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
United for Salman Rushdie, and civic space’s dizzying erosion
August 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.
Two years of a hostile environment, six months of war
August 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.
UN Cybercrime Treaty: EFF calls for limits and safeguards
“We’ve seen vaguely worded international cybercrime laws misused to violate freedom of expression, target dissenters, and put them in danger. It’s paramount that the proposed treaty does not invite abuse and overreach by countries by obligating states to cooperate in open-ended investigations of ill-defined criminal matters” – EFF
Repression and resistance in Belarus: A monthly chronology
A monthly chronology of repression and resistance in Belarus, based on the work of IFEX members and other international and domestic actors.
Saudi authorities must release women’s rights activist Salma al-Shehab
IFEX joins rights groups in strongly condemning the unlawful sentencing of al-Shehab, which marks a further escalation in the kingdom’s crackdown on free speech.
Mozambique urged to safeguard press freedom
After meeting with a diverse array of stakeholders, a high-level International Press Institute delegation expressed its concern at Mozambique’s deteriorating media freedom environment.
