An enabling environment for civic engagement is not only a necessary condition for the realization of people's right to participate in the conduct of public affairs, but also a key driver of social cohesion and sustainable development. This publication, which is the result of a collaboration between UNDP and the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, provides an overview of human rights standards applicable to civic space with a focus on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association, as well as guidance on how to ensure that national legislative frameworks are aligned with these standards. As such, it is intended as a tool to support policy dialogue and reform aimed at promoting a more open and inclusive public sphere.