Tunisians hold up placards during a march organized by the Campaign Against the Criminalization of Civil Work to protest racism in Tunis, April 11, 2026. The demonstration, which includes human rights organizations, civil society groups, and activists, addresses concerns about what participants describe as a rise in racist rhetoric, as well as efforts to criminalize solidarity and civil, political, and trade union activities. The event also highlights concerns about the targeting of activists and advocates.
The Tunisian government has systematically cracked down on civil society groups and their members since 2024, all but shutting down the vibrant civic space that emerged after the 2011 revolution.Civil society plays a key role in holding power to account, delivering essential services, and advocating for human rights. The authorities are abusing every tool at their disposal to close the space for civil society and shut these organizations down.The authorities should immediately end their crackdown on civil society and allow space for civic groups to operate fully and freely.
(Beirut) – The Tunisian government has systematically cracked down on civil society groups and their members since 2024, all but shutting down the vibrant civic space that emerged after the 2011 revolution, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The authorities should immediately end their crackdown on civil society and allow space for civic groups to operate fully and freely.
The 49-page report, “‘We Are Living on Borrowed Time’: Repression of Civil Society in Tunisia” documents the Tunisian authorities’ escalating repression of local and international civil society groups, workers, members, and affiliates through the weaponization of abusive prosecutions, arbitrary arrests, detention, financial and criminal investigations, mass suspensions, and threats of dissolution.
