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Wednesday, Mar 12, 2025
Outside the box.
United States Added to International Civil Liberties Watchlist Amid Concerns Over Civic Freedom Deterioration
The U.S. joins a list of countries facing scrutiny for 'serious decline' in civic freedoms, according to an international rights watchdog.
The United States has been added to the Civicus Monitor Watchlist for 2025, a designation given by the international rights organization Civicus, which tracks civic freedoms around the globe.
This watchlist includes other nations such as Pakistan, Congo, Italy, and Serbia and highlights countries experiencing a significant decline in civil liberties.
Civicus aims to strengthen citizen action and civil society worldwide and monitors 198 countries on their civic freedoms.
The organization’s methodology for placing countries on the watchlist includes analysis from its research team, partnerships with local activists, and reports from various sources.
According to Civicus, the U.S. has been included on the watchlist due to numerous “undue restrictions” on civic freedoms observed since President Donald Trump began his second term in office.
The organization has expressed concerns over what it describes as “gross abuses of executive power” that raise serious issues regarding the freedoms of assembly, expression, and association.
Specific actions cited by Civicus include the Trump administration's executive orders that have been seen as efforts to undermine democratic institutions, the rule of law, and international cooperation.
The organization noted that these actions contribute to a sharper deterioration of civic freedoms.
Mandeep Tiwana, Interim Co-Secretary General of Civicus, commented on the situation, stating that the current environment resembles a significant breakdown of the rule of law not witnessed since the McCarthy era in the 20th century.
He emphasized that restrictive policies, budget cuts to crucial institutions, and intimidation tactics from senior officials have created a chilling effect on democratic dissent.
The organization's release pointed out several key measures taken under the Trump administration that could negatively affect constitutional freedoms.
Notable among these are the U.S. withdrawal from critical international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations Human Rights Council, cuts to long-standing foreign aid programs, and mass dismissals of federal employees.
In addition, Civicus highlighted actions affecting protest rights, including a crackdown on pro-Palestinian demonstrations and restrictions on media access, which have seen journalists banned from the White House.
These developments have led Civicus to indicate that the current climate around civic freedoms in the U.S. is categorized as ‘narrowed.’ This designation typically applies to nations where fundamental democratic freedoms, such as the rights of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, are increasingly under threat.
This watchlist includes other nations such as Pakistan, Congo, Italy, and Serbia and highlights countries experiencing a significant decline in civil liberties.
Civicus aims to strengthen citizen action and civil society worldwide and monitors 198 countries on their civic freedoms.
The organization’s methodology for placing countries on the watchlist includes analysis from its research team, partnerships with local activists, and reports from various sources.
According to Civicus, the U.S. has been included on the watchlist due to numerous “undue restrictions” on civic freedoms observed since President Donald Trump began his second term in office.
The organization has expressed concerns over what it describes as “gross abuses of executive power” that raise serious issues regarding the freedoms of assembly, expression, and association.
Specific actions cited by Civicus include the Trump administration's executive orders that have been seen as efforts to undermine democratic institutions, the rule of law, and international cooperation.
The organization noted that these actions contribute to a sharper deterioration of civic freedoms.
Mandeep Tiwana, Interim Co-Secretary General of Civicus, commented on the situation, stating that the current environment resembles a significant breakdown of the rule of law not witnessed since the McCarthy era in the 20th century.
He emphasized that restrictive policies, budget cuts to crucial institutions, and intimidation tactics from senior officials have created a chilling effect on democratic dissent.
The organization's release pointed out several key measures taken under the Trump administration that could negatively affect constitutional freedoms.
Notable among these are the U.S. withdrawal from critical international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations Human Rights Council, cuts to long-standing foreign aid programs, and mass dismissals of federal employees.
In addition, Civicus highlighted actions affecting protest rights, including a crackdown on pro-Palestinian demonstrations and restrictions on media access, which have seen journalists banned from the White House.
These developments have led Civicus to indicate that the current climate around civic freedoms in the U.S. is categorized as ‘narrowed.’ This designation typically applies to nations where fundamental democratic freedoms, such as the rights of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, are increasingly under threat.
