
Civic space is wherever people organize, participate, protest, or communicate with each other to influence the political and social structures around them. Protecting it is our highest priority.

Press Freedom and Civic Space
On this World Press Freedom Day, let’s think about our information climate, where the media fit in, and what this means for the rest of us.
Journalists provide essential access to reliable, accessible, and accurate information that helps us all make the decisions that shape our lives – and the societies we live in. They also work to counter the scourge of disinformation that often escalates during times of crisis.
The media’s important work defending information integrity is often carried out alongside and with support from civil society organisations, and it is needed now more than ever to protect civic space from the escalating assaults on it.
To protect civic space, we must demand press freedom.
Featured Articles

Tragic news from Brazil, upheaval in Ecuador, and concerns over data privacy after US anti-abortion ruling
June 2022 in the Americas: A free expression round up produced by IFEX’s Regional Editor Laura Vidal, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region.

Hong Kong’s beleaguered media, journalists caught in anti-Muslim violence, and Duterte’s parting “gifts”
June 2022 in Asia-Pacific: A free expression round up produced by IFEX’s regional editor Mong Palatino, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region.

Trolling women’s groups, digital privacy threats, Syrian disinformation and… “normal rainbows”?
June 2022 in Middle East and North Africa: A free expression roundup produced by IFEX’s Regional Editor Naseem Tarawnah, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region.

Turkish authorities target Pride and Kurdish media; Russia’s “crimes against journalists”
June 2022 in Europe and Central Asia: A free expression round up produced by IFEX’s Regional Editor Cathal Sheerin, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region.

Shutdown order against “Rappler” must be revoked immediately
“The SEC shutdown order is part of a multi–pronged attack by the Philippine authorities designed to permanently silence Rappler and its founder, Nobel Laureate Maria Ressa. It also marks an escalation in the years-long pressure on the few remaining independent news publishers in the Philippines,” the HTL Steering Committee said.

Joint statement on the European Media Freedom Act
Free expression groups develop the case for a strong European Media Freedom Act that protects media from capture by political forces using the powers of government, and from potential threats posed by Big Tech, organised crime and hostile states driving misinformation.