Facebook should undergo an independent audit of its data processing accompanied by a global human rights assessment, digital rights organization Access Now argues.

CIVICUS Monitor update on Poland - June 2018

After the recent record participation in the abortion referendum, the Irish government plans to hold another on changing its law against blasphemy. The government, as part of its program, made a commitment on the...

To avoid future embarrassment, the Dutch government has decided to abolish citizen-initiated referenda. Will other countries follow suit and limit the voice of the people?

The erosion of democracy and weakening of institutions necessary for the protection of human rights give rise to serious concerns, especially in Hungary and Poland, Birgit Van Hout, UN Human Rights regional...

French President Emmanuel Macron has accused Italy's government of "cynicism and irresponsibility" over its decision to refuse the migrant rescue ship Aquarius to dock in its ports. Macron's spokesman quoted the...

It is not too late to rethink Article 13. Human rights are not in contradiction with copyright, but it's important that the EU's copyright regulation includes safeguards to protect free speech.

Italy's new interior minister, Matteo Salvini, has refused permission for a migrant rescue ship to dock in Italian ports. The Aquarius, which is carrying 629 migrants, is currently stranded in the Mediterranean. Under...

Spain's prime minister has said the country will take in a rescue ship stranded in the Mediterranean, helping to defuse a tense situation in Italy and avoid a humanitarian catastrophe. Pedro Sánchez's pledged "safe...

The president of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaitė, has submitted the Istanbul Convention to Parliament for ratification. Although Lithuania signed it in 2013, ratification kept being postponed for five years. Progress...