HEKS/EPER underlines, however, that the rule of law and good governance are preconditions for attaining the other goals of international cooperation. Therefore, one crucial demand by HEKS/EPER is for a stronger focus on protecting and empowering civil society, which is currently witnessing severe and growing limitations on its scope for action around the world. Just 4 per cent of the world's population still live in countries where they are able to express their opinions freely, to assemble, and to enjoy access to a free press.
When criticism is silenced, when people are penalized for getting involved, and when freedom of opinion and assembly is drastically curtailed, the impact on political, social and economic life is negative. HEKS/EPER together with two partners from Act Alliance have jointly prepared a study illustrating that the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are doomed to fail in the absence of a committed civil society. Worse yet, the study shows that progress already made in overcoming poverty, hunger and inequality is being jeopardized by the imposition of political and legal constraints on civil society.
HEKS/EPER is therefore calling for the protection of fundamental civil rights and the empowerment of a diverse and inclusive civil society to be incorporated into Goal 4 of the federal proposal as a basic prerequisite for inclusive and sustainable development. In its international cooperation the Swiss Government should commit to promoting human rights and democratic processes in order to arrest the global trend towards diminishing civil rights. Besides, the Confederation should be more forthright in championing the protection of human rights defenders and the fight against impunity. Both in Switzerland and in partner countries, cooperation with civil society must be conceived for the long term and foster mutual trust.
For it is thanks to civil society players that the poor and underprivileged can have a say as well as a share in the fruits of development, rather than the privileged alone. For many years HEKS/EPER has championed the cause of civil society empowerment in its project countries. HEKS/EPER supports project partners that help underprivileged people claim their rights, at the local, national and international levels.