Civil Society

...these groups of people and organisations can have a huge effect: the women's suffragette movement, for example, had a very impressive, lasting impact on Western society, culture and politics.

One of the most prominent civil society movements is the human rights movement. Human rights are the fundamental, inalienable rights and freedoms that governments, groups and individuals need to respect to avoid exploitation, injustice and conflict. Examples of human rights are the right to live without discrimination and the right to primary education.

But poverty affects how civil society works. In many developing countries the poor are excluded from many aspects of political and economic life: their voice just isn't heard. These are the people that civil society could help the most, but whose civil society is the weakest. This is especially true where governments do not respect freedom of speech and expression and quash independent groups and civil society.

Civil society cannot solve everything – its influence and ability is limited, especially by economic and political forces. But it is not powerless – when significant parts of society join together to protest or sign petitions, it is a powerful way of telling the government or companies that certain actions are not acceptable. Examples of the power of public opinion include the fight against child labour and the demand for free and fair elections in Iran.

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