The appointment comes as civic and democratic freedoms are under threat throughout the world
The Civicus global civil society alliance has announced today the appointment of Mandeep Singh Tiwana as its new Secretary General (SG).
A human rights lawyer by training, he has worked tirelessly over the past two decades to defend fundamental freedoms.
Mandeep began his career working with grassroots communities affected by human rights violations in Punjab, India.
Prior to his first role with Civicus at its Johannesburg headquarters in 2008, he helped steward a campaign on access to justice across several states in India.
Since then, he has worked to promote civic and democratic freedoms around the world, building bridges between civil society organisations, movements and international bodies.
Throughout his career, Mandeep has been a passionate advocate for civil society’s participation in decision making. He has written extensively on the intersection between civil society, sustainable development and international affairs.
Prior to becoming the SG, Mandeep led Civicus’s work on defending civic freedoms and promoting democratic values and organisational engagement at the UN headquarters in New York.
Dylan Mathews, chair of the Civicus Board, said: “I am thrilled to announce the appointment of Mandeep, who over the years has been a true friend and an enabler of civil society solidarity around the world. He is a tireless champion who’s worked with grassroots communities to multilateral institutions, to defend and strengthen civil society and citizen action.
“Our alliance of civil society from over 175 countries will benefit from his vast experience. Mandeep’s unflinching ability to stand up against authoritarian and anti-rights forces is just what is needed to inspire our alliance and civil society at large.”
The appointment comes against a backdrop where civic and democratic freedoms are under severe threat from autocratic governments and populist leaders.
Civil society that seeks peace, justice, equity and environmental sustainability is under severe attack in 116 of 198 countries and territories covered by the Civicus Monitor, a participatory research collaboration to measure civic freedoms globally.
Seven out of every ten people in the world live in closed or repressed civic space conditions.
Democratic norms, multilateralism and international rule of law are facing unprecedented attacks around the world. Civicus has identified the Congo, Italy, Pakistan, Serbia and the United States in its latest watchlist of countries experiencing serious declines in civic freedoms.
Even countries with democratic traditions long considered havens of civic freedoms are experiencing faltering civic space conditions.
Mandeep said: “I am humbled by the opportunity to lead Civicus and serve our alliance and civil society globally. By standing in solidarity, our 15,000-member alliance can be a catalyst for a more peaceful, just, equal and sustainable world.
“To stand up against the onslaught on our fundamental freedoms, we all must come together and move beyond established ways of working to build broader and more inclusive people’s movements that are grounded in communities. We must act with empathy, inspiration and dogged determination to defend and strengthen civic space.”
