ARTICLE 19

Today, ARTICLE 19 presents two reports under our Engaging Tech for Internet Freedom (ETIF) project. We examine how tech companies in countries like China, Myanmar, and Vietnam are complicit in violating human rights through censorship, propaganda, and surveillance. Our second report examines Myanmar's growing surveillance state under the military junta and what tech companies can do to uphold human rights.  Learn more and read both reports at: https://lnkd.in/eGEARYK3

In this IDEI, we remind States of their obligations to tackle impunity on crimes against women journalists. In our global research 'Equally Safe: towards a feminist approach to the safety of journalists, you can find cases and examples of how to address impunity for crimes against journalists, considering the different manifestations of violence against women resulting from exercising their right to freedom of expression, along with the barriers women face in accessing justice. For example: - States should identify and address the root causes of underreporting of crimes resulting from women’s exercise of freedom of expression. - Investigations of crimes committed against women journalists that result from the exercise of their right to freedom of expression should include a gender and intersectional analysis to determine whether there are any aggravating circumstances based on gender or other discriminatory factors. Women’s privacy and data protection should be protected throughout the investigation. - Courts and judges should ensure that, when deciding about criminal cases against women journalists, they incorporate in their assessment the context of violence against women and against journalists, along with the protection of and potential violations of the right to freedom of expression, the right to live a life free from gender-based violence, the right to life, and the right to equality. https://lnkd.in/eN-PCNP4 #ProtectJournalists #EquallySafe #journoSafe #IDEI2024 #EndImpunity

Ahead of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, ARTICLE 19 calls for urgent accountability for the violent crimes against journalists in Palestine and Lebanon. Over 134 journalists have been killed, and many more face harassment, attacks, and cyber threats daily. We call for:    - International courts to prioritise crimes against journalists in their investigations and recognise how targeting the press enables atrocities to continue.  - Israel to end the targeting of journalists and infrastructure, stop labelling journalists as terrorists without evidence, and provide full foreign media access to Gaza.  - International courts and mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice (ICJ), to hold perpetrators accountable, ensuring journalists’ safety is prioritised in conflict zones worldwide.    As we mark #IDEI2024, we ask that the international community take action now. Read our statement: https://lnkd.in/eTKZKAxt    #EndImpunity #PressFreedom #ProtectJournalists #IDEI  

Welcome to a snippet of our October edition of Inside Expression! This month, we’re discussing the importance of free expression in armed conflicts worldwide. The full version of this edition will be out tomorrow! Sign up to our mailing list to receive it directly in your inbox. https://lnkd.in/eYNXtqqh We’d love to hear from you – what topics do you want us to explore in future editions? Leave us a comment or message with your thoughts.

Pulling the editorial US Presidential election endorsements of Kamala Harris is a true sign of how dire the situation for freedom of expression is in the United States right now. The wealthy owners of the LA Times and the Washington Post have gone to lengths the position their decisions as one of principle, of not alienating audiences in a divisive time by "taking sides." Marty Baron, the former editor of the Washington Post, was right when he called this an act of cowardice, conducted in an environment where one of the Presidential candidates has vowed vengenance and retribution on his perceived enemies. Actors around the world who seek to hurt vulnerable communities, undermine democracy, and deny climate change know that it is a victory to move people and instutions from a position of activism to "neutrality", confusion and indifference. They don't have to win an argument: they just need to shift the terms of the debate enough so that the obvious/true becomes contested. I can't emphasize this enough: This is the exact way that press freedom withers in the face of autocratic attacks around the world, ultimately leading to democratic backsliding. Research from ARTICLE 19's #globalexpressionreport and V-Dem Institute's Democracy Report clearly shows that the first wave of attacks on democracy are attacks on expression. While deadly attacks and killings of journalists are all too common and rarely see justice served, the majority of the erosion of press freedom comes from areas of economic pressure, government censorship and self-censorship in the face of official pressure. This can look like the Mexican government influencing what is published via government advertising spends. It can look like Victor Orban's allies buying up the media in Hungary to control the narrative. Or it can look like billionaire-owned newspapers in the US afraid to have an editorial voice on critical, divisive issues.

USA: Protecting free speech during the election – and why endorsements matter ARTICLE 19 is deeply concerned about the recent decision taken by the owners of the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times to prevent endorsements of Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election. This interference, reportedly due to concern about potential retaliation should Donald Trump win re-election, is a clear example of the erosion of press freedom seen when democracies are under attack. As the election approaches, ARTICLE 19 urges media outlets to reclaim their commitment to integrity and resist pressures that stifle free speech, reinforcing their role as champions of democracy. Read more in our latest blog post: https://lnkd.in/eXCbUyKM #ProtectJournalists #FreeSpeech #Democracy #Election2024 #USElections

Welcome to the second edition of our LinkedIn newsletter! As we mark the United Nations’s Global Media and Information Literacy Week, we’re highlighting how MIL equips people with the knowledge to evaluate content, identify disinformation, and engage in informed public discussion. 💡 What would you like to see in our LinkedIn newsletter? Drop a comment or message in our inbox and let us know! #GlobalMILWeek #Article19

Today’s SLAPPs event, brought together key voices from the The Coalition against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE) working group in Spain, including FIBGAR, ARTICLE 19, Greenpeace, FESP, and Xnet, to raise awareness on SLAPPs and their impact on democracy. Held at the Círculo de Bellas Artes, the event highlighted the urgent need for action to combat SLAPPs and the transposition of the EU directives. As FIBGAR said, “This growing threat to our democracies needs more intense focus to stimulate and promote anti-SLAPP initiatives.” A huge thank you to all the professionals driving this crucial debate, including ARTICLE 19's Paulina Gutierrez.

SLAPPs are a dangerous tool for stifling public participation and the exercise of fundamental rights. Join us this week, on 22 October, in Madrid, we will discuss the process of transposing the European Directive to combat SLAPPs and how we can ensure its effectiveness in Spain. Join the conversation. 📅 22/10/2024 📍 Círculo de Bellas Artes, Madrid This event is supported by FIBGAR, Xnet, ARTICLE 19, Greenpeace, and the Federation of Journalists' Trade Unions (FeSP).

We are greatly saddened by the news that our former colleague, Helen Darbishire, passed away today.    Helen spent 10 impactful years (1989-1998) at ARTICLE 19, championing and fiercely advocating for freedom of information.    Later, we had the privilege of collaborating closely with her during her time as Executive Director at Access Info Europe on numerous projects and cases on transparency, access to information and accountability.   Helen's impact extended far beyond. She was elected Chair of the UNCAC Coalition in 2020, guiding civil society efforts to monitor and promote the UN Convention against Corruption. Her leadership in this and other global networks further exemplified her commitment to combating corruption and fostering accountability worldwide.   Helen's warmth, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to freedom of expression touched everyone who had the privilege to know her.   As we mourn her loss, we celebrate the profound impact she made in protecting the right to freedom of expression and information in our lives and the community.    Thank you, Helen, for your inspiration and friendship. You will be deeply missed. 💔  #RIPHelenDarbishire