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Partos event

Democracies under attack: the anti-rights movement and their tactics to influence the public narrative 

As part of a series of Brown Bag Sessions on the anti-rights movement, we present our second Brown Bag Session of 2025, a short online, informal learning session. In this brown-bag session, we will take a deep dive into the global anti-rights movement coordinated attacks against democracy and civic space.  Joined by RNW Media, CIVICUS, the University of Gothenburg and the Love Alliance, we will present why the anti-rights movement is a threat to our democracies, and give examples of what misinformation and disinformation tactics anti-rights groups are using. We invite you to bring your own lunch and engage!

  • Date and time 23 July 2025, 12:00 - 13:00 CET
  • Where Online
  • For whom Anyone interested / working on human rights and civic space

Anti-rights groups & dis/misinformation tactics

Civil society worldwide is under growing pressure from the rising anti-rights movement, with more outspoken and direct attacks on civic rights, freedom of expression, and on democratic values. Actors linked to anti-rights groups are trying to interfere in democratic processes, and attacking civic freedoms.

Anti-rights groups continue to win ground by using tactics such as disinformation (spreading deliberately deceiving or misleading information) & intimidation including aggressive litigation to drain resources of civil society organisations, exploit public funds and influence institutions like the UN and EU to advance regressive agendas. Their tactics, ranging from spreading false and misleading information to strategic lobbying, have the potential to polarise public opinion, erode trust in democratic processes, and promote extremism. 

What to expect?

In this brown bag session representatives Giovana Fleck (RNW Media), Ines Pousadela (CIVICUS) and Post doctoral researcher Haley McEwen (University of Gothenburg) will be interviewed by Aidsfonds on how the anti-rights movement poses a threat for our civic space and democracies. We will explore:

  • Provide insight in how misinformation and disinformation is influencing the public narratives and instrumentalised by certain groups.
  • Why it is important to understand the tactics of the anti-rights groups
  • How the anti-rights offense is going beyond attacks on the LGBTIQ+ and women’s rights. 

About the Partos LNOB Brown Bag sessions

This Brown Bag lunch session is the sixth of a series organised by the Partos Leave No One Behind Community of Practice (LNOB) with inspiring presentations on intersectionality and Leave No One Behind in practice. Digest fresh of the shelve, or yet to be tested best practices, tools, and approaches that aim to put rights holders in the driving seat and reduce discrimination. Missed the first session on the anti-rights movement? Find the summary here.

 

Register here