CFF Survey Form | Civic Freedom Forum

This civic space survey seeks to assess the civic space situation in your County. The survey should be undertaken as instructed and supervised by CFF. Respondents (a purposive sample that includes all the County Wards, key civic institutions, agencies etc.) selected with considerations of gender, inclusivity, age and ethnic balance will participate in the Civic Space Survey at least twice each year in the first half and at the end of the year. The data will be analysed and reports produced shared with all the relevant stakeholders.

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a) Freedom of Association

Confirm by filling this probability ranking if groups intent on advancing collective interest or existing CSOs in your County are:

	Unlikely	Seldom	Possible	Probable	Frequently
Subjected to unreasonable delays when registering or forming an organization
Hindered or restricted from enjoyment of freedom of association on account of a law (new or otherwise
Deregistered or interfered with on authority of the government
Targeted for its activism or work of democracy, human rights, governance or accountability
Infiltrated and its advocacy, activism or independence subverted by the state or any of its arms through overt or covert means
Prevented from maintaining a bank account
Taken through unnecessary fiscal audit
Prevented or restricted from receiving foreign funding

Rank the probability of the following pronouncements, actions and posturing by state and its agencies in your County

	Unlikely	Seldom	Possible	Probable	Frequently
Government promises to improve how CSO are registered, taxed, supervised/regulated including reporting
Government officers at the Ministry of interior and the PBO regulatory authority have noticeably shifted their statements towards CSO and recognize role of the sector.
The number of attacks on CSOs and Activists have declined (physical attacks, raids, legal harassment, surveillance, propaganda)
There have been progressive judgments by the courts on freedom of association lately

b) Freedom of Assembly

For protests or demonstrations of which you are aware, that either took place or were reported in your county rank the following statements of probability:

	Unlikely	Seldom	Possible	Probable	Frequently
The Government facilitated the exercise of those protests and demonstrations
The organizers of the gathering have been required to obtain prior approval for demonstration
Notice which is required, has despite organizers adhering to the notice requirements not been respected by authorities.
Request to demonstrate have been as a matter of routine roundly denied without sufficient reasons or cause
Unwarranted restrictions have been imposed including outlawing demonstration altogether and preventing protests to reach the intended destination
Protest or demonstration start peacefully but turn violent
Security forces used excessive force to disperse protesters (water canons, teargas, rubber bullets, live ammunition etc
Security forces discriminated opposition groups who organised protests in sharp contrast to groups seen as supportive of the ruling party
Security forces made arbitrary or illegal arrests
Authorities have a poor track record of policing protests in ways that provoke violence between police and protestors or between rival groups of protesters and have refrained from using excessive force.

Protests and demonstrations in my County have faced the following (Rank in order of probability)

	Unlikely	Seldom	Possible	Probable	Frequently
Police and civilian violence
Arrest of protesters and trump charges
Disproportionate use of force
Biased media coverage that focuses on the outcome of violence rather than the exercise of the right to protest
Enforced dissapearance

c) Freedom of Expression

Rank the following statements in order of probability if this reflects the real state of affairs regarding freedom of expression for media houses, CSOs, academics, trade unions or activists in your County

	Unlikely	Seldom	Possible	Probable	Frequently
Journalists, bloggers or activists experience interference, harassment and/or physical attacks
Attacks that have been reported were all instigated and perpetrated by the state or by non state actors acting on the behest of the state
Media and Civil Society have been practicing self censorship and the two avoid certain topics or causes for fear of negative repurcussions
There have been attempts to curtail expression for excluded or disadvantaged groups
People have been unable to access Government information in law and in practice
People or journalists who express critical opinions in public have been the target of the legal system
Freedom of expression on the internet and social media is restricted
There are new concerns about online privacy and state surveillance

d) Right to Access to Information/ Media freedom (digital space)

Which of the following statements reflect the real state of affairs regarding freedom of expression for media houses, CSOs, academics, trade unions or activists

	Unlikely	Seldom	Possible	Probable	Frequently
There is greater legal protection for whistle blowers and improved/new access to information rules now exists
It is easier for people to fully express their views or access public information

In my county the public posturing and narratives regarding media/journalists is consistent with the following:

	Unlikely	Seldom	Possible	Probable	Frequently
The media landscape is more liberal and any form of speech is decriminalized
There is public vilification and attacks against online activists, social media users and bloggers are on a decline
There is a reduction in the number of attacks directed at journalist and media houses
Freedom of expression has been curtailed on account of gender and sexual orientation

e) State duty to protect

Rank in order of probability the situation that may visit individual activists, journalists and human rights defenders in your county

Rank the probable state response in your county to any of the attacks that took place against actors in civic space

	Unlikely	Seldom	Possible	Probable	Frequently
Authorities have opened investigation and or inquest
The state has provided special measures following the attacks
The state has provided assistance to excluded or disadvantaged groups
Courts have provided a reliable and independent means and recourse for activists
The state has successfully concluded prosecutions against civil society
There is a discernible increase in the number of investigations, prosecutions brought and/or convictions in cases concerning attacks on activists, CSOs, protesters or journalists
Protection for HRDs, Civil Society Activists or Journalists have improved