Melber, Henning2019-09-252019-09-252014-03-212013-01http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12424/203095The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was among the first normative frameworks adopted by the member states of the newly established United Nations. But the acceptance and applicability of these rights remains contested. Human rights remain a matter of controversy, and those promoting them do so at times under great risks. “Governments must stop seeing civil society as a threat and allow it to operate more freely. Currently, the political space of civil society organisations is shrinking in many countries across the world by government policies and actions. Most negative attention is given to organisations or actors who work in justice, human rights or natural resources related areas.” This sobering assessment by the Secretary General of the Geneva based ACT Alliance summarises experiences from advocacy groups around the world collaborating in a network of more than 130 churches and related organisations. They are working together for positive, sustainable change in the lives of people affected by poverty and injustice through coordinated and effective humanitarian, development and advocacy initiatives. All too often, this is an uphill battle.engWith permission of the license/copyright holderHuman RightsSpaceFreedomWarPolitical ethicsEthics of lawRights based legal ethicsPeace ethicsCultural ethicsCultural/intercultural ethicsCommunity ethicsLifestyle ethicsArticle