Month: October 2023

We are sharing the latest news about the state of civic freedoms in five countries that have raised deep concerns from the CIVICUS Monitor. This organization, dedicated to protecting and promoting civil society rights worldwide, has issued a new watchlist highlighting the severe and rapid deterioration of civic space in Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ecuador, the United Arab Emirates, and Senegal.

The CIVICUS Monitor’s watchlist is an important tool that identifies countries where worrisome setbacks in the exercise of civic freedoms have been observed. These findings are based on assessments conducted by the CIVICUS Monitor in collaboration with human rights defenders and activists committed to safeguarding fundamental rights.

The civic space ratings in these countries are as follows:

Senegal: Civic space rated as “obstructed.” Bangladesh: Civic space rated as “repressive.” Bosnia and Herzegovina: Civic space rated as “narrowed.” United Arab Emirates: Civic space rated as “closed.” Ecuador: Civic space rated as “obstructed.”

In the coming weeks and months, the CIVICUS Monitor will continue to closely monitor the situation in these countries and work to increase pressure on the respective governments. CIVICUS urgently calls on these governments to take immediate measures to end ongoing repressive actions and ensure accountability for those responsible.

At RACI, we recognize the importance of supporting organizations like the CIVICUS Monitor that seek to preserve and strengthen civic space worldwide.

We will closely follow this situation and encourage our members to stay informed about these concerns and join efforts to protect civic freedoms worldwide.

Our Executive Committee has approved the establishment of the “Ex-Presidents Committee.”

This new committee represents a dedicated space for safeguarding our mission and institutional principles. At RACI, we firmly believe in the importance of evolving and growing to promote transparency, cooperation, and strength within our community. The creation of the Ex-Presidents Committee is a testament to our ongoing commitment to a more solid and collaborative future.

The founding members of this committee, who have served as presidents of RACI at different times, are:

• Daniel Pomerantz – AMIA
• Kurt Frieder – Huésped Foundation
• Patricia Kahane – Tzedaká Foundation

Each of them brings extensive experience and a deep understanding of RACI’s values and mission. Their previous leadership and dedication to the civil society cause will be instrumental in guiding this new space.

The Ex-Presidents Committee will play an essential role in preserving and strengthening the essence of RACI, ensuring that we continue moving in the right direction and keeping our core values at the heart of everything we do.

We have recently obtained the status of a Consultative Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

ECOSOC plays a vital role in promoting mutual understanding among people and issues, with the aim of fostering collective action to achieve a sustainable world. Obtaining consultative status with this body provides us with a valuable opportunity to engage in its work in various ways.

This new status allows us to:

1. Actively engage with ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies.
2. Designate official representatives to the United Nations Headquarters in New York and the United Nations Offices in Geneva and Vienna.
3. Register and participate in sessions, events, conferences, and activities of the United Nations.
4. Submit written statements relevant to the Council’s work on matters in which we have special expertise.

Furthermore, as an organization with general and special consultative status, we also have the option to designate authorized representatives to attend as observers in public meetings of ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies, the Human Rights Council, and, under certain conditions, the General Assembly and other intergovernmental UN bodies.

We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for us to contribute even more to global dialogue.

We extend our gratitude to all our members for their unwavering support and commitment to our mission. We will continue to work diligently to make the most of this new consultative status and to further promote positive change on the international stage.

During the week of September 15th to 25th, RACI joined the “Week of Action for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” and extended an invitation to our members to take advantage of the opportunity to share their projects and activities.

It was an opportunity to highlight how their daily efforts are contributing to the achievement of the SDGs and to inspire other organizations to join this transformative cause.

We thank the CSOs that participated:

• Fundación Gracias
• Tablero de Oportunidades 
• Olimpiadas Especiales Argentina
• Mundo Sano
• Fundación San Genaro 
• Enseñá por Argentina
• Fundación Espacios Verdes
• Azul Solidario
• Inmigrantes Digitales
• Adeei
• Equidad
• Sumando
• León
• AMIA
• Comunicación para la igualdad 
• Cultura del Trabajo 
• América Solidaria 
• Fundación magis
• Fundacion Vicentina 
• Eco House Global
• La base 
• Kunayán
• FUNDAPAZ

We will continue to support and promote the work of CSOs, and we appreciate all the organizations that participated in this Week of Action for the SDGs. Your contributions are a testament to how civil society is leading the way towards a more sustainable and just world.

We share the latest update on the progress we have made as part of our collaboration in Sociedad Civil en Red (SCR).

We met with authorities from the European Economic and Social Committee, where we discussed fundamental issues related to gender equality, human rights, and democratic governance. We also visited the Argentine Ambassador to the European Union, Atilio Berardi, to strengthen ties and discuss matters of mutual interest.

One of the most enriching aspects of this experience was the opportunity to deepen our understanding of the social economy promoted by the European Union (EU), which opens up new perspectives for strengthening our CSOs. Additionally, we shared agendas and perspectives with entities such as Oxfam, SOLIDAR & SOLIDAR Foundation, CNCD-11.11.11, Concord, and Wetlands International, allowing us to establish valuable collaborative connections.

Sociedad Civil en Red (SCR) is a multi-actor space of federations and networks of Argentine Civil Society, and RACI is an integral part of this group. Our collaboration is part of the project “Civil Society in Network to Consolidate Democracy,” funded by the European Union (EU), with the aim of strengthening civil society and improving its participation and influence in the processes of defining and implementing public policies. We aspire to be a promoter of collaborative spaces committed to integrating different levels of collective work, promoting the consolidation of a powerful civil society with a local, regional, and global perspective.

This experience in Brussels represents a significant step towards achieving these goals and expanding our international collaborations.

We traveled to Morocco with I4C!

In the company of our allies from Innovation for Change (I4C), we had the opportunity to explore Morocco. During our stay, we participated in a series of activities aimed at promoting social innovation and positive change.

The trip allowed us to firsthand experience the unique perspectives of the region regarding innovation and social development. We collaborated with various local actors and shared our experiences in the field of civil society in Argentina.

Our visit to Morocco was not only an opportunity to learn and share knowledge but also to strengthen our international connections and broaden our vision of how to address social challenges in a global context.