The International Press Institute (IPI) is proud to be a co-host of the 2017 International Civic Forum, organised by the International Civil Society Centre. The Forum is an annual meeting point for representatives from media, business, government, philanthropic institutions and civil society organisations to discuss and make strategic decisions on how to achieve a stronger democratic society. Additional co-hosts this year are CIVICUS, the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, and the Funders’ Initiative for Civil Society.

The 2017 Forum, held in Washington, D.C., will focus on three main issues with the aim promoting multi-sector cooperation and joint initiatives:

• Delivering accountability and transparency in times of shrinking civic space
• Achieving SDG 16 – Peace, justice, and strong institutions, and the rule of law – through strategic partnerships
• Countering restrictions to the online space globally

Several IPI members will be speaking during the event. Joan Chirwa, editor-in-chief of Zambia’s The Mast newspaper, will join a panel on “Securing success in Cross Sector Collaboration on civic space”. Churchill Otieno, managing editor for digital and convergence with Kenya’s The Nation Group, will provide insight to the discussion “How can we avoid the closure of digital space?”.

Click here to see the full agenda.

2017 International Civic Forum

  • Date: September 11 to 12, 2017
  • Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C. 2009, USA 
    • To register for this event, or for more information, please contact Silvia Morales at the International Press Institute smorales(at)ipi(dot)media or Miriam Niehaus of the International Civil Society Centre mniehaus(at)icscentre(dot)org