This report examines the place and role of civil society within the United Nations (UN) human rights system and the conditions that, over time, have enabled it to participate. It focuses on how these conditions are now being eroded and on the risks this poses to the effectiveness, legitimacy and inclusivity of the UN’s human rights work. This analysis is situated within a broader global context in which multilateral institutions and human rights norms are increasingly contested, democratic space is contracting in many regions, and power-driven approaches to international relations are imposing sustained pressure on participation, accountability and oversight.
View the joint publication: