Geschlossene Gesellschaft? Von Druck und Widerstand: Aktionswoche zu Shrinking Spaces weltweit

Activists, NGOs, artists, labor unions, and social movements are coming under increasing pressure worldwide.They are being criminalized, restricted in their work, defamed, have their funding cut, are being intimidated, and in some cases are being violently persecuted.

This trend is often referred to as“shrinking spaces.”It describes the global narrowing of the scope for civil society engagement. According to the international networkCIVICUS, around 97 percent of people live in societies where freedom of expression and protest are restricted.

Against this backdrop, theSÜDWIND Institute, in collaboration with theAllerweltshaus Köln, invites youto an interactive action week in Cologne. The goal is to highlight the diverse dimensions of“Shrinking Spaces”and to bring together different perspectives—academic, activist, and artistic—in dialogue.

The program ranges from academic presentations and panel discussions to workshops, literary readings, comedy performances, and music.There will be opportunities for discussionfollowingthe events. All events arefree of charge.

Thursday, September 3, 2026, 6:00–9:00 p.m., at the Allerweltshaus in Cologne:

Shell & Shrinking Spaces in Nigeria – The Long Struggle for Justice

 Screening of the documentary“Esther and the Law” (in English), followed bya discussion withPeter Emorinken-Donatus(human rights and environmental activist) andPaula Hummelsheim(SÜDWIND)

Saturday, September 5, 2026, 2:00–5:00 p.m., at the Allerweltshaus in Cologne:

Human Rights Struggles in the Context of Free Trade Agreements

Panel discussion with Juan Torres-Celi (interdisciplinary researcher in applied ecology, agroecology, and development project management), Vania Pigeonutt ( journalist, storyteller, and producer), and Pablo Campos (SÜDWIND), with music by Chilean guitarist Adebarán.

Friday, September 11, 2026, 6:00–9:30 p.m., at the Allerweltshaus in Cologne:

Human Rights in Ghana – A Conversation on Queer Activism, Criminalization, and Shrinking Spaces

An event organized by SÜDWIND e.V., the Hirschfeld-Eddy Foundation, the Allerweltshaus Cologne, and col.lit.ive. Panel discussion with Angel Maxine and Bright Amoabeng, music by Angel Maxine, and queer-feminist literature from Ghana

Friday, September 11, 2026, 6:30–9:30 p.m., Alte Feuerwache, Cologne:

What Remains of the Rule of Law in Turkey?

Panel discussion with Sinem Adar (SWP Berlin) and Süleyman Demirtaş ( IQAD e. V.), moderated by Ulrike Dufner(SÜDWIND), followed by a screening of “Gelbe Briefe” and a discussion with Arif Ünal (Kulturforum TürkeiEuropa)