Political pressure groups and leaders
Home > Topics > Government
| Afghanistan | other: religious groups, tribal leaders, ethnically based groups, Taliban |
| Albania | Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania or KSSH [Kol NIKOLLAJ] Omonia [Leonidha PAPA] Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania or BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA] |
| Algeria | Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights or LADDH [Noureddine BENISSAD] SOS Disparus [Nacera DUTOUR] Youth Action Rally or RAJ |
| Angola | Angolan Revolutionary Movement or ARM Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC [N'zita Henriques TIAGO] note: FLEC's small-scale armed struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province persists despite the signing of a peace accord with the government in August 2006; several factions of FLEC have broken off over the past 30 years, including the FLEC-PM [Rodrigues MINGAS], which was responsible for a deadly attack on the Togolese soccer team in 2010 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Antigua Trades and Labor Union or ATLU [Wigley GEORGE] People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Hugh MARSHALL] |
| Argentina | Argentine Association of Pharmaceutical Labs or CILFA Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers' association) Argentine Rural Confederation or CRA (small to medium landowners' association) Argentine Rural Society (large landowners' association) Blue and White CGT (dissident CGT labor confederation) Central of Argentine Workers or CTA (a union for employed and unemployed workers) General Confederation of Labor or CGT (Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization) Roman Catholic Church other: business organizations; Peronist-dominated labor movement; Piquetero groups (popular protest organizations that can be either pro or anti-government); students |
| Armenia | Aylentrank (Impeachment Alliance) [Nikol PASHINIAN] Yerkrapah Union [Manvel GRIGORIAN] |
| Aruba | other: environmental groups |
| Australia | other: business groups, environmental groups, social groups, trade unions |
| Austria | Austrian Trade Union Federation or OeGB (nominally independent but primarily Social Democratic) Federal Agriculture Chamber (OeVP-dominated) Federal Economic Chamber (OeVP-dominated) Labor Chamber or AK (Social Democratic-leaning think tank) OeVP-oriented Association of Austrian Industrialists or IV Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic Action other: three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or OeVP representing business, labor, farmers, and other nongovernment organizations in the areas of environment and human rights |
| Azerbaijan | D18 [Ruslan IZZETLI]] Ireli Youth Movement [MirHasan SEYIDOV] National Council of Democratic Forces [Jamil HASANLI] N!DA Youth Movement [Turgut GAMBAR, Ulvi HASANLI] Republican Alternative or REAL [Ilgar MAMMADOV (in prison since 2013)] |
| Bahamas, The | Friends of the Environment other: trade unions |
| Bahrain | none |
| Bangladesh | Ain o Salish Kendro (Centre for Law and Mediation) or ASK (legal aid and civil rights) Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee or BRAC Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Ministry of Women's and Children's Affairs or MoWCA (advocacy group to end gender-based violence) Odikhar (human rights group) other: associations of madrassa teachers; business associations, including those intended to promote international trade; development and advocacy NGOs associated with the Grameen Bank; environmentalists; Islamist groups; labor rights advocacy groups; NGOs focused on poverty alleviation, and international trade; religious leaders; tribal groups and advocacy organizations; union leaders |
| Barbados | Barbados Secondary Teachers' Union or BSTU [Mary REDMAN] Barbados Union of Teachers or BUT [Karen BEST] Barbados Workers Union or BWU [Linda BROOKS] Clement Payne Labor Union [David COMISSIONG] Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados or CTUSAB, (includes the BWU, NUPW, BUT, and BSTU) [Leroy TROTMAN] National Union of Public Workers or NUPW [Walter MALONEY] |
| Belarus | "Assembly of Pro-Democratic NGOs [Sergey MATSKEVICH] (unregistered) Belarusian Association of Journalists [Andrei BASTUNETS] Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions [Aleksandr YAROSHUK] Belarusian Helsinki Committee [Aleh HULAK] For Freedom Movement [Yuri GUBAREVICH] Malady Front (Young Front) [Zmitser DASHKEVICH] (unregistered) Vyasna (Spring) human rights center [Ales BELYATSKIY] (unregistered) Perspektiva [Anatoliy SHUMCHENKO] (small business association) ""Tell the Truth"" Movement [Tatsiana KARATKEVICH] (unregistered) Women's Independent Democratic Movement [Ludmila PETINA] " |
| Belgium | Belgian General Federation of Labor [Rudy DE LEEUW, Marc GOBLET] Confederation of Christan Trade Unions [Marc LEEMANS, Marie-Helene SKA] Federation of Enterprises in Belgium [Pieter TIMMERMANS, Bernard GILLOT] other: numerous other associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical professions; trade unions; various organizations representing the cultural interests of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as BEPax and groups representing immigrants |
| Belize | National Trade Union Congress of Belize or NTUC/B [vacant] |
| Benin | other: economic groups; environmentalists; political groups; teachers' unions and other educational groups |
| Bermuda | Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers or ABIR [Bradley KADING] Association of Bermuda International Companies or ABIC [George HUTCHINGS] Bermuda Employer's Council [Keith JENSEN] Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU [Chris Furbert] Bermuda Public Services Union or BPSU [Kevin GRANT and Ed BALL] Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES] |
| Bhutan | Druk National Congress (exiled) United Front for Democracy (exiled) other: Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepali-Bhutanese organizations (exiled) |
| Bolivia | Bolivian Workers Central or COB Federation of Neighborhood Councils of El Alto or FEJUVE-El Alto Landless Movement or MST National Confederation of Native Rural Indigenous Women of Bolivia or Bartolina Sisa National Coordinator for Change or CONALCAM Sole Confederation of Campesino Workers of Bolivia or CSUTCB other: Cocalero unions; indigenous organizations (including Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of Eastern Bolivia or CIDOB and National Council of Ayullus and Markas of Quollasuyu or CONAMAQ); Interculturales union or CSCIB; labor unions (including the Central Bolivian Workers' Union or COB and Cooperative Miners Federation or FENCOMIN); various federations of neighborhood councils or FEJUVEs (including the national organization) |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | other: war veterans; displaced persons associations; family associations of missing persons; private media |
| Brazil | Landless Workers' Movement or MST other: industrial federations; labor unions and federations; large farmers' associations; religious groups including evangelical Christian churches and the Catholic Church |
| British Virgin Islands | Family Support Network Woman's Desk other: environmentalists |
| Brunei | NA |
| Bulgaria | Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB Podkrepa Labor Confederation other: numerous regional, ethnic, and national interest groups with various agendas |
| Burkina Faso | Balai Citoyen [Herve KAM] Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB [Bassolma BAZIE] Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or MBDHP [Chrysigone ZOUGMORE] Burkinabe Society for Constitutional Law or SBDC [Abdoulaye SOMA] Center for Democratic Governance or CGD [Thomas OUEDRAOGO] Coalition for African Renaissance or CAR [Herve OUATTARA] National Independent Union of Burkinabe Magistrates or SAMAB National Union for Health Workers or SYNTSHA National Union for Primary Education Teachers or SYNATEB other: watchdog/political action groups throughout the country |
| Burma | Thai border: Ethnic Nationalities Council or ENC Federation of Trade Unions-Burma or FTUB (exile trade union and labor advocates) United Nationalities Federal Council or UNFC inside Burma: Kachin Independence Organization Karen National Union or KNU Karenni National People's Party or KNPP United Wa State Army or UWSA 88 Generation Students (pro-democracy movement) several other Chin, Karen, Mon, and Shan factions note: many restrictions on freedom of expression have been relaxed by the government; a limited number of political groups, other than parties, are approved by the government |
| Burundi | Forum for the Strengthening of Civil Society or FORSC (civil society umbrella organization) [Vital NSHMIRIMANA] |
| Cambodia | Partnership for Transparency Fund or PTF (anti-corruption organization) Students Movement for Democracy The Committee for Free and Fair Elections or Comfrel other: human rights organizations; labor unions; youth groups |
| Cameroon | Network of Human Rights Defenders in Central Africa or REDHAC [Maximilliene Ngo MBE] Tribunal 53 [Patrice NGANANG] |
| Canada | other: agricultural sector; automobile industry; business groups; chemical industry; commercial banks; communications sector; energy industry; environmentalists; First Nations organizations; public administration groups; steel industry; trade unions |
| Cape Verde | other: environmentalists; political pressure groups |
| Cayman Islands | Coalition for Cayman or C4C National People's Alliance or PNA National Trust other: environmentalists |
| Chad | NA |
| Chile | Roman Catholic Church, particularly conservative groups such as Opus Dei United Labor Central or CUT (includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor confederations) other: university student federations at all major universities |
| China | no substantial political opposition groups exist |
| Christmas Island | none |
| Cocos (Keeling) Islands | The Cocos Islands Youth Support Centre |
| Colombia | Central Union of Workers or CUT Colombian Confederation of Workers or CTC General Confederation of Workers or CGT National Liberation Army or ELN |
| Comoros | Federation Comorienne des Consomateurs or FCC [Mohamed Said Abdallah MCHANGANA] Mouvement des Entreprises comorienne or MODEC [Faharate HOUSSEIN] Union des Chambres de Commerce et de l'Industrie et de l'Agriculture or UCCIA [Fahmy THABIT] Confederation des Travailleurs Comoriens or CTC other: environmentalists |
| Congo, Democratic Republic of the | Allied Democratic Forces or ADF (anti-Ugandan government rebel groups] Forces Arm?es de la R?publique D?mocratique du Congo (Army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo) or FARDC Forces Democratiques de Liberation du Rwanda or FDLR (Rwandan militia group made up of some of the perpetrators of Rwanda's genocide in 1994) Le Rassemblement (established in 2016 as a coalition of members from several political parties) |
| Congo, Republic of the | Congolese Trade Union Congress or CSC General Union of Congolese Pupils and Students or UGEEC Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women or URFC Union of Congolese Socialist Youth or UJSC |
| Cook Islands | Reform Conference (lobby for political system changes) other: various groups lobbying for political change |
| Costa Rica | Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (Communist Party affiliate) Chamber of Coffee Growers Confederated Union of Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate) Confederation of Workers Rerum Novarum or CTRN (National Libertion Party affiliate) Costa Rican Confederation of Democratic Workers or CCTD (National Libertion Party affiliate) Costa Rican Exporter's Chamber or CADEXCO Costa Rican Solidarity Movement Costa Rican Union of Private Sector Enterprises or UCCAEP Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP National Association for Economic Development or ANFE National Association of Educators or ANDE National Association of Public and Private Employees or ANEP |
| Cote d'Ivoire | Federation of University and High School Students of Cote d'Ivoire or FESCI [Augustin MIAN] National Congress for the Resistance and Democracy or CNRD [Bernard DADIE] Panafrican Congress for Justice and Peoples Equality or COJEP [Roselin BLY] |
| Croatia | other: human rights groups |
| Cuba | Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation (CCDHRN) Damas de Blanco (Ladies in White) Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) other: political dissidents and bloggers |
| Cyprus | Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK [Andreas MATSAS] (pro-West) Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or PEO [Pambis KYRITSIS] (Communist controlled) area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions or Turk-Sen [Asian BICAKLI] |
| Denmark | Confederation of Danish Employers or DA [CEO Jacob HOLBRAAD] Confederation of Danish Industries or DI [CEO Karsten DYBVAD] Confederation of Danish Labor Unions or LO [President Lizette RISGAARD] DaneAge Association [President Bjarne HASTRUP] Danish Shipowners' Association [Director General and CEO Anne STEFFENSEN]] Danish Bankers Association [CEO Ulrik NODGAARD] Danish Society for Nature Conservation or DN [President Ella Maria BISSCHOP-LARSEN] other: environmental groups; humanitarian relief; development assistance; human rights NGOs |
| Dominica | Dominica Liberation Movement or DLM (a small leftist party) |
| Dominican Republic | Citizen Participation Group (Participacion Ciudadania) Collective of Popular Organizations or COP Foundation for Institution-Building and Justice or FINJUS |
| East Timor | NA |
| Ecuador | Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE [Humberto CHOLANGO] Federation of Indigenous Evangelists of Ecuador or FEINE [Manuel CHUGCHILAN, president] National Federation of Indigenous Afro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN |
| Egypt | NA |
| El Salvador | labor organizations: Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador or SIES Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar Transport and other activities, or FESINCONTRANS National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers or CNTS National Trade Union Federation of Salvadoran Workers or FENASTRAS National Union of Salvadoran Workers or UNTS Port Industry Union of El Salvador or SIPES Salvadoran Workers Central or CTS Union of Judiciary Workers or SITTOJ Union of Workers of the Ministry of Treasury or SITRAMI Workers Union of Electrical Corporation or STCEL business organizations: American Chamber of Commerce in El Salvador National Association of Private Enterprise or ANEP Salvadoran Chamber of Commerce Salvadoran Chamber of the Construction Industry or CASALCO Salvadoran Industrial Association or ASI |
| Equatorial Guinea | ASODEGUE (Madrid-based pressure group for democratic reform) Coalicion CEIBA (group formed by diverse, exiled political parties) C.O.R.E.D. (originally led by Raimundo Ela Nsang; based in Paris) EG Justice (US-based anti-corruption group) |
| Eritrea | Democratic Movement for the Liberation of Eritrean Kunama or DMLEK Eritrean Democratic Alliance or EDA Eritrean Islamic Party for Justice and Development or EIPJD (includes the Eritrean Islamic Jihad (EIJ), Eritrean Islamic Jihad Movement (EIJM), Eritrean Islamic Salvation, and the Eritrean Islamic Foundation) Eritrean National Congress for Democratic Change or ENCDC Eritrean National Salvation Front or ENSF Eritrean People's Democratic Party or EPDP Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization or RSADO |
| Ethiopia | Ginbot 7 Movement Ogaden National Liberation Front or ONLF Oromo Liberation Front or OLF [DAOUD Ibsa] |
| Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) | Falkland Islands Association (supports freedom of the people from external causes) |
| Faroe Islands | other: conservationists |
| Fiji | Group Against Racial Discrimination or GARD [Dr. Anirudk SINGH] (suports restoration of a democratic government) Viti Landowners Association |
| France | Confederation francaise de l'encadrement - Confederation generale des cadres (French Confederation of Management - General Confederation of Executives) or CFE-CGC [Francois HOMMERIL, president] (independent white-collar union with 140,000 members) Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail (French Democratic Confederation of Labor) or CFDT [Laurent BERGER, secretary general] (left-leaning labor union with approximately 875,000 members) Confederation francaise des travailleurs chretiens (French Confederation of Christian Workers) or CFTC [Philippe LOUIS, president] (independent labor union founded by Catholic workers that claims 142,000 members) Confederation generale du travail (General Confederation of Labor) or CGT [Philippe MARTINEZ, secretary general] (historically communist labor union with approximately 710,000 members) Confederation generale du travail - Force ouvriere (General Confederation of Labor - Worker's Force) or FO [Jean-Claude MAILLY, secretary general] (independent labor union with an estimated 300,000 members) Mouvement des entreprises de France or MEDEF [Pierre GATTAZ, president] (employers' union with claimed 750,000 companies as members) French Guiana: conservationists; gold mining pressure groups; hunting pressure groups Guadeloupe: Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or KLPG General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G General Union of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG Movement for an Independent Guadeloupe or MPGI The Socialist Renewal Movement Martinique: Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC Central Union for Martinique Workers or CSTM Frantz Fanon Circle League of Workers and Peasants Proletarian Action Group or GAP Reunion: NA |
| Gabon | NA |
| Gambia, The | The Association of Non-Governmental Organizations or TANGO Female Lawyers Association of Gambia or FLAG Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices or GAMCOTRAP Gambia Press Union or GPU West African Peace Building Network-Gambian Chapter or WANEB-GAMBIA Youth Employment Network Gambia or YENGambia other: special needs group advocates; teachers and principals |
| Georgia | other: separatists in the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia |
| Germany | other: business associations and employers' organizations trade unions; religious, immigrant, expellee, and veterans groups |
| Ghana | Public Policy Think Tanks: Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG); IMANI Center for Policy and Education; Ghana Center for Democratic Development; Institute for Economic Affairs Professional and Trade Groups: Ghana Bar Association; Ghana Trades Union Congress; American Chamber of Commerce; British Chamber of Commerce; and a host of religious organizations other: Also, a wide range of international and domestic, human rights and policy advocacy groups, environmental groups, business organizations, traditional leaders and youth groups |
| Gibraltar | Chamber of Commerce Gibraltar Representatives Organization Women's Association |
| Greece | Supreme Administration of Civil Servants Unions or ADEDY [Spyros PAPASPYROS] Federation of Greek Industries or SEV [Dimitris DASKALOPOULOS] General Confederation of Greek Workers or GSEE [Ioannis PANAGOPOULOS] |
| Greenland | other: conservationists; environmentalists; those wanting independence |
| Grenada | Committee for Human Rights in Grenada or CHRG New Jewel Movement Support Group The British Grenada Friendship Society The New Jewel 19 Committee |
| Guam | Guam Commission on Decolonization Guam Federation of Teachers' Union Guam Waterworks Authority Workers We Are Guahan |
| Guatemala | Alliance Against Impunity or AI (includes among others Center for Legal Action on Human Rights (CALDH), Family and Friends of the Disappeared of Guatemala (FAMDEGUA)) Civic and Political Convergence of Women Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations or CACIF Foundation for the Development of Guatemala or FUNDESA Guatemala Visible Mutual Support Group or GAM Movimiento PRO-Justicia National Union of Agriculture Workers or UNAGRO |
| Guernsey | Stop Traffic Endangering Pedestrian Safety or STEPS |
| Guinea | National Confederation of Guinean Workers-Labor Union of Guinean Workers or CNTG-USTG Alliance (includes National Confederation of Guinean Workers or CNTG, Labor Union of Guinean Workers or USTG) Syndicate of Guinean Teachers and Researchers or SLECG |
| Guinea-Bissau | Chamber of Commerce of Agriculture, Industry, and Services [Braima CAMARA] |
| Guyana | Amerindian People's Association Guyana Bar Association Guyana Citizens Initiative Guyana Human Rights Association Guyana Public Service Union or GPSU Guyana Trans United Private Sector Commission Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination or SASOD Trades Union Congress |
| Haiti | Autonomous Organizations of Haitian Workers or CATH [Fignole ST-CYR] Confederation of Haitian Workers or CTH Economic Forum of the Private Sector or EF [Reginald BOULOS] Federation of Workers Trade Unions or FOS General Organization of Independent Haitian Workers [Patrick NUMAS] Grand-Anse Resistance Committee or KOREGA Haitian Association of Industries or ADIH [Georges SASSINE] National Popular Assembly or APN Papaye Peasants Movement or MPP [Chavannes JEAN-BAPTISTE] Popular Organizations Gathering Power or PROP Protestant Federation of Haiti Roman Catholic Church |
| Holy See (Vatican City) | none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers) |
| Honduras | Beverage and Related Industries Syndicate or STIBYS Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras or CODEH Commiittee of the Relatives of the Disappeared in Honduras or COFADEH Confederation of Honduran Workers or CTH Coordinating Committee of Popular Organizations or CCOP General Workers Confederation or CGT Honduran Council of Private Enterprise or COHEP National Association of Honduran Campesinos or ANACH National Union of Campesinos or UNC Popular Bloc or BP United Confederation of Honduran Workers or CUTH United Farm Workers' Movement of the Aguan OR MUCA |
| Hong Kong | Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China) Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong Civic Act-up [Cyd HO Sau-lan, Legislative Council of Hong Kong member] (pro-democracy) Federation of Hong Kong Industries Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China [Albert HO, chairman] Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan) Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union [FUNG Wai-wah, president] |
| Hungary | "Civil Osszefogas Forum (""Civil Unity Forum,"" nominally independent organization that serves as the steering committee for the pro-government mass organization Bekemenet (Peace March), supporting ORBAN government's policies) Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (Tarsasag a Szabadsagjogokert) or TASZ (freedom of expression, information privacy) Hungarian Helsinki Committee (asylum seekers' rights, human rights in law enforcement and the judicial system) MigSzol (Migrant Solidarity Group of Hungary) (independent advocacy group on migration crisis) MostMi (""Now Us"") [Bori TAKACS, Zsolt VARADY](Facebook group that was a major participant at anti-government demonstrations in late 2014-early 2015; pro-Europe, anti-establishment movement that blames Fidesz for the state of the country, but also blames all established political parties for perceived political and economic failures since the fall of communism) Okotars (empowerment of civil society in Hungary) other: Energy Club (Energia Klub) Greenpeace Hungary (Greenpeace Magyarorszag) " |
| India | All Parties Hurriyat Conference in the Kashmir Valley (separatist group) Bajrang Dal (militant religious organization) Jamiat Ulema-e Hind [Mahmood MADANI] (religious organization) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh [Mohan BHAGWAT] (nationalist organization) Vishwa Hindu Parishad [Pravin TOGADIA] (militant religious organization) other: hundreds of social reform, anti-corruption, and environmental groups at state and local level; numerous religious or militant/chauvinistic organizations; various separatist groups seeking greater communal and/or regional autonomy |
| Indonesia | "Commission for the ""Disappeared"" and Victims of Violence or KontraS Indonesia Corruption Watch or ICW Indonesian Forum for the Environment or WALHI " |
| Iran | other political groups that support the Islamic Republic: Ansar-e Hizballah Democracy Party (Hezb-e Mardom Salari) Executives of Construction Party (Kargozaran) Followers of the Guardianship of the Jurisprudent (Rahrovan) Followers of the Line of the Imam and the Leader (Peyrovan) Islamic Iran Freedom Party (Hezb-e Azadegi) Islamic Coalition Party (Motalefeh) Islamic Labor Party (Hezb-e Kar) Militant Clerics Society or MCS (Ruhaniyun) Moderation and Development Party (Hezb-e Etedal va Tose-eh) Nation of Iran Unity Party (Hezb-e Etehad) National Trust Party (Hezb-e Etemad-e Meli) Qom Theological Lecturers Association Reform Front Coordination Council (Shora-ye Hamahangi Eslahat) Society of Devotees (Isargaran) Society of Modern Thinking Muslim Women of Iran (Jamiat-e Zanan-e Noandish) Steadfastness Front (Paydari) Tehran Militant Clergy Association or MCA (Ruhaniyat) Voice of Iranians (Neda) Wayfarers of the Islamic Revolution (Rahpuyan) armed political groups repressed by the government: Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan or KDPI Harekat-e Ansar-e Iran (splinter faction of Jundallah) Jaysh l-Adl (formerly known as Jundallah) Komala Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization or MEK (MKO) People's Fedayeen People's Free Life Party of Kurdistan or PJAK |
| Iraq | Sunni militias; Shia militias, some associated with political parties |
| Ireland | Continuity IRA (terrorist group) Families Acting for Innocent Relatives or FAIR [Brian MCCONNELL] (seek compensation for victims of violence) Iona Institute [David QUINN] (a conservative Catholic think tank) Irish Anti-War Movement [Richard BOYD BARRETT] (campaigns against wars around the world) Keep Ireland Open (environmental group) Oglaigh na hEireann (terrorist group) Midland Railway Action Group or MRAG [Willie ALLEN] (transportation promoters) New Irish Republican Army (terrorist group combining elements of the former Real IRA and Republican Action Against Drugs) Peace and Neutrality Alliance [Roger COLE] (campaigns to protect Irish neutrality) Rail Users Ireland (formerly the Platform 11 - transportation promoters) 32 Country Sovereignty Movement or 32CSM (supports unifying Northern Ireland with the rest of the island under Irish government sovereignty) |
| Isle of Man | Alliance for Progressive Government or APG (a government watchdog) |
| Israel | Breaking the Silence [Yehuda SHAUL, executive director] collects testimonies from soldiers who served in the West Bank and Gaza Strip B'Tselem [Hagai EL-AD, executive director] monitors human rights abuses Peace Now [Yariv OPPENHEIMER, secretary general] supports territorial concessions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip YESHA Council [Avi ROEHD, chairman] promotes settler interests and opposes territorial compromise |
| Italy | manufacturers and merchants associations: Confcommercio Confindustria organized farm groups: Confcoltivatori Confagricoltura major trade union confederations: Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro or CGIL [Susanna CAMUSSO] (left wing) Confederazione Italiana dei Sindacati Lavoratori or CISL [Raffaele BONANNI] (Roman Catholic centrist) Unione Italiana del Lavoro or UIL [Luigi ANGELETTI] (lay centrist) other: Roman Catholic Church |
| Jamaica | New Beginnings Movement or NBM Rastafarians |
| Japan | other: business groups; trade unions |
| Jersey | Institute of Directors, Jersey branch (provides business support) Jersey Hospitality Association [Ian BARNES] (trade association) Jersey Rights Association [David ROTHERHAM] (human rights) La Societe Jersiaise (education and conservation group) Progress Jersey [Daren O'TOOLE, Gino RISOLI] (human rights) Royal Jersey Agriculture and Horticultural Society or RJA&HS (development and management of the Jersey breed of cattle) Save Jersey's Heritage (protects heritage through building preservation) |
| Jordan | 15 April Movement [Mohammad SUNEID, chairman] 24 March Movement [Mu'az al-KHAWALIDAH, Abdel Rahman HASANEIN, spokespersons] 1952 Constitution Movement Anti-Normalization Committee [Hamzah MANSOUR, chairman] Economic and Social Association of Retired Servicemen and Veterans or ESARSV [Abdulsalam al-HASSANAT, chairman] Group of 36 Higher Coordination Committee of Opposition Parties [Said DIAB] Higher National Committee for Military Retirees or HNCMR [Ali al-HABASHNEH, chairman] Hirak Jordan Bar Association [Saleh al-ARMUTI, chairman] Jordanian Campaign for Change or Jayin Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood [Dr. Hamam SAID, controller general] Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president] National Front for Reform or NFR [Ahmad OBEIDAT, chairman] Popular Gathering for Reform Professional Associations Council [Abd al-Hadi al-FALAHAT, chairman] Sons of Jordan |
| Kazakhstan | Adil-Soz [Tamara KALEYEVA] Chairman of Bureau's Council [Roza AKYLBEKOVA] Confederation of Free Trade Unions [Larissa KHARKOVA] Foundation for Support of Civil Initiatives [Nurul RAKHIMBEK] International Legal Initiative [Aina SHORMANBAYEVA] Kazakhstan International Bureau on Human Rights [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS] Legal Media Centre (sometimes known as the North Kazakhstan Legal Media Centre) [Diana OKREMOVA] Public Foundation for Parliamentary Development [Zauresh BATTALOVA] Republican Network of International Monitors [Daniyar LIVAZOV] Transparency International [Natalya KOVALEVA] |
| Kenya | African Center for Open Governance [Gladwell OTIENO] Anglican Church of Kenya [Archbishop Jackson Nasoore Ole SAPIT] Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya or CIPK [Sheikh Mohammed KHALIFA] Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya Kenya Association of Manufacturers Kenya Human Rights Commission or KHRC [George KEGORO] Kenya Private Sector Alliance Kenyans for Peace with Truth and Justice (umbrella group of more than 30 NGOs) Muslim Human Rights Forum [Ali-Amin KIMATHI] National Muslim Leaders Forum or NAMLEF [Abdullahi ABDI] Protestant National Council of Churches of Kenya or NCCK [Canon Peter Karanja MWANGI] Roman Catholic Church [Cardinal John NJUE] Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims or SUPKEM [Adan WACHU, secretary general] other: labor unions, other Christian churches |
| Korea, North | none |
| Korea, South | Christian Council of Korea Citizen's Coalition for Economic Justice Federation of Korean Trade Unions Korea Women's Association United Korea Women's Hotline Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Korean Veterans' Association Lawyers for a Democratic Society National Council of Churches in Korea People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy |
| Kosovo | CiviKos Platform [Valdete IDRIZI] Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedom (human rights) [Behxhet SHALA] Group for Political and Legal Studies [Fisnik KORENICA] KLA War Veterans Organization [Muharrem XHEMAJLI] Kosova Women's Network [Igballe ROGOVA] Kosovar Civil Society Foundation [Venera HAJRULLAHU] Kosovo Democratic Institute [Ismet KRYEZIU] Organization for Democracy, Anti-Corruption and Dignity Rise! [Arton DEMHASAJ, acting chairman] Serb National Council (SNV) Speak Up [Petrit ZOGAJ, executive director] |
| Kuwait | other: Islamists; merchants; political groups; secular liberals and pro-governmental deputies; Shia activists; tribal groups |
| Kyrgyzstan | Adilet (Justice) Legal Clinic [Cholpon JAKUPOVA] Bir Duino [Tolekan ISMAILOVA] Citizens Against Corruption [Tolekan ISMAILOVA] Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society [Dinara OSHURAKHUNOVA] Kylym Shamy (Torch of the Century) [Aziza ABDIRASULOVA] Precedent Partnership Group [Nurbek TOKTAKUNOV] Societal Analysis Public Association [Rita KARASARTOVA] |
| Laos | NA |
| Latvia | Employers' Confederation of Latvia [Vitalijs GAVRILOVS] Farmers' Parliament [Juris LAZDINS] Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia [Egils BALDZENS] |
| Lebanon | Grand Mufti of Lebanon [Sheikh Abdul Latif DERIAN] Maronite Church [Patriarch Bishara al-RA'I] note: most sects retain militias and a number of Sunni militant groups operate in Palestinian refugee camps |
| Lesotho | Media Institute of Southern Africa, Lesotho chapter [Tsebo MAT?ASA] (pushes for media freedom) |
| Liberia | other: demobilized former military officers |
| Libya | NA |
| Luxembourg | Business Federation Luxembourg or FEDIL [Nicolas BUCK, chairman] Centrale Paysanne [Marc FISCH] (federation of agricultural producers) Chamber of Artisans (Chambre des Metiers) [Roland KUHN] Chamber of Commerce (Chambre de Commerce) [Carlo THELEN] Chambre des Salaries or CSL [Jean-Claude REDING] General Association of Officials (Confederation Generale de la Fonction Publique or CGFP [Romain WOLFF] (trade union representing civil service) Greenpeace [Kumi NAIDOO] LCGP [Patrick DURY] (center-right trade union) Luxembourg Association of Bankers and Insurance Employees or ALEBA [Roberto SCOLATI] Luxembourg Bankers Association or ABBL [Yves MAAS] Mouvement Ecologique [Blanche WEBER] (environment protection) OGB-L [Andre ROELTGEN] (center-left trade union) |
| Macau | Bar-Bending Workers' Association [WONG Wai-Man] Civic Power [Agnes LAM lok-fong] Democratic Action [LEE Kin-yun] Macau New Chinese Youth Association [LEONG Sin-man] Macau Worker's Union [HO Heng-kuok] New Macau Association [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong] Workers' Self-Help Union [CHEONG Weng-fat] |
| Macedonia | Confederation of Free Trade Unions [Blagoja RALPOVSKI] Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia or SSM [Zivko MITREVSKI] Trade Union of Education, Science and Culture or SONK [Jakim NEDELKOV] Student Plenum Eco Guerilla [Arianit XHAFERI] |
| Madagascar | Committee for the Defense of Truth and Justice or KMMR Committee for National Reconciliation or CRN [Albert ZAFY] National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM |
| Malawi | Council for NGOs in Malawi or CONGOMA (human rights, democracy, and development) Human Rights Consultative Committee or HRCC (human rights) Malawi Economic Justice Network or MEJN (pro economic growth, development, government accountability) Malawi Law Society (an umbrella organization of all lawyers in Malawi) Public Affairs Committee or PAC (promotes democracy, development, peace and unity) |
| Malaysia | Bar Council BERSIH (electoral reform coalition) ISMA (Muslim NGO) PERKASA (defense of Malay rights) other: religious groups; women's groups; youth groups |
| Maldives | other: various unregistered political parties |
| Mali | other: the army; Islamic authorities; state-run cotton company CMDT |
| Malta | Alliance of Liberal Democrats Malta (Alleanza Liberali-Demokratika Malta) or ALDM (for divorce, abortion, gay marriage, women's rights) Alliance for Change (Alleanza Bidla) (Euro-skeptic) Together for a Better Environment (Flimkien Ghal-Ambjent Ahjar) or FAA (pro-environment) other: environmentalists |
| Marshall Islands | NA |
| Mauritania | Association of Women Heads of Family [Aminetou Mint El-MOCTAR] General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretary general] Independent Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CLTM and El Hor [Samory Ould BEYE] (civil society organization) Mauritanian Workers Union or UTM [Mohamed Ely Ould BRAHIM, secretary general] SOS-Esclaves [Boubacar MESSAOUD] (anti-slavery group) The Mauritanian Human Rights Association [Fatimata M'BAYE] The National Forum for Democracy and Unity [Mohamed Jamil Ould MANSOUR] The Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement (IRA-Mauritania) [Biram Dah ABEID] (anti-slavery group) other: Arab nationalists; Ba'athists; Islamists; Nasserists |
| Mauritius | Lalit Political Party Rezistans ek Alternativ (Resistance and Alternative) Say No to Coal! other: various labor unions |
| Mexico | Businessmen's Coordinating Council or CCE Confederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic or COPARMEX Confederation of Industrial Chambers or CONCAMIN Confederation of Mexican Workers or CTM Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce or CONCANACO Coordinator for Foreign Trade Business Organizations or COECE Federation of Unions Providing Goods and Services or FESEBES National Chamber of Transformation Industries or CANACINTRA National Confederation of Popular Organizations or CNOP National Coordinator for Education Workers or CNTE National Peasant Confederation or CNC National Small Business Chamber or CANACOPE National Syndicate of Education Workers or SNTE National Union of Workers or UNT Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca or APPO Roman Catholic Church |
| Micronesia, Federated States of | NA |
| Moldova | NA |
| Monaco | NA |
| Mongolia | other: human rights groups; women's rights groups; disability rights groups |
| Montenegro | NA |
| Montserrat | NA |
| Morocco | Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir EL AMAOUI] General Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Mohamed KAFI CHERRAT] Justice and Charity Organization or JCO [Mohammed ben Abdesslam ABBADI] Moroccan Employers Association or CGEM [Miriem BENSALAH-CHAQROUN] National Labor Union of Morocco or UNMT [Mohamed YATIM] Union of Moroccan Workers or UMT [Miloudi EL MOUKHARIK] |
| Mozambique | Mozambican League of Human Rights (Liga Mocambicana dos Direitos Humanos) or LDH [Alice MABOTA, president] Youth Parliament (parlamento Juvenil) [Salomao MUCHANGA] |
| Namibia | National Society for Human Rights or NAMRIGHTS various labor unions |
| Nauru | Woman Information and News Agency (women's issues) |
| Nepal | other: various groups advocate regional autonomy such as the Federal State Limbuwan Council in far eastern Nepal; others have called for an independent Madhesh; the National Federation of Indigenous Nationalities advocates for the rights of indigenous nationalities in Nepal; Tharu Kalyankari Sabha advocates for the rights of Tharus |
| Netherlands | Christian Trade Union Federation or CNV [Maurice LIMMEN] Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers or VNO-NCW [Hans DE BOER] Federation for Small and Medium-sized Businesses or MKB [Michael VAN STRAALEN] Netherlands Trade Union Federation or FNV [Han BUSKER] Social Economic Council or SER [Mariette HAMER] Trade Union Professionals or VDP [Nic VAN HOLSTEIN] |
| New Caledonia | NA |
| New Zealand | Women's Electoral Lobby or WEL other: apartheid groups; civil rights groups; farmers groups; Maori; nuclear weapons groups; women's rights groups |
| Nicaragua | National Workers Front or FNT (a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions including: Farm Workers Association or ATC, Health Workers Federation or FETASALUD, Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of Professional Associations or CONAPRO, National Association of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN, National Union of Employees or UNE, National Union of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG, Sandinista Workers Central or CST, and Union of Journalists of Nicaragua or UPN) Nicaraguan Workers' Central or CTN (an independent labor union) Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT (an umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions including: Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers Central or CTN-A, Confederation of Labor Unification or CUS, Independent General Confederation of Labor or CGT-I, and Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS) Superior Council of Private Enterprise or COSEP (a confederation of business groups) |
| Nigeria | Academic Staff Union for Universities or ASUU Campaign for Democracy or CD Civil Liberties Organization or CLO Committee for the Defense of Human Rights or CDHR Constitutional Right Project or CRP Human Right Africa National Association of Democratic Lawyers or NADL National Association of Nigerian Students or NANS Nigerian Bar Association or NBA Nigerian Labor Congress or NLC Nigerian Medical Association or NMA Universal Defenders of Democracy or UDD other: the press |
| Niue | NA |
| Norfolk Island | none |
| Northern Mariana Islands | NA |
| Norway | Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise or NHO [President Tore ULSTEIN; CEO Kristin SKOGEN LUND] Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions or LO [Gerd KRISTIANSEN] other: environmental groups; media; digital privacy movements |
| Oman | none |
| Pakistan | other: military; ulema (clergy); landowners; industrialists; small merchants |
| Palau | NA |
| Panama | Chamber of Commerce Concertacion Nacional (mechanism for Government of Panama to formally dialogue with representatives of civil society) National Council of Organized Workers or CONATO National Council of Private Enterprise or CONEP National Union of Construction and Similar Workers (SUNTRACS) Panamanian Association of Business Executives or APEDE Panamanian Industrialists Society or SIP Workers Confederation of the Republic of Panama or CTRP |
| Papua New Guinea | Centre for Environment Law and Community Rights or Celcor [Damien ASE] Community Coalition Against Corruption National Council of Women Transparency International Papau New Guinea or TI PNG (chapter of Transparency International) |
| Paraguay | Ahorristas Estafados or AE National Coordinating Board of Campesino Organizations or MCNOC [Luis AGUAYO] National Federation of Campesinos or FNC [Odilon ESPINOLA] National Workers Central or CNT [Secretary General Juan TORRALES] Paraguayan Workers Confederation or CPT Roman Catholic Church Unitary Workers Central or CUT [Jorge Guzman ALVARENGA Malgarejo] |
| Peru | General Workers Confederation of Peru (Confederacion General de Trabajadores del Peru) or CGTP [Mario HUAMAN] Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) or SL [Abimael GUZMAN Reynoso (imprisoned), Victor QUISPE Palomino (top leader at-large)] (leftist guerrilla group) |
| Philippines | Black and White Movement [Vicente ROMANO] Kilosbayan [Jovito SALONGA] |
| Pitcairn Islands | none |
| Poland | "All Poland Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ [Jan GUZ] (trade union) Independent Self-Governing Trade Union ""Solidarity"" [Piotr DUDA] Roman Catholic Church [Archbishop Wojciech POLAK, Archbishop Stanislaw GADECKI] " |
| Portugal | Armed Forces Officers' Association or AOFA [Lieutenant Colonel Antonio SILVA] General Workers Union or General Confederation of Portuguese Workers or UGT [Carlos SILVA] Portuguese National Workers' Conference or CGTP [Armenio CARLOS] TugaLeaks (a website that has become a mouthpiece for publicizing diverse protest action) other: the media; labor unions |
| Puerto Rico | Boricua Popular Army or EPB (a revolutionary group also known as Los Macheteros) |
| Qatar | none |
| Romania | other: various human rights and professional associations |
| Russia | Committees of Soldiers' Mothers Confederation of Labor of Russia or KTR Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia Golos Association in Defense of Voters' Rights Memorial Movement Against Illegal Migration Russkiye Solidarnost The World Russian People's Congress Union of Russian Writers other: business associations; environmental organizations; religious groups (especially those with Orthodox or Muslim affiliation); veterans groups |
| Rwanda | IBUKA (association of genocide survivors) |
| Saint Helena | other: private sector; unions |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | NA |
| Saint Lucia | NA |
| Saint Martin | NA |
| Saint Pierre and Miquelon | NA |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | NA |
| Samoa | NA |
| San Marino | NA |
| Sao Tome and Principe | Association of Sao Tome and Principe NGOs or FONG other: the media |
| Saudi Arabia | other: gas companies; religious groups |
| Senegal | other: Catholic clergy; labor; religious groups; students; Sufi brotherhoods, including the Mourides and Tidjanes; teachers |
| Serbia | Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia or NUNS Journalists Association of Serbia (Udruzenje novinara Srbije) or UNS Obraz (Orthodox clero-fascist organization) SNP 1389 (Serbian nationalist movement) SNP NASI 1389 (Serbian National Movement NASI) Eastern Alternative (pro-Russian association) |
| Sierra Leone | other: student unions; trade unions |
| Singapore | none |
| Slovakia | Alliance of Companies Employing 500 or More Employees or Klub500 Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS Confederation of Trade Unions or KOZ Entrepreneurs Association of Slovakia or ZPS Federation of Employers' Associations of the Slovak Republic or AZZZ Medical Trade Association or LOZ National Union of Employers or RUZ Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry or SOPK The Business Alliance of Slovakia or PAS |
| Slovenia | Catholic Church other: various trade and public sector employee unions |
| Solomon Islands | Isatabu Freedom Movement or IFM Malaita Eagle Force or MEF note: these rival armed ethnic factions crippled the Solomon Islands in a wave of violence from 1999 to 2003 |
| Somalia | other: numerous political associations and clan and sub-clan factions exist in support and against political leaders from each clan, Federal Member State presidents, and other political leaders including the former and current presidents |
| South Africa | Congress of South African Trade Unions or COSATU [Sdumo DLAMINI, president] South African Communist Party or SACP [Blade NZIMANDE, general secretary] South African National Civic Organization or SANCO [Richard MDAKANE, national president] note: COSATU and SACP are in a formal alliance with the African National Congress |
| Spain | Association for Victims of Terrorism or AVT (grassroots organization devoted primarily to supporting victims of the Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) terrorist organization) Catholic Church Socialist General Union of Workers or UGT (includes the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union or USO) Trade Union Confederation of Workers' Commissions or CC.OO. Spanish Confederation of Employers' Organizations or CEOE other: business and landowning interests; free labor unions (authorized in April 1977); university students |
| Sri Lanka | Buddhist clergy Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups diaspora groups other: labor unions; hard-line nationalist Sinhalese groups such as the National Movement Against Terrorism |
| Sudan | Darfur rebel groups including the Justice and Equality Movement or JEM [Gibril Fidail IBRAHIM], Sudan Liberation Movement or SLM-AW [Abdel Wahid NUR, various factional leaders], Sudan Liberation Movement or SLM-MM [Minni Arkou MINAWI] National Consensus Front or NCF [Farouq ABU ISSA] Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North or SPLM-N [Yasir ARMAN] |
| Suriname | Association of Indigenous Village Chiefs [Ricardo PANE] Association of Saramaccan Authorities or Maroon [Head Captain WASE] Women's Parliament Forum or PVF [Iris GILLIAD] |
| Svalbard | NA |
| Swaziland | Swaziland United Democratic Front or SUDF Trade Union Congress of Swaziland or TUCOSWA Swaziland Solidarity Network or SSN |
| Sweden | Confederation of Swedish Enterprise (Svenskt Naringsliv) [Carola LEMNE] Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations or SACO [Goran ARRIUS] Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees or TCO [Eva NORDMARK] Swedish Trade Union Confederation (Landsorganisationen) or LO [Karl-Petter THORWALDSSON] other: environmental groups; media |
| Switzerland | NA |
| Syria | Free Syrian Army Syrian Muslim Brotherhood or SMB [Muhammad Riyad al-SHAQFAH] (operates in exile in London) Syrian Opposition Coalition or National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces [Anas al-ABDAH] note: there are also hundreds of local and provincial political and armed opposition groups that organize protests, provide civilian services, and stage armed attacks |
| Taiwan | other: environmental groups; independence movement; various business groups note: public opinion polls consistently show most Taiwanese support maintaining Taiwan's status quo; advocates of Taiwan independence oppose unification with mainland China; most advocates of eventual unification predicate their goal on the democratic transformation of the mainland |
| Tajikistan | Group 24 [Sharofiddin GADOEV] (banned) New Tajikistan Party [Zayd SAIDOV (jailed since 2013)] (unregistered) Vatandor (Patriot) Movement [Dodojon ATOVULLOEV] Youth for the Revival of Tajikistan [Maqsud IBROHIMOV (jailed in 2015)] (banned) Youth Party of Tajikistan [Izzat AMON] (unregistered) Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan or IRPT [Muhiddin KABIRI (in exile)] (banned) |
| Tanzania | Economic and Social Research Foundation or ESRF Free Zanzibar Tanzania Media Women's Association or TAMWA Tanzania Private Sector Foundation or TPSF Twaweza |
| Thailand | Multicolor Group People's Democratic Reform Committee or PDRC Student and People Network for Thailand's Reform or STR United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship or UDD |
| Togo | NA |
| Tokelau | none |
| Tonga | Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev. Simote VEA, chairman] Public Servant's Association [Finau TUTONE] |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Jamaat-al Muslimeen [Yasin ABU BAKR] |
| Tunisia | Tunisian Association of Women Democrats or ATFD Tunisian League for Human Rights or LTDH [Jamel MSALLEM] Tunisian General Labor Union or UGTT [Noureddine TABOUBI] Tunisian Women's Association for Research and Development or AFTURD |
| Turkey | Confederation of Public Sector Unions or KESK [Lami OZGEN, Saziye KOSE, co-chairs] Confederation of Revolutionary Workers Unions or DISK [Kani BEKO] Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association or MUSIAD [Nail OLPAK] Moral Rights Workers Union or Hak-Is [Mahmut ARSLAN] Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations or TISK [Kudret ONEN] Turkish Confederation of Labor Unions or Turk-Is [Ergun ATALAY] Turkish Confederation of Tradesmen and Craftsmen or TESK [Bendevi PALANDOKEN] Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association or TUSIAD Erol BILECIK] Turkish Union of Chambers of Commerce and Commodity Exchanges or TOBB [M. Rifat HISARCIKLIOGLU] |
| Turkmenistan | none |
| Turks and Caicos Islands | NA |
| Tuvalu | none |
| Uganda | National Association of Women Organizations in Uganda or NAWOU [Florence NEKYON] Parliamentary Advocacy Forum or PAFO Ugandan Coalition for Political Accountability to Women or COPAW |
| Ukraine | Centre UA [Oleh RYBACHUK] OPORA Civic Network [Olha AIVAZOVSKA] |
| United Arab Emirates | NA |
| United Kingdom | Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament Confederation of British Industry National Farmers' Union Trades Union Congress |
| United States | other: environmentalists; business groups; labor unions; churches; ethnic groups; political action committees or PACs; health groups; education groups; civic groups; youth groups; transportation groups; agricultural groups; veterans groups; women's groups; reform lobbies |
| Uruguay | B'nai Brith Catholic Church Chamber of Commerce and Export of Agriproducts Chamber of Industries (manufacturer's association) Exporters Union of Uruguay National Chamber of Commerce and Services PIT/CNT (powerful federation of Uruguayan Unions - umbrella labor organization) Rural Association of Uruguay (rancher's association) Uruguayan Network of Political Women other: students |
| Uzbekistan | no significant opposition political parties or pressure groups in Uzbekistan |
| Vanuatu | NA |
| Venezuela | Bolivarian and Socialist Workers' Union (a ruling-party-oriented organized labor union) Confederacion Venezolana de Industriales or Coindustria (a conservative business group) Consejos Comunales (pro-government local communal councils) Federation of Chambers and Associations of Commerce and Production of Venezuela or FEDECAMARAS (a conservative business group) Union of Oil Workers of Venezuela or FUTPV Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (opposition-oriented labor organization) other: various civil society groups and human rights organizations |
| Vietnam | 8406 Bloc Democratic Party of Vietnam or DPV People's Democratic Party Vietnam or PDP-VN Alliance for Democracy note: these groups advocate democracy but are not recognized by the government |
| Virgin Islands | NA |
| Wallis and Futuna | NA |
| Western Sahara | Polisario Front |
| Yemen | Huthis Muslim Brotherhood Women National Committee other: conservative tribal groups; southern secessionist groups; al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) |
| Zimbabwe | Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition National Constitutional Assembly or NCA [Lovemore MADHUKU] Women of Zimbabwe Arise or WOZA [Jenni WILLIAMS] Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions or ZCTU [George NKIWANE] Zimbabwe Human Rights Association or ZimRights [Okay MACHISA] Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum [Lloyd KUVEY] Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights or ZLHR [Roselyn HANZI] |
Source: CIA Factbook
