For the first time, Argentina has been included in the Civicus Monitor Watchlist, marking a warning sign about the state of civic space in the country. This webinar, organized by RACI in partnership with CIVICUS, aimed to analyze the Civicus report and explore the implications of this inclusion for civic freedoms in Argentina.
During the event, discussions focused on how the economic crisis and growing social tensions have impacted the state of civic rights in the country. The panelists provided an in-depth analysis of the measures being implemented by civil society to counter this concerning decline.
Ana María Palacios Briceño (Americas Researcher for the CIVICUS Monitor) outlined the reasons why Argentina was included in the Watchlist in 2023, emphasizing the intensification of incidents throughout 2024. She noted that constant monitoring by Civicus has been crucial in raising the alarm about the current situation and announced the release of a new report in December. Palacios stressed that the growing challenge of defending democracy and human rights in a context where civic space is shrinking will require sustained efforts from civil society.
“Argentina’s civic space is classified as ‘narrowed’ in the CIVICUS Monitor ranking because, until October 2023, restrictions on civic space occurred sporadically. In December, we will release a report with new data.”
Manuel Tufró (Director of the Justice and Security area at CELS) analyzed the rapid regression of civic freedoms in Argentina, though he emphasized that the situation is not yet comparable to that of totalitarian regimes. He noted that the delegitimization of protests and the tensions between legality and the current political reality are creating an increasingly restrictive environment. Tufró also denounced the persecution of social organizations and highlighted the existence of regional strategies to limit civic space.
“What concerns us the most: the delegitimization of protests, criminalization of protests, harassment in the digital environment, persecution of CSOs, and restrictions on participation and access to information.”
Analia Bettoni (Project Coordinator at the Institute for Communication and Development – ICD, Uruguay) focused on rights violations in the region, especially against those defending women’s rights, freedom of expression, and LGBTIQ+ rights. Bettoni pointed out the growing trend of legislative proposals aimed at restricting freedom of association and how civil society must organize to resist peacefully. She emphasized the importance of using data and tools like the Civicus Monitor to make these situations visible.
“In the region, we see a growing trend toward the introduction of laws that seek to delegitimize the work of civil society and restrict the rights of those defending key social causes.”
The webinar made it clear that there is an urgent need to protect civic space in Argentina and the region. The panelists agreed that civil society must continue its efforts to resist and highlight the attacks on civic freedoms through concrete data and strategic collaboration to amplify voices internationally. The measures taken in this context will be key to ensuring that Argentina does not continue down this worrying path toward closing its civic space.
“Activating the role of judicial protection, improving political advocacy, and raising international awareness of the country’s situation are fundamental steps to avoid demobilization and ensure civic space.” – Manuel Tufró
This webinar served as a platform for key civil society actors to discuss these challenges and seek collaborative solutions to mitigate the risks facing Argentina and the region.
Thank you to all participants! Watch the event on YouTube.