From restrictive legislation and shrinking civic spaces to negative narratives and the intimidation and persecution of activists, the landscape for civil society organisations has several obstacles at national but also at global level - both online and offline. How can we raise awareness, build solidarity, and advocate for change in these contexts? How can storytelling, community outreach, global networks and collective messaging help civil society to amplify voices, mobilize support, and protect and expand civic space? 

These are some of the issues explored in Forus' communications workshop which focused on communicating and campaigning around civic space issues. 

Some of the communications challenges raised at the beginning of the workshop included safety issues and resource constraints as well as the importance of considering how communication is carried out within organizations with a focus on transparency and accountability.

Sara Torrelles Vives from Saferworld, an independent peacebuilding organization, discussed the importance of local leadership, community involvement, and rethinking priorities for effective peacebuilding. They also highlighted the organization's efforts to reflect on and address existing power imbalances and to strengthen and support civil society. Andy  O'Connor then took over to discuss the concept of ethical communication, stressing the need for context sensitivity, collaboration, and informed consent, especially when it comes to communicating around and about civic space issues. He also emphasized the importance of creating safe and inclusive environments, avoiding negative stereotyping, and maintaining resource-sharing practices. Challenges in coordinating video projects across different countries and languages, securing permits in conflict-affected regions, and managing partner expectations were also addressed. 

Witness to Innocence discussed the challenges her organization faces in countering the stigma surrounding their work with death row exonerees, emphasizing the importance of personal stories in changing perceptions. Andy acknowledged the issue but suggested a gradual approach to changing deeply ingrained beliefs. 

Sandra Mamani Roldan from Red Unitas shared the concerning situation of civil society organizations in Bolivia, highlighting a significant decrease in registered organizations and a rise in violations of fundamental rights and democratic freedoms. She discussed the work of the Observatory of Human Rights Defenders, which records data on violations of various rights, including press freedom. Sandra stressed the importance of partnerships and alliances, particularly with journalists and social communicators, to generate and disseminate information and advocate for rights. She highlighted Unitas approach of working in partnership with journalists, other civil society organizations, and media outlets to generate public interest and put issues on the public agenda. Sandra also introduced Sumando Voces, an online newspaper established by Unitas to provide a platform for civil society organisations and promote dialogue on human rights, democracy, and development issues. 

Kgalalelo Gaebee from Civicus highlighted the organization's mission to strengthen civil society and citizen action, identifying challenges such as information overload, social and political divides, and engagement difficulties. She suggested using innovative and entertainment-focused platforms to reach diverse audiences, emphasizing the importance of values-based messaging, local context, and partnership with communities. Kgalalelo also discussed the significance of people-centered narratives, personal stories, and evidence-based research in advocacy efforts, as well as the need for collaboration, solidarity, and communication within the civic society. Lastly, she stressed the importance of safety in communication and advocacy efforts and the need for enhancing communication skills through training and sharing best practices. 

Find below a list of resources shared by participants' and speakers: 

•     A space for Us multimedia project - Forus
•    KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE: A guide to safeguarding for non-governmental organizations and platforms. - Forus
•    Sumando Voces - Red Unitas (Bolivia)
•    What do we talk about when we talk about the enabling environment? - Red Encuentro (Argentina) and POJOAJU (Paraguay)
•    Guide to Reporting Civic Space: Media Toolkit - Civicus
•    Civil Society Support Mechanisms: A Directory - Civicus
•    Strengthening Citizen Action: Communication for Civil Society Organisations - Civicus