We see growing momentum within OGP to use co-creation to expand democratic freedoms, with civic space commitments recently adopted in Nigeria, Morocco, and Jordan. At the same time, there are further opportunities in the Africa and MENA regions to use the OGP process to respond to civic space restrictions. This session will bring together civil society and government leaders to share lessons from developing civic space commitments, and to explore how the OGP process can be deployed to protect and support freedom of expression and reduce threats to civil society actors who organise. The format will take the form an interactive/interview styled panel discussion where the hosts/moderators will pose questions to speakers and prompt responses and encourage panelists to pose questions to each other. Civil society and government representatives from Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and Jordan will address past successes and future opportunities to engage in co-creation through the OGP process to expand civic space and foster democratic freedoms. The audience will discuss the issues raised and use interactive tools to come up with recommendations for reforms in contexts experiencing civic space restrictions.
