ARTICLE 19

ARTICLE 19 criticised world leaders for not making firm commitments on access to information and public participation, but applauded their recognition of overall human rights and transparency.

Since Eurovision ended, critical journalists and activists have been targeted and the authorities have adopted repressive legislation aimed at further limiting free expression rights, says the International Partnership Group for Azerbaijan.

A number of non-governmental organisations expressed concern over AICHR’s official consultation process, which is seriously flawed in several aspects.

IFEX-TMG alarmed by the recent attacks on freedom of expression, in particular against artistic expression, in the name of religion, including seizure of paintings.

International experts mandated by the UN, AU, OAS and OSCE will call for governments to create a new category of crime against free expression in response to increasing attacks against journalists, human rights defenders and others.

The implementation of a proposed decree will greatly obstruct the right to freedom of expression by prohibiting online anonymity and placing the duty on service providers to enforce the decree regulations, ARTICLE 19 notes.

Over 80 groups around the world call on the authorities to free human rights defenders, journalists, bloggers and writers, some of whom have been detained incommunicado; and request help from UN Special Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan.

The Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and the Special Rapporteur on free expression both issued reports urging state and non-state actors to secure journalists’ rights by implementing and monitoring international human rights law.