Posts by andrew.wilkin
Annual Conference in Berlin on “Democracies in Peril”
This year our Annual Conference focused on the theme “Democracies in peril? What civil society can do to turn the tide,” bringing together civil society activists, researchers and professionals from the EU and neighbouring countries. Our Annual Conference has a longstanding tradition within the Civil Society Forum, connecting civil society from various countries to foster…
Read MoreWelcome our new Executive Director, Nataliya Novakova
The Board of the Civil Society Forum (CSF) is delighted to announce the appointment of Nataliya Novakova as the Forum’s new Executive Director effective from September 1, 2024, following an extensive search and selection process. With over 15 years of experience in human rights and democracy initiatives across Wider Europe, Nataliya brings a wealth of…
Read MoreEurope Lab 2024 Explores “Changing Tides” in Jáchymov, Czechia
The historic town of Jáchymov, nestled in the Ore Mountains of Czechia, set the stage for Europe Lab 2024, an annual forum that unites young leaders and changemakers from across Europe. This year’s theme, Changing Tides, found a powerful resonance in the town’s layered history, which participants explored through visits to former mines and prison…
Read MoreStatement by the Board: Designating organisations as “foreign agents” is dangerous and undemocratic.
On Tuesday May 14 2024, the Georgian parliament approved controversial plans to brand hundreds of NGOs and media outlets as “foreign agents”, by 84 votes to 30. According to the updated regulations, pushed forward by the governing Georgian Dream party with minimal time for proper scrutiny, civil society organisations that derive over 20 percent of…
Read MoreStatement by the Board: Standing firm against political repression in Russia after Alexei Navalny’s death
On 16 February 2024, it was announced that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has died in prison. One of the regime’s most prominent critics, Navalny was subject to a poisoning by Novichok in 2020. After being treated abroad, he returned to Russia in 2021 and was arrested in the airport on fabricated charges of extremism…
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