Civil Society
Civil Society in Election Law
Associations, organisations and unions that are active in public affairs and constitute an independent counterforce to the powers that be. In democracies, all persons have a right to participate in public affairs, including in civil society activities and, through the right to freedom of association, to form and join civil society organisations (CSOs). (See: Civil Society Organisation)
Strategic Dialogue With Civil Society in 2011
United States views on international law (based on the document “Digest of U.S. Practice in International Law”): On February 16, 2011 Secretary Clinton launched the Strategic Dialogue with Civil Society (the “Dialogue”), a Federal Advisory Committee within the U.S. Department of State. The launch event convened civil society representatives from more than 20 countries, senior officials from the U.S. Government, and leaders of several U.S.-based international NGOs in Washington, D.C. with thousands of civil society representatives participating virtually from U.S. Embassies around the world. Secretary Clinton’s remarks at the launch are available at (internet link) state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/02/156681.htm. After its launch, the Dialogue commenced its work through working groups and international sessions. Secretary Clinton’s remarks at one session in Vilnius, Lithuania on June 30, 2011 are available at (internet link) state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/06/167442.htm.
Civil Society in 2013
United States views on international law [1] in relation to Civil Society: On September 23, 2013, on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York, governments of 24 countries, including the United States, agreed on a joint statement “On the Promotion and Protection of Civil Society.” Daily Comp. Pres. Docs. 2013 DCPD Doc. No. 00654, p. 1. President Obama and leaders of several other governments that met and agreed to the joint statement also delivered remarks at their meeting. Daily Comp. Pres. Docs. 2013 DCPD Doc. No. 00653, pp. 1-6. The joint statement follows.
Some Aspects of Civil Society
We, the governments of the United States, Australia, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, Ireland, Japan, Libya, Lithuania, Mexico, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, and the United Kingdom, taking note of the important work of the Community of Democracies, the Open Government Partnership, and the Lifeline Fund, met on September 23 along with representatives of civil society, the philanthropic community, the private sector, and the United Nations on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Our purpose was to reinforce the central role of civil society in working with governments to address common challenges and to coordinate action to promote and protect civil society in the face of ongoing assault around the world. We affirmed that the strength and vibrancy of nations depend on an active civil society and robust engagement between governments and civil society to advance shared goals of peace, prosperity, and the well-being of all people. We noted our deep concern that many governments are restricting civil society and the rights of freedom of association and expression, both online and offline.
Developments
To combat this alarming trend, our governments committed to work together to respond to growing restrictions on civil society that undermine its ability to perform its crucial role. We will ensure effective coordination of the multiple efforts already underway toward this end, including through the U.N. system, the Community of Democracies, the Open Government Partnership, and Lifeline, and commit to strengthen our support for these existing mechanisms. We will enhance our support for the work of the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. We will lead by example to promote laws, policy decisions, and practices that foster a positive space for civil society in accordance with international law, and oppose legislation and administrative measures that impede efforts of civil society. We will undertake joint diplomatic action whenever necessary to support civil society in countries where it is under threat, and to defend the fundamental freedoms of association and peaceful assembly.
Details
We will also work to develop new and innovative ways of providing technical, financial, and logistical support to promote and protect the right of citizens and civil society to freely associate, meaningfully engage with government, and constructively participate in processes to improve the well-being of their countries. Throughout all of these efforts, our nations will continue to engage with representatives of civil society to help us understand and respond to the challenges they confront.
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We commit to gather again at the opening of the 69th United Nations General Assembly to review our progress toward these objectives. We will work in concert over the coming year to ensure a robust, effective international response to the proliferation of restrictions being placed on civil society. We call on representatives of civil society, the philanthropic community, the private sector, and other governments to partner with us in supporting and defending civil society.
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On September 27, at the 24th session of the HRC, Ambassador Donahoe delivered a general statement for the United States in support of a resolution on civil society space. The resolution was adopted by consensus on September 27, 2013. U.N. Doc. A/HRC/RES/24/21.
Literature Review on Civil Society
In the Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy, [1] Elisabeth Chaves offers the following summary about the topic of Civil Society: At best, civil society may be described as comprising those organizations or associations that do not strictly belong to the state or the market. However, that definition may raise more questions than it answers. This entry discusses the treatment of civil society as a fuzzy but, importantly, political concept. It urges closer attention to the context in which the concept is used. It argues that how the concept has developed historically is also crucial for a fuller understanding of what it means to say that civil society does this, or impacts upon that. The entry traces the evolution of civil society from a description of political society, to the market-centered dimension of society, and finally, to its more recent positing as a separate or autonomous sphere, as distinct from the state and the market, a sphere with unique critical functions. It also draws attention to some of the negative aspects of civil, or what perhaps may better be called, uncivil society. The entry concludes with a brief discussion of what some regard as the need to expand the roles of civil associations nationally and globally.
Civil Society
Embracing mainstream international law, this section on civil society explores the context, history and effect of the area of the law covered here.
Strategic Dialogue With Civil Society
In relation to the international law practice and Strategic Dialogue With Civil Society in this world legal Encyclopedia, please see the following section:
International Human Rights
About this subject:
Rule of Law and Democracy Promotion
Under this topic, in the Encyclopedia, find out information on Civil Society. Note: there is detailed information and resources, in relation with these topics during the year 2011, covered by the entry, in this law Encyclopedia, about Strategic Dialogue with Civil Society
Resources
See Also
- International Human Rights
- Rule Of Law
- Democracy Promotion
- Civil Society
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See Also
- International Organization
- Foreign Relations
- Intergovernmental Organization
- Regional Organization
- Regional Integration
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Further Reading
- The entry “civil society” in the Parry and Grant Encyclopaedic Dictionary of International Law (currently, the Encyclopaedic Dictionary of International Law, 2009), Oxford University Press
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Notes and References
- Entry about Civil Society in the Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy (2015, Routledge, Oxford, United Kingdom)
See Also
Further Reading
- Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration, Public Policy, and Governance (2018, Springer International Publishing, Germany)
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Notes
- Civil Society in the Digest of United States Practice in International Law
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See Also
- Election Law
- Electoral Laws
- Electoral Legislation
Hierarchical Display of Civil society
Politics > Politics and public safety > Trends of opinion
International Organisations > Non-governmental organisations > Non-governmental organisation
Politics > Executive power and public service > Executive body > Governance
Education And Communications > Communications > Communications policy > Public consultation
Employment And Working Conditions > Labour law and labour relations > Labour relations > Social partners > Trade union
Social Questions > Social affairs > Social life > Social participation
Civil society
Concept of Civil society
See the dictionary definition of Civil society.
Characteristics of Civil society
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Resources
Translation of Civil society
- Spanish: Sociedad civil (movimientos de opinión)
- French: Société civile
- German: Zivilgesellschaft
- Italian: Società civile
- Portuguese: Sociedade civil
- Polish: Społeczeństwo obywatelskie
Thesaurus of Civil society
Politics > Politics and public safety > Trends of opinion > Civil society
International Organisations > Non-governmental organisations > Non-governmental organisation > Civil society
Politics > Executive power and public service > Executive body > Governance > Civil society
Education And Communications > Communications > Communications policy > Public consultation > Civil society
Employment And Working Conditions > Labour law and labour relations > Labour relations > Social partners > Trade union > Civil society
Social Questions > Social affairs > Social life > Social participation > Civil society
See also
- Non-governmental organisation
- EADI
- European League for Economic Cooperation
- IATA
- International Federation for Documentation
- IFLA
- Centre for the Development of Enterprise
- ISO
- Red Cross
- International Social Security Association
- International Trade Union Confederation
- European Trade Union Confederation
- Council of European Municipalities and Regions
- Amnesty International
- Governance
- Public consultation
- Trade union
- Social participation
- Civil society organisation
- Civil society organization
- CSO
- Organised civil society
- Organized civil society
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