A/HRC/44/25 I. Introduction 1. In the Charter of the United Nations, the signatory nations resolved to maintain peace and security, promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, promote social progress and development, and establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and international law could be maintained. An essential prerequisite for progress under all these pillars is a safe, open, free and enabling space for all to be heard, voice opinions, debate and come together around themes and grievances. Participation in decision-making is fundamental to human rights and the rule of law. Keeping the promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to “leave no one behind” means redoubling efforts to ensure that all voices are heard, including those that have traditionally been excluded. 2. The year 2019 marked the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. In his report to the General Assembly (A/73/230), the Secretary-General recommended that, as a first step towards the development of a more coherent and comprehensive approach to support the Declaration, a further mapping of positive practices and gaps needed to be completed, including a system-wide approach to strengthen civil society space and give guidance on United Nations engagement with and support for human rights defenders. 3. In his call to action issued in February 2020, the Secretary-General touched upon civic space under all headings, including expanded civil society participation at all levels. The Secretary-General noted the need to develop an agenda for protection for the United Nations system that took into account different protection needs, and for more support for protection mechanisms at the field level for human rights defenders and environmental activists. He stated that the United Nations would promote an enabling environments and support States in expanding civic space at the country level. He noted that the United Nations would design a system-wide strategy on civic space, and would provide guidance to United Nations leaders in the field along with mechanisms to: (a) positively engage with interlocutors to promote and protect civic space; (b) respond to undue restrictions on civic space; and (c) protect the space for different stakeholders to express their views. 4. In its resolution 38/12, the Human Rights Council unequivocally reaffirmed the right of everyone, individually and in association with others, to unhindered access to and communication with regional and international bodies, and their representatives and mechanisms. It also strongly encouraged all relevant United Nations bodies to review, and update as appropriate, their frameworks for engagement with civil society to ensure that those frameworks reflected and responded to the challenges faced, in order to support improved civil society engagement with international and regional organizations. In the same resolution, it requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report on progress made in improving civil society engagement with international and regional organizations. 5. The present report has been prepared on the basis of the results of a United Nations online survey conducted during the period April–May 2019, to which over 100 entities at headquarters and field levels responded. Global online civil society consultations were also undertaken between 13 and 24 January 2020, in which over 260 civil society actors from over 80 countries across all regions participated and expressed their views on the role of the United Nations in protecting and promoting civic space. 1 In addition, there were also inputs and contributions from a number of civil society consultations carried out by various United Nations entities, 2 including on the community engagement guidelines 3 process and Beijing+25. 6. The United Nations survey and the global civil society consultations pointed to several areas for improvement. By presenting current policies and practices of different United Nations entities, the report highlights both the wealth of experience and the gaps and inconsistencies that exist within the United Nations system. 1 2 3 2 See www.globaldevhub.org/civicspace. For some examples, see www.globaldevhub.org/. See www.platform4dialogue.org/en/a/unceg/ad/.