# Civil society matters URL: https://www.transparency.org/en/news/civil-society-matters Type: News Published: 2014-10-02 Updated: 2019-11-19 --- 02 October 2014 In a [speech](http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/09/23/remarks-president-clinton-global-initiative) in New York, US President Barack Obama forthrightly called for civil society around the world to be protected and supported so that it can do the important job of holding those in power to account. Strong civil societies help uphold universal human rights. They promote good governance by making governments more effective and holding leaders like me to account. And they’re critical to economic development, because in our global economy, trade and investment flows to countries that give citizens the freedom to create and develop new ideas and that are protected by rule of law.” – Barack Obama, President, United States This comes at a critical time. Civil society is under attack around the world. In the past two years staff in our chapters in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East have come under attack in the form of murder, imprisonment, death threats, physical beatings, public humiliation and other acts taken to stop those who fight against the abuse of power, secret dealings and bribery. Transparency International has called on governments in [Azerbaijan](http://www.transparency.org/news/pressrelease/transparency_international_confirms_azerbaijan_chapter_continues_work_despi), [Cambodia](http://www.transparency.org/news/pressrelease/transparency_international_strongly_supports_the_work_of_ti_cambodia_and_it), [Egypt](http://www.transparency.org/news/pressrelease/transparency_international_calls_for_greater_protection_of_civil_society_eg), Hungary, the Maldives, Montenegro, Russia, Rwanda, Sri Lanka and Venezuela to support non-governmental organisations so they can carry out their work free from fear and harassment. Too many governments are attempting to sideline and persecute civil society organisations by legislating against them, imprisoning their leaders or squeezing their finances. Recently The Economist chronicled [the rising tide of anti-civil society legislation](http://t.signauxun.com/link?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.economist.com%2Fnews%2Fleaders%2F21616952-illiberal-governments-are-blocking-activists-receiving-foreign-cash-liberal-ones-should-not&ukey=agxzfnNpZ25hbHNjcnhyGAsSC1VzZXJQcm9maWxlGICAwPmFi78KDA&k=f37094629bd94a8bba2d482d99d66056) across the world. This reflects a world where autocracy is displacing democracy and where the dissenting voices of the people are being silenced. It is precisely because citizens and civil society can be so powerful – their ability to harness technology and connect and mobilize at this (is) moment so unprecedented – that more and more governments are doing everything in their power to silence them.” – Barack Obama, President, United States ### Civil society fights back By exposing corruption and calling for change, our chapters show where governments are failing to protect their people. When people are angry they now take to the street demanding change which is why leaders often want to silence protests before they start. In Russia, for example, President Putin has pursued a policy of labelling NGOs that receive money from foreign governments as spies. It has introduced laws that stigmatise groups that work on everything from poverty alleviation to anti-corruption forcing some to [stop working](http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/08/29/russia-foreign-agents-law-hits-hundreds-ngos-updated-august-29-2014) altogether. In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban boasted that he was establishing [an illiberal state](http://t.signauxun.com/link?url=http%3A%2F%2Feuobserver.com%2Fpolitical%2F125128&ukey=agxzfnNpZ25hbHNjcnhyGAsSC1VzZXJQcm9maWxlGICAwPmFi78KDA&k=c9e6d37e7d7e4e6db1c5cf75260f6f43). And he is. The government is targeting 58 Hungarian non-governmental organisations, including Transparency International Hungary, because they [received funds](http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/02/us-hungary-norway-funding-ngo-idUSKBN0ED1QW20140602) from the Norwegian government for pursuing a liberal agenda. The government labels and thus discredits a number of independent NGOs blaming them with bias and serving foreign interests. This crackdown is an unfortunate proof of Hungary’s further ‘Putinisation’.” – Jozsef Peter Martin, Executive Director, Transparency International Hungary Transparency International chapters in ten countries recently [joined](http://www.ekopolis.sk/en/news/643-civil-society-organizations-ra.html) more than 987 other civil society organisations in 32 countries calling on the Hungarian government to stop its intimidation of civil society. ***UNMASK THE CORRUPT** Transparency International has launched a campaign to Unmask the Corrupt and push the Group of 20 leading economies when they meet in November to stop secret company ownership to prevent people from hiding illicit gains in places that allow secret companies. Sign up [here](http://www.transparency.org/unmask_the_corrupt/en/) for our G20 Thunderclap at Unmaskthecorrupt.org to make this happen now.* ## Countries - [United States](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/united-states) For any press inquiries please contact ### You might also like... ## [Financial intelligence units: Powerful tools against corruption if governments let them work](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/financial-intelligence-units-powerful-tools-against-corruption) News • 24 June 2026 Financial intelligence units can help expose corrupt money flows – but only if governments give them the powers, access and independence to do the job. ## [World Whistleblower Day: The cost of exposing facts in the age of misinformation](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/world-whistleblower-day-cost-of-exposing-facts-age-of-misinformation) News • 16 June 2025 On World Whistleblower Day, we spotlight brave truth-tellers exposing disinformation and the rising threats they face for speaking out. ## [Dirty money still has an address: Unveiling the Opacity in Real Estate Ownership Index](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/unveiling-opacity-in-real-estate-ownership-index) News • 26 March 2025 Transparency International and the Anti-Corruption Data Collective have ranked 24 jurisdictions on their ability to protect property markets from illicit funds. ## [CPI 2024: Trouble at the top](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/cpi-2024-trouble-at-the-top) News • 11 February 2025 Many top-scoring countries in this year's CPI are prime targets for corrupt actors to launder and safeguard their ill-gotten wealth.