Major Backsliding Threatening CSO Sustainability in Macedonia, Says 2016 CSOSI Report

In the recently published USAID CSO Sustainability Index 2016, implemented for Macedonia by BCSDN experts, Macedonia is one of the few countries that have received much attention due to the backsliding over the past few years that has threatened the sustainability of civil society. More so, Macedonia has also been marked a country whereby CSOs have been affected by the political and economic context and had to respond to numerous societal developments. CSOs criticizing government policies and activists were subject to increasing state harassment. At the same time public attacks, hate speech, and smear campaigns against critical CSOs and activists by pro-government media became more frequent and direct during the year. That notwithstanding, according to the report, Macedonian CSOs and activists have learned how to adapt to the reduced civic space and have found new way to advocate, mobilize people and raise funds – the so called Colorful Revolution has been considered key tool to bring both the public’s and policymaker’s attention to issues of public concern. More information is available here.

Source: BCSDN