Since its inception in 2018, Civitates and its partner foundations have worked towards tackling issues impacting discourse online such as disinformation and the citizen’s information diet, polarisation, outdated rules or lack thereof, governing how it functions and the power that private companies hold.
As every year the International Day of Democracy (an initiative created by the UN as part of their efforts to build democracy) reminds us that democratic principles and values such as respect to human rights, freedom of association, participation, and access to information can’t be taken for granted. In the last years, we have been witnessing the closing of democratic spaces, a rise in disinformation, and an increase in political polarisation.
As part of the online gathering, the grantee partners had the opportunity to quiz the funders as part of the session ‘I am a funder, ask me anything’. Civitates regularly organises such sessions where grantees and funders sit together and exchange freely.
In many countries across Europe, restrictive laws had already narrowed the space for civil society before the pandemic hit. Civil society groups are worried that governments could use the current crisis to (further) threaten the rule of law and democracy.
December 2019, Announcing a new fund to support independent, public interest journalism in Europe.
February 2019, Press release about the formation of Civitates by sixteen foundations.
November 2018, “A time to stand together“ – A declaration condemning the violence directed towards civil society. Full statement and list of signatories