Articles by ARTICLE 19
Over 100 rights groups call on the Council of Europe to act on the growing threat of SLAPPs
“A self-standing recommendation should be issued with clear guidance on measures needed to discourage SLAPPs and dismiss them at an early stage, to sanction those who use SLAPPs or threaten to do so, and to provide financial and legal support to those targeted by SLAPPs”.
HRC46: UN Member States must protect the independence of Special Procedures
“We are deeply concerned by continued attacks on the Special Procedures and efforts to undermine their independence. We urge all states to affirm their commitment to human rights and the effectiveness of the international human rights system, by rejecting and condemning these efforts.”
Freedom of expression in decline in France
“ARTICLE 19 is concerned about a series of draft laws and decisions in France that significantly impede the exercise of freedom of expression and access to information. These include the Global Security Bill, the dissolution of certain non-governmental organisations, and the Bill to strengthen “respect for republican principles.”
India: Government and tech firms should uphold privacy, free speech
Several civil society groups have expressed concern over the actions of the Indian government that violate free expression and privacy rights as authorities intensify the suppression of criticism related to the ongoing farmers’ protests.
Iran amends law to further stifle freedom of expression
New amendments to Iran’s Islamic Penal Code will empower authorities to further choke free expression and target religious and ethnic minorities, while providing fertile ground for arbitrary arrests and detentions, says ARTICLE 19.
ARTICLE 19 and BAJ: UN must take further action on Belarus
“Where violations prevail, the UN must take action. As such, it is essential that this Council puts greater accountability mechanisms in place to collect and preserve evidence of crimes under international law, and ultimately ensure that perpetrators are held accountable”.
Algeria: Policies silencing ‘Hirak’ activists must end
Dozens of “Hirak” pro-democracy activists including journalist Khaled Drareni, are released as the movement takes to the street to mark its second anniversary. Rights groups call on the international community to urge Algerian authorities to end policies aimed at silencing peaceful free expression and assembly.
UK: Are the government’s plans to protect free speech on campus the real threat to expression?
“There are many ways in which protection of freedom of expression in the UK can be improved but a law of this kind is not one of them. Instead of promoting expression, the broad remit of this proposed law would have the effect of policing speech at universities, and it should be scrapped.”