Advancing Human Rights and Gender Justice in Shrinking Civic Space

This event will explore strategies to address and counteract the growing backlash against human rights, gender equality, and civic space. It will highlight the transformative, and often underrecognized, role of faith-based actors—as advocates for inclusive policy reform, providers of essential social services, and trusted voices within communities. These actors play a critical role in shifting social norms, defending human rights, and advancing gender justice.

Bringing together member states, policymakers, UN agencies, civil society, and faith-based organizations, the event will showcase concrete examples of how these stakeholders are navigating increasingly challenging contexts. Speakers will reflect on efforts to safeguard and build on progress made in gender equality and civic space. The discussion will emphasize the importance of community-led, intersectional, and localized interventions to protect and advance human rights and gender equality.