Defending Democracy: Global Issues in a Chaotic World
- The inter Civil Society Week (ICSW) served as a crucial platform for diverse movements to unite and address the shrinking space for civil society and the defense of...
- "Visibility matters," stated Riska Carolina,an Indonesian LGBTIQ+ rights advocate with the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus (ASC).
- Her work centers on advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights within southeast Asia,especially within the ASEAN system,which she notes has historically been "slow to recognize issues of sexuality and gender...
Defending Democracy in a “Topsy-Turvy” World
Table of Contents
The inter Civil Society Week (ICSW) served as a crucial platform for diverse movements to unite and address the shrinking space for civil society and the defense of democracy globally, according to reports from IPS UN Office and Global Issues on November 1, 2025.
The Power of Visibility and Intersectional Collaboration
“Visibility matters,” stated Riska Carolina,an Indonesian LGBTIQ+ rights advocate with the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus (ASC). “What’s even more powerful is being visible together.” Carolina highlighted the significance of the ICSW in bringing together movements – Dalit, Indigenous, feminist, disability, and queer – that frequently enough operate in separate spheres.
Her work centers on advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights within southeast Asia,especially within the ASEAN system,which she notes has historically been “slow to recognize issues of sexuality and gender diversity.” Carolina emphasized the need to frame SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation,Gender Identity and Expression,and Sex Characteristics) inclusion as integral to democracy,governance,and human rights,requiring engagement with governments,civil society,and regional bodies to ensure the participation,safety,and dignity of queer individuals.
Democracy as Freedom and Inclusion
Carolina explained that the ICSW allowed ASC to demonstrate the link between civic space, democracy, and queer liberation, asserting that democracy extends beyond elections to encompass “who is able to live freely and who remains silenced by law or stigma.”
Facing Shrinking Civic Space: A Moment of Reckoning
Away from the main sessions, civil society leaders engaged in a candid self-assessment, acknowledging the challenges posed by a diminishing space for their work. They posed critical questions: “Have we grasped the full scale of the challenges we face?” “Are our responses strong enough?” “Are we expecting anti-rights forces to respect our rules and values?” ”Are we reacting instead of setting the agenda?” and “Are we allies-or accomplices-of those risking everything for justice?”
The Imperative of Unity
Despite the challenging questions raised, a consensus emerged: civil society must remain united to effectively defend democracy.