In November 2022, 24 participants traveling from and/or representing 24 organizations from 11 countries across West, East, and Central Africa1 convened for a two-day regional civil society consultation to elaborate on how counter-terrorism and preventing or countering violent extremism (CT & P/CVE) measures in their respective contexts have impacted their work, as well as their own and their families’ lives, and civic space more generally. Throughout the consultation, participants discussed in depth the variety of tools used against civil society, including the use of emergency powers, judicial harassment and other measures as described throughout this outcome document. In many countries, communities and human rights groups have reported the increasing criminalization and criminal targeting of different groups, including through weaponizing of counter-terrorism legislation.

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