Romero stressed that civil society is facing an existential threat, reminding that the rights to peaceful assembly and association lie at the heart of human dignity and are essential for the protection of other rights and for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
She underlined that the shrinking of civic space is not only due to repression but also to the disruption of the “lifelines” that sustain international solidarity. Romero identified two main sources of the current crisis: attacks on international aid systems and the increasing securitization of the global agenda.
“These two issues,” she said, “affect not only organizations but also the very future of international solidarity.”
Romero stated:
“Unprecedented cuts to international aid have plunged the global human rights and development architecture into deep uncertainty. For instance, the G7 countries, which provide three-quarters of all official development assistance, are set to reduce their contributions by 20% for 2026 compared to 2024. This marks the largest cut since 1960.”
As a result of these cuts, Romero noted that thousands of civil society organizations worldwide have been forced to close, with widespread program reductions. She warned that women-led and women’s rights organizations, as well as LGBTIQ+ groups, face the risk of extinction.
“This situation is eroding civic space and threatening the hard-won gains of recent decades. It also weakens civil society participation in multilateral organizations, including the United Nations.”
Civil Society Demonstrates Resilience Through Innovation
Despite the crisis, Romero emphasized that civil society continues to show resilience by leveraging its legacy of collective action and innovation. She pointed to movements led by feminists and youth, as well as community-based and locally owned initiatives, as promising developments.
She highlighted the emergence of new funding and shared leadership models, as well as community-based and cooperative financing systems, which strengthen long-term independence. Cross-sector alliances, she said, play a key role in diversifying resources, amplifying messages, and ensuring the sustainability of common agendas.
“Despite the crisis, civil society continues to innovate through its resilience and collective action. Hope for sustainability lies in movements led by feminists and youth, community-based initiatives, and strong local ownership. Organizations are experimenting with new funding models — such as community-driven ‘free phone call’ campaigns — and developing shared leadership structures that promote equality and flexibility.”
Romero called for further promotion of community-based and cooperative financing models to enhance long-term independence and encouraged new partnerships:
“Many organizations are building or strengthening alliances with academia, independent media, cultural groups, and other actors. These partnerships help diversify funding, broaden outreach, and sustain joint agendas.”
She also underscored the need for a transparent, inclusive, and democratic process to redefine international cooperation.
Eight Key Principles
The report sets out eight guiding principles:
- Ensure equitable access to resources within the framework of the right to freedom of association and repeal restrictive laws.
- Institutionalize the meaningful participation of civil society and grassroots movements in all phases of aid processes by removing barriers to inclusion.
- Rebalance power relations, decolonize cooperation, enable local leadership, and ensure that at least 50% of aid is directed to national and local actors.
- Governments and donors should strengthen civil society resilience through flexible and multi-year funding that supports institutional development and long-term impact.
- Protection of civic space should become a priority in all bilateral and multilateral agreements.
- Security policies and budgets must be human rights-based, with civil society acting as a partner in the design, monitoring, and implementation of security strategies.
- Democratize funding structures by ensuring accessible, public, and multilateral funds for grassroots and non-traditional actors.
- Financing for development must place human dignity and planetary sustainability at its core.
Romero concluded by emphasizing that freedom of assembly and association are the cornerstones of democracy, stating:
“This crisis is not only a challenge but also an opportunity to build a sustainable and equitable aid architecture. Urgent and decisive action, along with additional funding, is essential.”
For more information about the Special Rapporteur, visit the UN Special Procedures page, and you can watch her full message here.