At the European Forum on Civic Space Protection in Rome, civil society organisations, human rights defenders, and European and international institutions came together to address a growing protection gap. Hosted by ARCI Nazionale, A Sud, and the Metropolitan City of Rome, the forum concluded with the adoption of the Rome Priorities for the Protection of Civic Space, setting out a shared agenda for turning human rights commitments into effective protection.
Who protects those who defend rights?
Across Europe, civic space is under increasing pressure. Civil society organisations, activists, journalists, and human rights defenders face legal harassment, funding cuts, digital threats, surveillance, and smear campaigns.
Over recent years, civil society and institutions have strengthened their capacity to monitor and document these developments. However, a fundamental protection gap remains. While international protection mechanisms exist, attacks increasingly affect defenders living and working within the EU, where a permanent, accessible, and independent protection mechanism does not exist.
This main topic was addressed during the forum, which took place on 28–29 October as part of the PARATA project. Participants agreed on a core principle: protecting civic space goes far beyond defending individual activists. It is essential to create and strengthen the democratic systems that allow people to organise, protest, hold power to account, and participate in public life.
Two days of exchange: understanding risks and building protection
The first day brought together civil society organisations from over ten European countries at ARCI’s national offices. A central focus was the need for integrated protection systems combining legal assistance, digital security, psychosocial support, and rapid response.
From civil society action to institutional responsibility
On 29 October, the public conference “Who Protects Those Who Defend Rights? Building Institutional Responsibility for the Protection of Civic Space” took place at Palazzo Valentini.
One message was clear across discussions with UN Special Rapporteur Gina Romero and representatives from the European Commission, the Council of Europe, OSCE/ODIHR, Amnesty International Italy, and the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA): the responsibility for protecting those who defend rights and democracy cannot continue to fall primarily on civil society itself.
Civic space restrictions are becoming normalised
The European Civic Forum drew on findings from its Civic Space Report 2026, which documents a consistent deterioration of civic space across the EU and the Western Balkans.
Restrictions are increasingly becoming institutionalised and normalised, yet institutional responses remain reactive. Existing mechanisms, including the EU’s Rule of Law toolbox, are not designed to respond quickly enough to rapidly emerging threats.
This highlights the need for political consistency and early action before harm becomes systemic. A fundamental gap remains between institutional commitments and the resources available to civil society.
Protection Hubs: from fragmented initiatives to permanent and independent systems
A key part of the discussion focused on national Protection Hubs — accessible, grassroots-centred structures connecting civil society organisations and human rights defenders with support.
Lorenza Fiaschetti of Un Ponte Per presented the experience of the Hub for Defenders in Italy, illustrating the urgency of integrated protection. Recent mobilisations in Italy have generated high volumes of assistance requests, particularly concerning protest rights, biometric surveillance, and risks faced by young protesters.
Protection Hubs must build on existing civil society expertise. They need to be permanent, adequately resourced, and independent, supported by reliable European-level coordination and public funding.
European and international frameworks: commitments must lead to action
The conference explored how existing European and international mechanisms can contribute to stronger protection systems. Aleksandar Sekulić (OSCE/ODIHR), Estelle Massé (European Commission DG JUST), and Waltraud Heller (FRA) highlighted opportunities within the EU Civil Society Strategy and state guidance frameworks.
These initiatives offer important foundations. The challenge is to connect them to existing civil society monitoring and protection infrastructure so early warnings lead to concrete, timely support.
The next EU budget: a test of institutional coherence
European Civic Forum’s Civic Space Monitoring Officer, Kerttu Willamo, highlighted that negotiations on the EU’s next multiannual financial framework (MFF) will be crucial for establishing long-term funding strategies for civic space protection.
If the EU commits to protecting civic space, democracy, fundamental rights, and the rule of law, its budget must provide the means to implement those commitments. Long-term, predictable, and accessible funding is essential to sustain protection infrastructure and support organisations at risk.
The Rome Priorities: a shared agenda for protection
The forum concluded with the adoption of the Rome Priorities for the Protection of Civic Space. The seven priorities call for:
- Recognising civic space protection as a democratic priority, including within the EU’s Rule of Law Report and the European Democracy Shield.
- Supporting permanent national Protection Hubs that are accessible, independent, and developed in close cooperation with civil society.
- Strengthening and connecting civil society-led Protection Hubs, legal assistance networks, and psychosocial support initiatives.
- Establishing a European protection mechanism to connect national Hubs, protection networks, and existing international instruments.
- Moving from documentation to early warning and rapid response, ensuring that civil society alerts lead to timely action.
- Ensuring long-term funding and civil society participation through the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework.
- Addressing structural causes of restrictions, reviewing disproportionate legislation, and fully implementing the Anti-SLAPP Directive.
The Rome Priorities call on institutions to translate commitments into concrete mechanisms, adequate resources, and clear timelines, while establishing a firm commitment within civil society to ensure no defender is left alone.