The International Shield Organization has received an official invitation from the European Civic Forum (ECF) to participate in the launch event of its annual Civic Space Report, scheduled to take place on May 13, 2026, at the European Parliament in Brussels.
This event comes within the framework of ongoing European efforts to strengthen the role of civil society and to address the challenges facing its work at both national and EU levels, particularly in light of current political and legal developments.
The event will be held under the title:
“The Brussels Effect: Why the EU increasingly shapes the space for civil society, and how to respond?”
The event is expected to bring together a wide range of participants, including civil society organizations, human rights defenders, Brussels-based networks, representatives of EU institutions, international human rights bodies, donors, and journalists. This reflects the importance of the report as a key reference for assessing the state of civic space in Europe.
The program will include a presentation of the report’s key findings, followed by an interactive panel discussion highlighting current challenges, particularly the increasing pressures on the funding of civil society organizations and their impact on independence and advocacy roles.
The discussion will also focus on the implications of growing political scrutiny of non-governmental organizations, especially regarding their watchdog and advocacy roles, and how this may contribute to shrinking civic space and enabling trends that could affect democratic engagement.
The International Shield Organization affirms the importance of such international initiatives in strengthening human rights dialogue and supporting an enabling environment for civil society, as a fundamental pillar for democracy and the protection of human rights.
This participation reflects the organization’s commitment to enhancing international cooperation and engaging in initiatives that support the rule of law and expand civic space, in line with shared humanitarian values.
Issued by:
Department of Media and International Relations
International Shield Organization