IFEX

A coalition of civil society organisations that includes IFEX is calling on States to re-commit to the Plan of Action, and have worked together on a set of shared recommendations to strengthen it.

Clément Nyaletsossi Voule has released a report that integrates many of the issues IFEX raised in its submission, included below, related to protecting the ability of civil society to do its important work.

The case against journalist Erol Önderoğlu and his co-defendants – postponed yet again this week, until October 2022 – is indicative of the much larger issue of how civic space is being actively and systematically constrained in Turkey.

Today ARTICLE 19 and IFEX launch the first in a series of #JournoSafe AdvoSheets, comprehensive but easy-to-use advocacy tools for media freedom and safety of journalists advocates.

“Following this morning’s invasion, the work of IMI, their partners and allies, and independent journalists across Ukraine and Russia is needed now more than ever. The safety of journalists, as well as the right to protest needs to be assured.” – IFEX Executive Director Annie Game.

Like so many other rights organisations, IFEX has been hampered by politicised delays in obtaining UN accreditation. That’s why we are supporting the International Service for Human Rights “Open the Doors to NGOs” campaign, which aims to encourage the United Nations to “open the door” to greater civil society participation, and a diversity of alternative, independent and expert voices.

“Amidst this violent crackdown, the international community urgently needs to show solidarity with the people of Myanmar as they struggle for their basic human rights. The muted response we’ve seen so far from the UN and ASEAN is simply not good enough” – IFEX Executive Director Annie Game.

As a global network committed to promoting the right to freedom of expression and working to make the link between that right and all others, IFEX is pleased to see the Nobel Committee making this same connection, particularly regarding the work of both Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov.

IFEX expresses solidarity with its member the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), following today’s politically-motivated decision by the Belarus Supreme Court to liquidate the organisation. We call on the international community to support all Belarusian journalists and rights defenders whose lives and livelihoods are under threat.

Ahead of the G7 summit on the situation in Afghanistan, civil society and media organisations present key recommendations to ensure the urgent protection of journalists, media workers and their families.

The international community needs to urgently show solidarity with all Belarusian individuals and organisations struggling for their basic human rights, often at great cost to their own lives and livelihoods. The Belarus government’s escalating crackdown must be met with intensified international efforts to pressure the Lukašenka administration to change course and respect the human rights of the Belarusian people.

On 8 November, Pakistan’s National Assembly unanimously passed the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill, 2021. Learn about how the Pakistan Press Foundation and its partners laid the groundwork for this welcome achievement.

Editor’s Note: We originally published this Campaign Snapshot in August 2021, to mark the passing of a landmark journalists’ safety bill in Pakistan, in the province of Sindh. Our hope that this would be followed by the passage of a national bill was realized on 8 November. Read more about that development here.

“Gamal is one of the strongest independent voices still fighting for human rights in a country that has been dismantling civil society and closing the space for freedom of expression and information for far too long. The trumped-up charges against him should be dropped immediately, along with the travel ban and assets freeze.’

IFEX is calling for the restoration of media licenses to IFEX member Mizzima News and other media outlets who have played an essential role in shedding light on the violence inflicted by the junta against their own people. 897 people have been killed and over 6500 arrested, charged or sentenced since the coup in February.

The hijacking of a plane and kidnapping of editor and blogger Raman Pratasevich is viewed by the free expression, press freedom and journalists’ community as the outrageous climax of a broader campaign against media freedom in Belarus that drastically intensified after the August 2020 election.

“We see the withdrawal of the state as another obstacle to achieving justice for Jineth Bedoya. IFEX will continue to stand with her. After 20 years, this will not deter her in her fight. The misogynistic culture that allows women to be treated in this way must come to an end,” said IFEX Executive Director Annie Game.