Interview with Ketevan Vashakidze, President of Europe Foundation
Y
ou represent
instilling distrust towards
authoritarian, many are
a foundation
them. Increasingly common
extremely poor, vulnerable
that has been
became attacks on human
and marginalized, and
working for
rights defenders and CSO
access to quality education,
decades to strengthen
representatives. All of these
health care, jobs and
Georgia’s civil society.
limits space for civil society,
decent living conditions
What are the challenges
further diminishing the CSO’s
is inadequate, the civil
confronting civil societies
access to media, policy-
sector has more difficulties
globally, and are these
formation process, and public
in mobilizing citizens to
challenges different in
space to protest injustice
positively influence the
Georgia?
and human rights violations.
state and society to build
The civil sector shares many
During the pandemic, these
inclusive, democratic state.
challenges have become
Consequently, CSOs need
particularly dire, fueling
much more support and
countries where democratic
further crises.
resources to bring about
institutions are weak, poverty
Today, liberal democracy
positive changes.
rates are high, and citizens
faces multiple challenges.
What do you think is
are unable to play an active
Several Eastern European
the solution in such
part in the country’s political,
countries, which until recently
challenging situations,
economic, and social life, the
have been the role-models
and what should the civil
challenges are more acute.
of democratization, have
sector do to address these
These challenges include
introduced regulations
challenges?
restrictive legislations or
that limit opportunities for
inadequate implementation
CSOs. However, despite
Europe Foundation is an
of laws that enable the work
the fact that the anti-liberal
civil society organizations
sentiments and movements
(CSOs); various barriers to
are emerging around the
accessing and sustaining
world, in the countries where
financial resources for
democratic institutions are
CSOs; environment that
strong, the civil society sector
hinders citizens’ access to
is effective in maintaining
decision-making. Recently,
its space and fulfilling its
we have also observed
mission. Whereas, in
government-backed negative
countries like Georgia,
discourse towards CSOs,
where institutions are weak,
aimed at stigmatizing or
the government is more
similar challenges in different regions of the world but in
infrastructural organization that supports strengthening of CSOs in Georgia. The mission of Europe Foundation is to empower people to effect change for social justice and economic prosperity through hands-on programs, helping them to improve their communities and their own lives. The Foundation engages citizens in social, economic, and
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