A/HRC/35/28 that the non-profit sector employs a proportionately larger percentage of the workforce than some other industries, such as the transport sector, accounts on average for 4.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and provides a range of essential services. In 13 of the countries surveyed, the total number of people employed in the non-profit sector accounts, on average, for 7.4 per cent of the total workforce. 11 In Czechia, the non-profit sector has contributed about 0.7 per cent to the GDP in recent years. The voluntary sector in the United Kingdom contributed about 0.7 per cent to the GDP in 2013-2014, and in June 2015, employees in that sector accounted for about 2.7 per cent of the country’s workforce.12 In 2012, the value of voluntary activity in that country was estimated to be approximately 1.5 per cent of GDP.13 In Slovenia, employees in the NGO sector accounted for 0.8 per cent of the active workforce in 2015.14 Civil society contributed 3.2 per cent to the GDP of Sweden in 2014.15 33. Civil society also plays an important role as a conduit for development assistance, as civil society organizations are often better placed to work closely with beneficiaries and respond rapidly to emergencies. In 2014, for example, private donors channelled 86 per cent of their humanitarian funding through NGOs. 16 34. Civil society’s role in establishing lasting peace in conflict and post-conflict situations is becoming increasingly recognized. NGOs can take on roles that political actors are unable to perform because such organizations are potentially more independent, impartial and flexible. In some cases, civil society groups may also have better connections to grass-roots constituencies, are able to maintain confidentiality and have a relationship of greater trust with local populations. 17 In Colombia, civil society has been engaged in the peace process in various ways. Through social media campaigns, organizations such as El Avispero have offered spaces for people to participate in social development and peacebuilding activities.18 35. The growth of fundamentalism, violent extremism and terrorism is of great concern in the world today. It poses a threat to democracy and people’s ability to participate in their societies, shape their destinies, voice their concerns and improve their lives. In many countries, civil society has become a casualty, either by design or default, of the fight against extremism. The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association have been curtailed, while freedom of opinion, expression and other rights have been suppressed under the guise of combating extremism or terrorism. Ironically, curtailing rights and freedoms creates environments that propagate the very extremism that the authorities sought to eradicate. The existence of a robust civil society and respect for human rights in general is critical to combating extremism and channelling dissent and frustration in a legitimate way through the system (A/HRC/32/36, paras. 80-89). The Special Rapporteur is of the opinion that the Kenyan NGO Muslims for Human Rights, which promotes good governance and respect for the human rights of marginalized groups, is an example of the positive role that civil society can play in fighting extremism. 19 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 See http://ccss.jhu.edu/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2013/04/JHU_Global-Civil-SocietyVolunteering_FINAL_3.2013.pdf. See https://data.ncvo.org.uk/a/almanac16/economic-value-2/. See http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160105160709/ and www.ons.gov.uk/ ons/rel/wellbeing/household-satellite-accounts/valuing-voluntary-activity-in-the-uk/art--valuingvoluntary-activity-in-the-uk.html. Contribution of Slovenia. See www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/business-activities/structure-of-thebusiness-sector/the-civil-society/pong/statistical-news/civil-societys-contribution-to-gdp-was-3.2percent/. Development Initiatives, Global Humanitarian Assistance Report 2016, p. 66. Martina Fisher, “Civil society in conflict transformation: strengths and limitations” in Advancing Conflict Transformation: The Berghof Handbook II, Beatrix Austin, Martina Fischer, Hans .J. Giessmann, eds. (Opladen/Framington Hills, Barbara Budrich Publishers, 2011), p. 294. See http://reliefweb.int/report/colombia/el-avispero-civil-society-network-promoting-peace-colombia. See www.muhuri.org. 9