Civil Society Organizations

Civil society groups, such as non-governmental organizations, community-based groups, religious representatives, professional associations, trade unions, social movements and women’s organizations, represent the interests, needs and concerns of their constituencies. These groups become politically active when they identify a need to advocate for a particular issue. Advocacy efforts may include seeking to influence relevant policies and legislation, providing oversight of key operations and promoting accountability among government actors. Historically, civil society groups have been a stronghold of the women’s movement.

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