Statement on behalf of the EUSR for Human Rights, Ms. Kajsa Ollongren on the occasion of World NGO Day – 27 February 2026
When people are free to speak, organise, and act, societies become more resilient and cohesive. Civil society organisations (CSOs) play a vital role in this ecosystem: they hold governments accountable, monitor and document human rights violations, amplify the voices of those in vulnerable situations, provide expertise and services, and foster participation and dialogue – advancing peace, security and sustainable development. In conflict and crisis, civil society defends the vulnerable and demands accountability. Safeguarding civic space is therefore a strategic investment in resilience, public trust and freedom.
Yet, civic space is shrinking worldwide. Human rights defenders, journalists, and CSOs increasingly face harassment, threats, attacks, surveillance, transnational repression, smear campaigns, misuse of security and counter terrorism laws, and funding constraints, while peaceful assemblies are all too often met with excessive force. These trends are part of a broader pushback against democracy and the international human rights system. Efforts to silence independent voices go hand in hand with attempts to weaken multilateral institutions and accountability mechanisms. Defending civic space is not just about protecting civil society – it is about safeguarding the universality of human rights, good governance and the rule of law.
Protecting civic space is a priority of the EU’s external action to promote human rights and democracy worldwide. The EU’s Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy advances rights, and helps strengthen civil society to build resilient, inclusive societies. The new EU Civil Society Strategy reinforces this commitment by promoting open civic space, structured engagement, protection, and sustainable support.
On this day, we stand firm in our commitment to protect and support a strong, independent and resilient civil society and to strengthen partnerships with NGOs across the globe. A resilient civil society is democracy’s strongest shield against authoritarianism. We will continue to call on governments across the world to uphold human rights, including freedom of association, expression, and peaceful assembly, that enable civil society to thrive and express its views freely.
Background
The EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy (2020-2027) places civil society and NGOs at its core, welcoming their critical role in upholding democratic values, exposing abuses, and driving accountability. The Action Plan considers them as partners and commits to protecting their space, amplifying their voices, and ensuring their meaningful engagement - from policy design to crisis response - while countering restrictions on their work.
In November 2025, the EU Civil Society Strategy was adopted with the goal of strengthening meaningful engagement with and protection and support of civil society actors. The Strategy aims to reinforce actions at both EU and national level, to promote and to sustain a thriving civic space. It also aims to foster coherence between the EU's internal and external activities in this area.
In December 2025, the EU-NGO Forum on Human Rights offered a valuable platform for direct engagement and in-depth dialogue between civil society representatives from around the global, human rights defenders, EU institutions, EU Member States and international organisations on key issues related to the promotion and protection of human rights. Hosted in Brussels and bringing together activists, HRDs, CSOs, and EU Institutions, the Forum served as a platform for solidarity, reflection, and strategic engagement.
The EU adopted the Global Europe Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) programme worth €1.5 billion for the period 2021-2027 under NDICI-Global Europe. This initiative provides financial support to civil society organisations outside the EU.
In 2024, the EU partnered with nine CSOs to launch the EU System for an Enabling Environment for Civil Society (EU SEE). With a budget of €50 million, the initiative monitors and supports civil society across 86 countries by implementing an early warning system, which can trigger flexible financial assistance to enhance resilience and respond swiftly to changes in the civic space.
The EU has also established nine framework partnerships to advance the freedoms of association, assembly and expression. Four projects for a total of €27 million are already underway, aiming to empower civil society to advance human rights and defend democracy, including through the protection of independent media.
The Team Europe Democracy initiative, worth €19 million, brings together 14 Member States and the EU to foster a coordinated and strategic European response in support of democracy, in cooperation with civil society, think tanks and international organisations, with an important component on fostering civic and political participation.
The EU also continues to support ProtectDefenders.eu, which has assisted over 80,000 at-risk human rights defenders and their families since its creation in 2015. This mechanism takes a comprehensive approach, offering direct assistance, temporary relocation, training, capacity development and advocacy. In 2024 alone, ProtectDefenders.eu provided support to more than 10,000 high-risk defenders, 56% of whom were women.
Fostering an enabling environment for civil society is also a key component of enlargement policy. Through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III), the EU has allocated over €350 million for civil society and media in the Western Balkans and Türkiye between 2021 and 2025. Additionally, under the NDICI Thematic Programmes for Human Rights and Democracy and Civil Society Organisations, the EU has committed €200 million to civil society actors in pre-accession countries and the Eastern Neighbourhood. Furthermore, through NDICI geographic actions supporting the Eastern Neighbourhood, the EU has dedicated €250 million over the same period to support civil society and independent media.