The road to resilience: Press freedom in South Asia 2015-16 report
Thirty-one journalists, bloggers and media workers were killed in South Asia in the period under review (May 2015 to April 2016) with India emerging as one of the most dangerous countries for journalists.
Honduras journalist survives two attacks in one day
Radio journalist Felix Molina said that he was twice accosted by armed assailants while travelling by taxi on Monday. He was hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries following the second incident, in which he was shot twice in each leg.
“Like fish in poisonous waters”: Report documents attacks on Somali journalists
Al-Shabab has targeted journalists as part of its campaign against the Somali government and for reporting deemed unfavorable. Government authorities have failed to adequately investigate and prosecute those responsible for abuses, leaving journalists to live in fear.
Free expression updates from Asia-Pacific: April
In the April round-up: horrific attacks against secularists in Bangladesh, journalists arrested while protesting criminal defamation in the Maldives, crackdown on opposing voices in Cambodia, plus advocacy, awards and much more.
Beijing’s invisible hand reaches ever deeper into Hong Kong media
RSF is publishing a report about media freedom in Hong Kong, where self-censorship and editorial interference have been growing steadily in recent years and where another newspaper editor was summarily dismissed two weeks ago.
Free expression groups call on UN to appoint Special Representative for the Safety of Journalists
34 IFEX members are supporting RSF’s initiative to create the position of a Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for the Safety of Journalists.
Five years on, still no justice for ‘walk to work’ killings
The government of Uganda has utterly failed to hold security forces accountable for nine killings during protests in April 2011. Families of those killed have tried – unsuccessfully – to push for justice and seek compensation.
Why Honduras is the most dangerous place in the world to defend the environment
The assassination of prominent environmental activist Berta Cáceres has demonstrated that anyone who opposes the powerful interests in Honduras is in serious danger. How did we get here?
Council of Europe adopts guidelines to protect journalists
The guidelines contain specific measures to be taken by states to prevent violations of media freedom – including physical violence against journalists – to effectively protect journalism and journalists, and to prosecute crimes committed against them.
Mexico must defend its human rights defenders from smear campaign
In the face of a smear campaign against human rights defenders in Mexico, IFEX asks President Nieto to speak out in support.
Pakistani group calls for release of official report into 2014 attack against journalist Hamid Mir
PPF appealed to the Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Pakistan, to direct the concerned authorities to clarify if the leaked report on the 2014 attack on a journalist is authentic, and if it is to release it officially along with all annexures and appendixes.
Global calls for Bangladesh to investigate killing of student targeted for secular views
The attack on university law student Nazimuddin Samad marks the sixth killing of secular writers or activists in Bangladesh since February 2015, and must serve as a catalyst for the authorities to do more to protect its writers and free thinkers.
Burmese court decision to drop journalist murder case “totally unacceptable”
“It’s totally unacceptable,” said Burma’s incoming information minister on the court recommendations to close the case of freelance journalist Par Gyi, who was killed while in military custody in 2014.
Ensnared netizens and Pacific summits
A breakdown of the events that are changing the free expression landscape in Asia and the Pacific.
West African governments must prioritise safety of journalists, access to information
At the West Africa Conference on Media and Participatory Governance, participants deplored the continuous attacks on journalists and the impunity with which such crimes are committed. Participants also noted that more countries in the region have yet to pass right to information laws.
Honduras: Where impunity reigns and activists face mounting dangers
Are the escalating violence, deteriorating human rights climate and shocking rates of impunity enough to wake people up to the current reality in Honduras?