Mandeep S. Tiwana

Mandeep S. Tiwana serves as Secretary General of civil society alliance, CIVICUS. A human rights lawyer by training, Mandeep specialises in legislation relating to the core civil society freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly. Since joining CIVICUS in 2008, Mandeep has been at the forefront of global efforts to advance civic space and civil society participation. He has led CIVICUS’s research, analysis and advocacy work at various times. Mandeep has written extensively on the intersection between civil society, sustainable development and international affairs. A recognised global expert on civic space, Mandeep is passionate about the power of civil society to create more peaceful, just, equal and sustainable societies.

Previously, Mandeep advised the International Committee of the Red Cross in New Delhi on political developments in South Asia and on judicial guarantees for detainees in Jammu and Kashmir. He has also worked with the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative where he helped develop human rights modules for Commonwealth Parliamentarians and co-authored a citizens’ handbook on human rights commissions in India. He began his career working at the grassroots on criminal justice reforms, Dalit rights and gender justice in his native province of Punjab, India. Mandeep holds an LL.M in Law in Development from Warwick University, UK and and LL.B and B.A degrees from Panjab University, India.