2024 State of Civil Society Report
Civil society is being tested like never before by a series of multiple and accelerating crises. Amid growing conflict and repression, in 2023 civil society faced mounting obstacles that made it harder to do its essential work of helping people, making their voices heard and upholding human rights. But civil society still managed to hold the line and make a difference to many. It’s still a vital source of hope. The world is currently in a dire state – but it would be much worse were it not for civil society. The way out of crises is to listen to, work with and enable civil society.
The present way of doing things is clearly failing, given today’s crises, and insisting on the same paths that led the world to its current state won’t make things any better. Today’s situation should prompt the question of what kind of world we want to see and how we get there. Civil society has a vision of a future where empathy and compassion prevail, human rights are respected, global threats are collaboratively addressed, resources are more equally shared and diversity is celebrated. It’s a key source of solutions to address crises and make the world a better place. Imagine a world where political and economic leaders listen to civil society. It’s time.
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