ANND Annual Report 2024
Please click here to read the full report
Introduction
Defending Rights Amid Turmoil: Civil Society’s Fight for Justice in 2024
The year 2024 was marked by major challenges and rapid developments at both regional and international levels. The Arab region continued to experience armed conflicts in multiple countries, including Sudan and Libya, as well as the Israeli war on Palestine and Lebanon. These conflicts exposed the fragility of the global system and the weakness of mechanisms meant to protect civilians and enforce international laws, particularly international humanitarian law.
As a result, human rights violations escalated across the region, making it even more difficult for civil society to defend human rights and protect civilians under increasingly harsh conditions.
These conflicts also affected civil society’s relationship with donors, who imposed stricter conditions, further restricting freedom of expression and limiting civil society’s ability to advocate for rights and protection. This reflects broader imbalances in international relations and the crisis facing the global system, threatening stability and making justice harder to achieve in conflict zones.
Beyond regional challenges, 2024 saw significant global events shaping civil society’s work. The International Court of Justice issued a historic advisory opinion, recognizing the possibility of genocide in Gaza and calling for an immediate ceasefire by Israel. Additionally, the International Criminal Court charged Israeli and Hamas leaders with war crimes, highlighting ongoing international efforts toward accountability and justice in conflict areas.
In the United States, President Trump’s election introduced a policy agenda focused on ending conflicts and reassessing trade and investment relations, prioritizing U.S. interests. However, these shifts posed challenges for international organizations, including the UN Human Rights Council, the World Health Organization, UNRWA, and the International Criminal Court. The Trump administration’s stance on international justice institutions threatened global human rights efforts, particularly with its threats to sanction ICC members and prosecutors who condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, alongside cutting funding to several international development and human rights organizations.
In Europe, elections in multiple countries saw the rise of nationalist movements, with a shift toward right-wing politics and stronger influence from nationalist parties. This complicated international partnerships and global governance dynamics. Meanwhile, the UN Summit for the Future highlighted major challenges in peace, security, and global governance, particularly within the UN Security Council. The summit emphasized the need to advance the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, develop better financing mechanisms for development, and take urgent action on climate change. Discussions also underscored the interconnectedness of global challenges, with climate change remaining a central issue requiring immediate and decisive action. The summit further stressed the necessity of a new international agreement on digital governance to protect personal data and ensure a democratic and inclusive digital space. However, its outcomes fell short of addressing the scale of these challenges.
Despite these crises and challenges, the Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND) remained committed to its mission of promoting human rights, social justice, and sustainable development. This report highlights our collective efforts in defending marginalized communities and showcases the resilience of our network members and partners in the face of adversity. Through various initiatives, strategic partnerships, and continuous advocacy, we worked to meet the needs of affected communities in the region while striving to build a stronger, more effective network capable of driving lasting change.
As we reflect on the past year’s achievements, we extend our deepest appreciation to our members, partners, and supporters for their unwavering commitment to our shared mission. Looking ahead, we remain dedicated to strengthening our network, actively defending human rights, and encouraging broader participation in our collective struggle for a just and equal society.
ANND Annual Report 2024
Please click here to read the full report
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