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We are experts on civil society law and policy. We co-develop locally-led responses with the goal to protect civic freedoms. We create knowledge, build networks and strengthen legal protections. ECNL is analytical, forward-looking and innovative.
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ECNL Learning Center
Learn more about critical aspects that affect civic space.
CSO Meter
Assess and advocate for an improved civil society environment in the Eastern Partnership countries.
Updated Handbook on How to Use EU Law to Protect Civic Space
Research
In the Second Edition of our Handbook, you will find guidance on how EU law affects our fundamental rights, and why rule of law matters to civic space.
Focus areas
We are deeply commited to empowering civil society through creating enabling legal and policy frameworks. Explore our focus areas!
Protests and Assemblies
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Participation
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Funding and Philanthropy
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UN Standards
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European policies
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Action for Civic Space
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Monitoring Civic Spaces
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Climate Action
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News & Research
What's the latest in the field of civil society law and policy? Read our news and learn more about our analytical and research work!
Latest
View allWhere to find ECNL at RightsCon 2025?
Join us at the 13th edition of RightsCon in Taipei, the largest global summit on human rights in the digital age.
News
Access to financial services for CSOs on the move: insights and recommendations
New report: survey results show that over half of CSOs in exile or relocation face difficulties accessing financial services.
Research
Georgian Anti-Corruption Bureau: Consequences for civil society and electoral integrity
New report outlines how ACB's role and powers affect civil society, and offers recommendations for future efforts to monitor and enhance its work in line with international law and good practices.
Research
Dutch Transparency Act: more clarity, proportionality and safeguards needed
Despite improvements from earlier versions, significant issues remain unaddressed in the new draft law.
News
Slovak PM claims plans for organising peaceful assemblies constitute an attack on national security
Government warns of potential ‘preventive measures’ against upcoming protests, citing national security concerns based on a State Intelligence Service report, which refers to email communication between organisers.
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Human rights and justice must be at the heart of the upcoming Commission guidelines on the AI Act implementation
Alongside the AI Act civil society and the #ProtectNotSurveil coalitions, we urge the European AI Office to address grave loopholes in the final AI Act text and ensure meaningful engagement of civil society and impacted communities in consultations.
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AI for public participation: hope or hype?
Can AI tools and platforms make public engagement truly meaningful and inclusive?
News
Reclaiming civic freedoms from the security paradigm: Global CFT Expert Hub Meeting 2024
Explore the main takeaways from the 2024 Hub workshop in Johannesburg, where participants came together to share experiences, deepen connections and find inspiration.
News
Citizens’ Assemblies: participatory democracy in action
A case study on participation models that bring together diverse groups of people to develop carefully considered solutions to even the most complex social issues.
News
Impact stories
ECNL Portals
ECNL maintains several different websites, each with essential information but different civic space focus . Created with partners, these portals provide knowledge on the core civic freedoms of association, assembly and participation to support CSOs and civic groups open and defend their own spaces. Click here for for our learning center and a collection of websites to navigate the nonprofit laws around the world, assess civil society environment in the Eastern Partnership countries or track government responses to the pandemic that affect civic freedoms.
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![hands connected with thread forming a light bulb](/sites/default/files/styles/block_image_560x380/public/2023-03/Homepage%20banner%201920x1080px.png?itok=7sU5MUtF)
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![Civic Freedom Tracker](/sites/default/files/styles/block_image_560x380/public/images/COVID-19-Tracker-Graphic-v4.jpg?itok=-ZC3x2bh)
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![Global Nonprofits Guide, a tool for navigating the nonprofit laws around the world.](/sites/default/files/styles/block_image_560x380/public/2024-03/GNG%202.0%20web%20%285%29.png?h=67cebeba&itok=ENPYpBsY)
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![cso meter logo and url with the subtitle reading "Assessing the civil society environment in the Eastern Partnership countries"](/sites/default/files/styles/block_image_560x380/public/2021-04/CSOmeter%20banner%202021.jpg?h=8f829f20&itok=jBWjAb3v)
Civic space portals
Explore our diverse websites!
E-tools
Through research and analysis we provide digital tools on various civic space issues. Explore our online resources for accessible information on assembly rights in the digital space, nonprofit banking, international standards that protect climate activists and more!
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![a dark blue circle in the middle, in it there is a protester with headscarf with loudspeaker, smaller yellow circle on the left.](/sites/default/files/styles/block_image_560x380/public/2024-04/Protests%204.png?itok=TnCF91zm)
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![People walking in front of glass business building. The text: Nonprofit Banking in Europe](/sites/default/files/styles/block_image_560x380/public/2023-03/nonprofit%20banking%20metatag%20banner%20March%202023_0.jpg?itok=2lM7sCcI)
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![A woman of colour's hand holding 2 flowers that are white. In the background there's a black and white drawn globe with a turqoise shadow. The background is with watercolour (grey on leight beige backgrond).](/sites/default/files/styles/block_image_560x380/public/2022-01/Climate%20final%20COVER.jpg?itok=ZEtPRh9i)
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![A light grey watercolour background with centrally a yellow circle. In the circle are three old computer monitors and from one of them an arm and and arm emerge upwards. The hand hold a phone which shows an assembly of people. Two green triangles point at the phone. In the right upper corner are a blue circle and a small green circle.](/sites/default/files/styles/block_image_560x380/public/2022-08/Design%20Assembly%20Handbook%20Banner%20New%20version%20Changed.png?itok=OPhW6hmx)
Online resources on the ECNL website
Use these tools to analyse trends and advocate for better policies, laws and practices that affect civil society.
About us
ECNL is an independent and established European leader on law and policy that affect civil society. We create knowledge, empower partners and help set global and regional standards that create, protect and expand civic freedoms. We rely on our 20+ years of expertise to respond to trends with relevance, creativity and innovation. Get to know us!
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![ECNL staff group photo with 19 people standing or sitting in semi-circle](/sites/default/files/styles/block_image_560x380/public/2024-06/ECNL%20staff%202024%20Hague.jpeg?itok=UIHiwfB_)
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![20 people. ECNL staff, some sitting on a sofa, some standing behind them](/sites/default/files/styles/block_image_560x380/public/2024-06/ECNl%20staff%202023%20Haarlem.png?itok=njK54O-g)
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![12 people. ECNL staff, some sitting on a bench, some standing or sitting on the ground](/sites/default/files/styles/block_image_560x380/public/2023-03/Team%20Photo%20Adjusted%204.jpg?itok=WEvJy0EZ)
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![3 colleagues from ECNL staff, 3 women](/sites/default/files/styles/block_image_560x380/public/2023-06/digital%20team%20at%20rightscon%202023.jpg?h=e9e93640&itok=0LBAyTIi)
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![3 colleagues from ECNL staff, 1 man, 2 women](/sites/default/files/styles/block_image_560x380/public/2023-07/ECNL%20country%20team%202022_0.png?itok=cqOrRnp7)
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![ECNL staff, 13 people on zoom call](/sites/default/files/styles/block_image_560x380/public/2023-03/ECNL%20staff%20Feb%202022.jpg?h=9561c6d2&itok=apA8_8uq)
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![12 people, group photo around a staircase](/sites/default/files/styles/block_image_560x380/public/2023-03/Team%20Photo%20Cut.jpg?h=b6ab0a7d&itok=W_r8pHKP)
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![7 staff members from ECNL sitting and standing on a ship deck.](/sites/default/files/styles/block_image_560x380/public/2021-04/2_staff.jpg?itok=ClrdRhHu)
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![ECNL staff members (10) in an office space.](/sites/default/files/styles/block_image_560x380/public/images/1_ecnl_staff.jpg?itok=SPKOZRiz)
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