: www.quarteera.de/en/projects/...

Journalism Under Authoritarianism in Serbia: A System Designed to Intimidate - Civil Society Forum Authoritarian systems rely on the normalisation of violence. Threats against journalists are very rarely investigated, creating an atmosphere of impunity. As for physical attacks, they are fairly rare...

Following our #BerlinHub series on civil society under authoritarian pressure, journalist and professor Dinko Gruhonjić shares his experience of working in independent media in Serbia. His story highlights growing risks for journalists in Serbia and beyond. Read the full article below.

On 12 November, the European Commission published its long-awaited #CivilSocietyStrategy, to which we at the #CSF contributed. This strategy is an important step, but it is only a starting point. It is now up to #civilsociety to ensure it becomes a living instrument for protecting #democracy.

We’re excited to share that Civil Society Forum has officially become a member of Civil Society Europe @eucivilsociety.bsky.social , one of the leading platforms connecting #civilsociety organisations across the #EU. By joining CSE, we stand for #dialogue, civic #freedoms and #inclusion in #Europe.

We’re proud to see #CSF-supported projects grow and sustain. In 2024, Pascalia Nyamita, alumna of our #EuropeLab programme, received our support to kick off her project #Ubuntu in #Warsaw. We’re glad to see the impact of Ubuntu in Warsaw and how the Europe Lab inspires #community-driven #change.

Did you ever see the movie Groundhog Day, where Bill Murray’s character lives through the same day again and again? Sometimes, #activism feels like we’re caught in a loop — we're always demanding change. Btw, our #newsletter just dropped, subscribe to receive the next one! mailchi.mp/csf-ev.org/n...

Our #course "Facilitating #Dialogue in Times of Rupture" is just around the corner, happening this week in #Berlin, 16–18 October. This is your last chance to join — check out the details on our website: csf-ev.org/programmes/b...

HRDs, Climate Change and a Just Transition – Guest Blog from Vitaly Servetnik A guest blog by Vitaly Servetnik, a climate activist from Russia who is part of the group challenging the Russian government's climate inaction before the European Court of Human Rights.

Rather than cutting emissions, #Russia—the world’s fourth-largest polluter—plans to increase them. Read a blog by Vitaly Servetnik, a Russian #climate expert and activist, on the #RussianClimateCase at the European Court of Human Rights. And sign the petition #RussianClimateCase tinyurl.com/2scahhrm

Our brand-new #CSF #website is now live!
CSF has always been about people, #collaboration and #community. Our new online home reflects that. It’s designed to give a clearer picture of who we are, how we work and the opportunities for our members to get involved.
Explore it here: csf-ev.org

We live in a world where #borders divide people and bring #injustice into their lives—simply because someone was lucky or unlucky to be born on one side of a border. At the Civil Society Forum, we believe in #civilsociety beyond borders. Here’s how our illustrator Dominik visualised our motto!

YouTube video by Civil Society Forum Alex Scrivener: "The civil society is losing battle after battle"

In our interview with @alscriv.bsky.social , Executive Director of the @demsecinstitute.bsky.social
, he shares his thoughts on how the public perceives #civilsociety today — and why building stronger cooperation is essential for the future. www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2J0...

#Humantrafficking remains a global crisis driven by organised crime, with over 200,000 victims detected worldwide. Ending trafficking means defending rights, addressing root causes like inequality and racism and building systems that truly protect. #StopHumanTrafficking

We’re excited to share that the selection results for #EuropeLab2025 are out! Check your inboxes—we’ve sent emails to everyone who applied. Read more about #EuropeLab on our website (csf-ev.org/programmes/e...).

The #LGBTQIA+ community remains one of the most vulnerable groups within the context of #displacement. As we mark #PrideMonth this June, it's important to recognise the ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ #migrants and #asylum seekers. Read more in our #DisplacementReport csf-ev.org/wp-content/u...

Today marks what would have been the 49th birthday of Alexei #Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who died in prison. His death stands as a reminder of the growing #repression in #Russia, where 959 #politicalprisoners remain behind bars. We call for their immediate and unconditional release.

If passed, this ‘‘Transparency of Public Life” law would deal a devastating blow to #civicspace in #Hungary and the #EU. Read the #CSF Board statement on Hungary’s bill to ban #civilsociety from receiving foreign funding: l1nq.com/vbHyc

Read this piece written for #CSF by Alice Priori—facilitator, #ArtofHosting practitioner and co-founder of #CitizensLab—reflects on Berlin’s deep legacy of transformation and the power of #civilsociety in reconnecting fragmented communities: csf-ev.org/news/berlin-...

Our programme #EuropeLab is celebrating its tenth birthday this year—and we're on the hunt for participants! We're looking for early-career #changemakers who are passionate about #civilsociety and international #dialogue. Apply by 30 April 2025 here: csf-ev.org/programmes/e...

#Women fleeing war are among the most #vulnerablegroups affected by conflict. Russia’s invasion of #Ukraine has caused one of the largest displacements since World War II. For a deeper understanding of how #displacement impacts women, red our State of Civil Society report: csf-ev.org/programmes/s...

The #CivilSocietyForum is opening the doors to something we’ve been building with care: #BerlinHub —a shared space for people working for change—artists, activists, journalists, exiled community leaders, local groups. We’re not here to lead. We’re here to host. Stay tuned for more info coming soon.

How the suspension of U.S. funding will affect #civilsociety in #Europe and #Russia? Read opinion piece by an expert in #fundraising for non-profits Anton Pominov: www.linkedin.com/pulse/anton-...

On 24 February 20.00, we invite you to join the Day of Mourning at the Book Burning Memorial on #Bebelplatz in #Berlin. We stand together in our support for #Ukraine. We mourn all those who have lost their lives and suffered in this war. Read details here (lnkd.in/d8rBi5zt).

One year ago, Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny was killed in a Russian prison. His death was meant to silence him, but instead, his voice echoes louder than ever. Today, countless political prisoners remain behind bars for speaking the truth. We call to #FreePoliticalPrisoners.

In 2025, we hope for #negotiations that could bring an end to the #Russia's war in #Ukraine. Our colleagues have launched the #People1st campaign. The demand is simple but urgent: release the captives of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Sign up for the campaign via this link: people1st.online

#Environmental #activism in Russia is under severe pressure. Check out this recent Annual Report from the Environmental Crisis Group—a crucial resource documenting the persecution of environmental #humanrights defenders in #Russia: help-eco.info/ehrd2024/

YouTube video by Civil Society Forum Neringa Jurčiukonytė: "We need to start listening to each other"

Independent journalism is crucial for a functioning democracy. However, in Wider Europe #pressfreedom is under increasing threat. We spoke to Neringa Jurčiukonytė, founder of Media4change. Watch full version of the interview with Neringa on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzBi...

Are you a student at an EU university with a passion for #civilsociety and #humanrights? Join our team as one of our #Communications interns! We’re offering two exciting #internships starting in April 2025 and July 2025, respectively. Visit our website for more info: csf-ev.org/about-us/jobs/