FRA will join civil society organisations and pro bono lawyers to explore practical ways of strengthening support for civil society during a panel discussion at the Trust Conference. The conference is the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s annual flagship event that will be held in London from 4 to 5 November.
FRA will stress that access to a lawyer who can bring cases to court is not enough on its own. Civil society organisations need a broader support ecosystem, including early legal advice, rapid-response assistance, strategic litigation, protection against intimidation, as well as an enabling environment for funding, advocacy, access to information and participation.
Drawing on findings from its latest consultation of civil society organisations, FRA will highlight wider structural and systemic challenges affecting civic space. The consultation attracted a record number of almost 700 organisations from across the European Union, with results due to be published shortly.
As a tool providing support in the future, FRA will also present its ongoing work on the Civic Space Knowledge Hub, an initiative foreseen under the new European Union Civil Society Strategy. The Hub will serve as a one-stop source of reliable data and reports on civic space for policymakers, while also providing access for civil society and lawyers to resources and activities that support protection and prevention efforts.