Author Description

Abstract: A vibrant and functioning civil society needs spaces to express itself in a variety of ways and opportunities to unfold. However, shrinking civic spaces are more and more to be traced. Many groups such as human rights activists and artists are affected and the declining of pre-political spaces takes many forms. To assist these activists an increasing amount of protection programmes have been developed in recent years. This study examines protection programmes from different angles in order to formulate the challenges of these initiatives and to seek solutions for an increasing effectiveness in future programmes