Activism is one of the cornerstones of a democracy. When people make their voices heard, they can bring about real change in our society.
ICCL is leading a coalition of civil society organisations working on issues affecting activism, civil society space and the free operation of NGOs. We seek to engage and collaborate with academics, communities and community activists on this issue. We also work specifically on the right to protest.
Campaign for Electoral Act reform
The Electoral Act, as it is currently written, prevents NGOs from receiving much-needed international funding to work on issues the regulator, SIPOC, deems to be “political”. We are campaigning for a change to the law.
Read the Coalition for Civil Society Freedom statement on the Electoral Act. See how many CSOs have signed up to the campaign to reform the Act.
How the Electoral Act is impacting community organisations
Michael Barron of EQUATE and April Duff of Education Equality (right) with Val Heller of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (centre)
April Duff of Education Equality on their experience of being threatened with legal action by SIPOC.
Read why EQUATE shut down after coming under pressure from SIPOC.
More on the Electoral Act
Read Liam Herrick’s op-ed on the importance of the decision to quash SIPOC’s demand that Amnesty hand back funding for legitimate human rights work.
Sister Stanislaus Kennedy, founder of Focus Ireland, on why it is so important that charities be allowed to advocate for change.
Ivan Cooper of the Wheel, on how the Electoral Act is muzzling civil society.
Take Action on the Electoral Act!
Sign the open letter to the Taoiseach calling for reform here
Electoral Commission
Our submission calling for the establishment of an Electoral Commission is here: https://www.iccl.ie/news/iccl-submission-on-electoral-commission/
Online Political Advertising
Our submission to the Public Consultation on the Regulation of Online Political Advertising is here.
Freedom of Artistic Expression
During the referendum on the 8th Amendment, we released a statement on artistic freedom of expression.