Josef Benedict
@josefroy2.bsky.social
Asia-Pacific Researcher with the CIVICUS Monitor - https://monitor.civicus.org/
New brief on #SriLanka by CIVICUS reviewing the #civicspace record of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a year since he came to office. Concerns remain on the targeting of #activists & #journalists and restrictions on expression and peaceful assembly. web.civicus.org/SLBriefSept25
September 26, 2025 at 5:24 AM
New brief on #SriLanka by CIVICUS reviewing the #civicspace record of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a year since he came to office. Concerns remain on the targeting of #activists & #journalists and restrictions on expression and peaceful assembly. web.civicus.org/SLBriefSept25
#Nepal: Youth-led anti-corruption #protests forced political change, despite a lethal crackdown by security forces that left scores dead. Protesters and civil society are now demanding for #accountability and #reforms
Our latest #civicspace update: web.civicus.org/NepalSept2025
Our latest #civicspace update: web.civicus.org/NepalSept2025
Nepal: Anti-corruption protests force political change despite violent crackdown - Civicus Monitor
web.civicus.org
September 24, 2025 at 5:11 AM
#Nepal: Youth-led anti-corruption #protests forced political change, despite a lethal crackdown by security forces that left scores dead. Protesters and civil society are now demanding for #accountability and #reforms
Our latest #civicspace update: web.civicus.org/NepalSept2025
Our latest #civicspace update: web.civicus.org/NepalSept2025
#China: The state of #civicspace remains 'closed'. In recent months, the regime has continued to criminalise #activists, increase digital restrictions and deploy transnational repression against #protesters
More here: web.civicus.org/ChinaSept2025
More here: web.civicus.org/ChinaSept2025
China: Regime continues to criminalise activists, increase digital restrictions and deploy transnational repression against protesters - Civicus Monitor
web.civicus.org
September 23, 2025 at 1:47 AM
#China: The state of #civicspace remains 'closed'. In recent months, the regime has continued to criminalise #activists, increase digital restrictions and deploy transnational repression against #protesters
More here: web.civicus.org/ChinaSept2025
More here: web.civicus.org/ChinaSept2025
#Afghanistan’s #civicspace has collapsed, CIVICUS Calls for Urgent Action at the UN
Statement at the UN Human Rights Council's 60th Session, Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Afghanistan with the Special Rapporteur
www.civicus.org/index.php/me...
Statement at the UN Human Rights Council's 60th Session, Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Afghanistan with the Special Rapporteur
www.civicus.org/index.php/me...
September 11, 2025 at 6:02 AM
#Afghanistan’s #civicspace has collapsed, CIVICUS Calls for Urgent Action at the UN
Statement at the UN Human Rights Council's 60th Session, Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Afghanistan with the Special Rapporteur
www.civicus.org/index.php/me...
Statement at the UN Human Rights Council's 60th Session, Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Afghanistan with the Special Rapporteur
www.civicus.org/index.php/me...
#India: The state of #civicspace is rated as 'repressed'. In recent months, the govt has continued to deny bail to #activists detained under the UAPA, ban books in #Kashmir, block social media and crackdown on protests. More here: web.civicus.org/IndiaSept2025
India: Ongoing detention of activists without bail, criminalisation of dissent and ban on books - Civicus Monitor
web.civicus.org
September 10, 2025 at 5:36 AM
#India: The state of #civicspace is rated as 'repressed'. In recent months, the govt has continued to deny bail to #activists detained under the UAPA, ban books in #Kashmir, block social media and crackdown on protests. More here: web.civicus.org/IndiaSept2025
#Myanmar: Repression including #torture and death of political prisoners and targeting of #journalists continue, as junta announces sham elections
Our new #civicspace update: web.civicus.org/MyanmarAug2025
Our new #civicspace update: web.civicus.org/MyanmarAug2025
Myanmar: Repression including torture and death of political prisoners continues as junta announces sham elections - Civicus Monitor
web.civicus.org
August 21, 2025 at 6:53 AM
#Myanmar: Repression including #torture and death of political prisoners and targeting of #journalists continue, as junta announces sham elections
Our new #civicspace update: web.civicus.org/MyanmarAug2025
Our new #civicspace update: web.civicus.org/MyanmarAug2025
#Bangladesh: A year after the fall of the regime, positive steps have been taken to improve #civicspace. However, our new brief shows that more must be done to protect #activists & #journalists, repeal restrictive laws & strengthen #accountability
More here: web.civicus.org/BDbriefAug24
More here: web.civicus.org/BDbriefAug24
August 14, 2025 at 1:19 AM
#Bangladesh: A year after the fall of the regime, positive steps have been taken to improve #civicspace. However, our new brief shows that more must be done to protect #activists & #journalists, repeal restrictive laws & strengthen #accountability
More here: web.civicus.org/BDbriefAug24
More here: web.civicus.org/BDbriefAug24
#Thailand: 5 years ago, activist Arnon Nampa was arrested for participating in a protest. He now faces 29 years in prison on multiple charges, primarily for royal defamation. We call on Thai authorities to release him & drop all charges.
See chronology here : web.civicus.org/Timeline-Arnon
See chronology here : web.civicus.org/Timeline-Arnon
August 7, 2025 at 9:33 AM
#Thailand: 5 years ago, activist Arnon Nampa was arrested for participating in a protest. He now faces 29 years in prison on multiple charges, primarily for royal defamation. We call on Thai authorities to release him & drop all charges.
See chronology here : web.civicus.org/Timeline-Arnon
See chronology here : web.civicus.org/Timeline-Arnon
Reposted by Josef Benedict
📰NEWSLETTER: #HK diaspora media mergers, #TransnationalRepression of #HongKongers in the spotlight and World Justice Project comes under fire for helping #HongKong authorities whitewash repression.
Read it in full: thecfhk.org/transnationa...
Read it in full: thecfhk.org/transnationa...
August 1, 2025 at 12:57 PM
📰NEWSLETTER: #HK diaspora media mergers, #TransnationalRepression of #HongKongers in the spotlight and World Justice Project comes under fire for helping #HongKong authorities whitewash repression.
Read it in full: thecfhk.org/transnationa...
Read it in full: thecfhk.org/transnationa...
The CIVICUS Monitor has added #Indonesia to its watchlist. It assesses that within Indonesia, instances of state intimidation, legal manipulation, and the violent suppression of dissenting opinions are rampant, placing the nation's civil space in a concerning state.
en.tempo.co/read/2034134...
en.tempo.co/read/2034134...
Indonesian Civil Liberties on CIVICUS Watchlist
CIVICUS Monitor includes Indonesia in its watchlist. Prabowo Subianto's government is deemed to suppress civil liberties.
en.tempo.co
July 31, 2025 at 2:22 AM
The CIVICUS Monitor has added #Indonesia to its watchlist. It assesses that within Indonesia, instances of state intimidation, legal manipulation, and the violent suppression of dissenting opinions are rampant, placing the nation's civil space in a concerning state.
en.tempo.co/read/2034134...
en.tempo.co/read/2034134...
The new CIVICUS Monitor #civicspace Watchlist, launched today, highlights serious concerns regarding the exercise of civic freedoms in El Salvador, Indonesia, Kenya, Serbia, Turkey and the United States of America .
More here: web.civicus.org/WatchlistJul...
More here: web.civicus.org/WatchlistJul...
July 30, 2025 at 3:14 AM
The new CIVICUS Monitor #civicspace Watchlist, launched today, highlights serious concerns regarding the exercise of civic freedoms in El Salvador, Indonesia, Kenya, Serbia, Turkey and the United States of America .
More here: web.civicus.org/WatchlistJul...
More here: web.civicus.org/WatchlistJul...
A joint UPR submission by CIVICUS and the Melbourne Activist Legal Support (MALS) where we assess #Australia’s compliance with its international human rights obligations to ensure a safe and enabling environment for civil society and civic space
Submission here: www.civicus.org/documents/up...
Submission here: www.civicus.org/documents/up...
July 28, 2025 at 4:10 AM
A joint UPR submission by CIVICUS and the Melbourne Activist Legal Support (MALS) where we assess #Australia’s compliance with its international human rights obligations to ensure a safe and enabling environment for civil society and civic space
Submission here: www.civicus.org/documents/up...
Submission here: www.civicus.org/documents/up...
#Indonesia: The state of #civicspace is rated as 'obstructed'
In recent months, the #Prabowo government has targeted #humanrights defenders & journalists, cracked down on #protests & pushed problematic law revisions
More here: web.civicus.org/IndonesiaJul...
In recent months, the #Prabowo government has targeted #humanrights defenders & journalists, cracked down on #protests & pushed problematic law revisions
More here: web.civicus.org/IndonesiaJul...
Indonesia: Civic space regresses with targeting of activists, brutal crackdown on protests and problematic law revisions - Civicus Monitor
web.civicus.org
July 24, 2025 at 1:58 AM
#Indonesia: The state of #civicspace is rated as 'obstructed'
In recent months, the #Prabowo government has targeted #humanrights defenders & journalists, cracked down on #protests & pushed problematic law revisions
More here: web.civicus.org/IndonesiaJul...
In recent months, the #Prabowo government has targeted #humanrights defenders & journalists, cracked down on #protests & pushed problematic law revisions
More here: web.civicus.org/IndonesiaJul...
An op-ed I co-wrote, on the increasing use of restrictive laws to jail #humanrights defenders across the Asia region
thediplomat.com/2025/07/repr...
thediplomat.com/2025/07/repr...
Repressive Laws Are Increasingly Being Used to Silence Activists Across Asia
From Hong Kong to India, governments are passing and weaponizing new laws to pursue and jail whoever speaks up for human rights.
thediplomat.com
July 21, 2025 at 4:12 AM
An op-ed I co-wrote, on the increasing use of restrictive laws to jail #humanrights defenders across the Asia region
thediplomat.com/2025/07/repr...
thediplomat.com/2025/07/repr...
#SriLanka's #civicspace is rated as 'repressed'. Since early 2025, President Dissanayake's government has silenced critical voices & disrupted student #protests. The government has also retained the restrictive Online Safety Act.
More here web.civicus.org/SriLankaJune...
More here web.civicus.org/SriLankaJune...
Sri Lanka: New government silences dissent and disrupts protests while impunity for past crimes persists - Civicus Monitor
web.civicus.org
July 14, 2025 at 2:21 AM
#SriLanka's #civicspace is rated as 'repressed'. Since early 2025, President Dissanayake's government has silenced critical voices & disrupted student #protests. The government has also retained the restrictive Online Safety Act.
More here web.civicus.org/SriLankaJune...
More here web.civicus.org/SriLankaJune...
#India: The state of #civicspace is rated as 'repressed'. In recent months, critical online commentary on the conflict with Pakistan was #censored, #journalists targeted, while communities in Chhattisgarh face military operations.
Our latest update: web.civicus.org/IndiaJune2025
Our latest update: web.civicus.org/IndiaJune2025
June 27, 2025 at 7:17 AM
#India: The state of #civicspace is rated as 'repressed'. In recent months, critical online commentary on the conflict with Pakistan was #censored, #journalists targeted, while communities in Chhattisgarh face military operations.
Our latest update: web.civicus.org/IndiaJune2025
Our latest update: web.civicus.org/IndiaJune2025
#Pakistan: It has been 3 months since human rights defender Dr. Mahrang Baloch was unjustly arrested by police during a peaceful sit-in to protest police violence. She is being detained in Hudda Jail. We call for her immediate & unconditional release.
June 26, 2025 at 4:10 AM
#Pakistan: It has been 3 months since human rights defender Dr. Mahrang Baloch was unjustly arrested by police during a peaceful sit-in to protest police violence. She is being detained in Hudda Jail. We call for her immediate & unconditional release.
🇮🇳 #India: Today Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez will celebrate his 48th birthday in prison. He has been in detention for three & a half years now.
Together with rights groups, we call for his immediate release: web.civicus.org/Khurram
#FreeKhurram #StandAsMyWitness
Together with rights groups, we call for his immediate release: web.civicus.org/Khurram
#FreeKhurram #StandAsMyWitness
June 19, 2025 at 12:22 PM
🇮🇳 #India: Today Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez will celebrate his 48th birthday in prison. He has been in detention for three & a half years now.
Together with rights groups, we call for his immediate release: web.civicus.org/Khurram
#FreeKhurram #StandAsMyWitness
Together with rights groups, we call for his immediate release: web.civicus.org/Khurram
#FreeKhurram #StandAsMyWitness
#Afghanistan: Today the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, presents his report on 'Access to justice & protection for women and girls and the impact of multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.'
Full report here: www.ohchr.org/sites/defaul...
Full report here: www.ohchr.org/sites/defaul...
June 16, 2025 at 8:58 AM
#Afghanistan: Today the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, presents his report on 'Access to justice & protection for women and girls and the impact of multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.'
Full report here: www.ohchr.org/sites/defaul...
Full report here: www.ohchr.org/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Josef Benedict
Jailed Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong hit with new charges
Jailed Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong hit with new charges
Wong accused of conspiracy in move rights groups condemn as ‘outrageous’ attempt to keep influential dissident imprisoned
Jailed pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been hit with further national security charges, a move rights groups said showed the Hong Kong government was trying to keep dissidents behind bars for as long as possible.
Wong, a well-known activist who has been in jail for more than four years either awaiting trial or serving sentences, is accused of conspiracy to collude with a foreign country. He appeared in court on Friday to hear the charge and did not apply for bail. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
June 7, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Jailed Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong hit with new charges
#Thailand: Conviction of #humanrights defender & lawyer Arnon Nampa to 2 years in jail on 28 May for his speech on monarchy reforms is outrageous & must be overturned. He faces a total sentence of 24 years under the #lesemajeste law. We stand in solidarity and call for his release #StandAsMyWitness
June 3, 2025 at 2:44 AM
#Thailand: Conviction of #humanrights defender & lawyer Arnon Nampa to 2 years in jail on 28 May for his speech on monarchy reforms is outrageous & must be overturned. He faces a total sentence of 24 years under the #lesemajeste law. We stand in solidarity and call for his release #StandAsMyWitness
🇦🇺#Australia: As the Labor government starts its second term in power, the authorities have continued to criminalise #protests, police with #impunity and increase restrictive legislation & policies
Our latest #civicspace update: web.civicus.org/AustraliaMay...
Our latest #civicspace update: web.civicus.org/AustraliaMay...
May 30, 2025 at 12:40 AM
🇦🇺#Australia: As the Labor government starts its second term in power, the authorities have continued to criminalise #protests, police with #impunity and increase restrictive legislation & policies
Our latest #civicspace update: web.civicus.org/AustraliaMay...
Our latest #civicspace update: web.civicus.org/AustraliaMay...
The #civicspace situation in #ASEAN continues to regress with 3 countries rated 'closed' and 5 rated 'repressed'. #Malaysia as the 2025 Chair must seriously address the backsliding of fundamental freedoms in the region, including the ongoing crisis in #Myanmar #ASEAN2025
May 26, 2025 at 6:10 AM
The #civicspace situation in #ASEAN continues to regress with 3 countries rated 'closed' and 5 rated 'repressed'. #Malaysia as the 2025 Chair must seriously address the backsliding of fundamental freedoms in the region, including the ongoing crisis in #Myanmar #ASEAN2025
Reposted by Josef Benedict
In #Myanmar, ASEAN stands for complicity in
A - Atrocities
S - Sanctions evasion
E - Economic crimes
A - Arming war criminals
N - Negotiating with terrorists
🪧✊🏽 Ready to take it to the streets? Download a sign for your demonstration 👉🏽 buff.ly/CNMLSjo
#DirtyOver30 #ActNowASEAN #ASEAN
A - Atrocities
S - Sanctions evasion
E - Economic crimes
A - Arming war criminals
N - Negotiating with terrorists
🪧✊🏽 Ready to take it to the streets? Download a sign for your demonstration 👉🏽 buff.ly/CNMLSjo
#DirtyOver30 #ActNowASEAN #ASEAN
May 19, 2025 at 10:30 AM
In #Myanmar, ASEAN stands for complicity in
A - Atrocities
S - Sanctions evasion
E - Economic crimes
A - Arming war criminals
N - Negotiating with terrorists
🪧✊🏽 Ready to take it to the streets? Download a sign for your demonstration 👉🏽 buff.ly/CNMLSjo
#DirtyOver30 #ActNowASEAN #ASEAN
A - Atrocities
S - Sanctions evasion
E - Economic crimes
A - Arming war criminals
N - Negotiating with terrorists
🪧✊🏽 Ready to take it to the streets? Download a sign for your demonstration 👉🏽 buff.ly/CNMLSjo
#DirtyOver30 #ActNowASEAN #ASEAN