Civicus, the Johannesburg-based international NGO is holding its 8th World Assembly in Glasgow, Scotland, Jun 18 – 21, gathering hundreds of civil society groups from around the world. Along with the World Social Forum, Civicus’ World Assembly is one of the most comprehensive and representative international meeting of social activists.

IPS-TerraViva has selected a team of journalists from Brazil, Chile, England, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Scotland, South Africa, Turkey and Zambia to cover the event, in an effort carried out in partnership with Civicus and SCVO, the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations. A printed daily TerraViva newspaper will be distributed amongst participants in Glasgow and it will also be available online at IPS TerraViva CIVICUS 2008. In-depth stories on the ongoing debates will also be carried by IPS News.

This special coverage includes an array of columns, exclusive interviews and photographs.

The focus theme of the World Assembly this year is People, Participation and Power. The main questions will be on the role of civil society; why its participation is so resisted; what civil society needs to do to overcome those challenges; what are the obstacles to civil society’s participation and what is the importance of civil society involvement.