International CSOs bang heads

As the government and civil society organisations (CSOs) continue hitting each other hard, Malawi is hosting an international civil society workshop to discuss how CSOs can reclaim ‘lost space’ in governance.

Over 100 delegates from across the world met on Monday at Sunbird Mount Soche in Blantyre to discuss what the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Association, Maina Kiai, referred to as threats on the civil society.

“It is not an African problem. All over the world, civil rights activists are being harassed, tortured and killed. Draconian laws enacted to limit the operating space. Governments are getting more scared with the civil society when they question how they are governing countries,” said Kiai.

He observed that some governments are enacting laws that bar CSOs from getting international funding, saying itis killing the organisations. “One wonders why things should be that way when the same governments depend largely on foreign funding. Even most big corporations run on funding from abroad,” said Kiai.

Organised by the DanChurch Aid, under its Act Alliance, the workshop, which closes today will, among others, discuss emerging threats on CSOs, identify promising practices, defending civil society and exchange experiences.

DanChurch Aid director Christian Balslev-Olesen said increased civil society space would increase accountability in governments.

“The role of the civil society is checking corruption and other social ills. The civil society plays a big role in education, health, agriculture and other aspects. CSOs must reclaim that lost space,” said Balslev-Olesen.