International Press Institute (IPI)

Articles by International Press Institute (IPI)

Photographs of people killed during the genocide on display at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Museum, 5 April 2014. , REUTERS/Noor Khamis

Reporting on the genocide in Rwanda: Too little, too late

How Western media coverage failed Rwanda and contributed to international indifference and inaction.

Link to: Journalists could face 15 years in jail under new British Virgin Islands cybercrime bill

Journalists could face 15 years in jail under new British Virgin Islands cybercrime bill

Under the draft cybercrime law, anyone who publishes unlawfully obtained information from a protected computer – defined as one containing data related to national security, international relations and financial services businesses – could face up to 15 years in prison and/or a fine of US$500,000.

Link to: Sri Lanka urged to allow access to news websites

Sri Lanka urged to allow access to news websites

The UN Human Rights Council should ensure Sri Lanka’s compliance with fundamental rights said IPI in an open letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression and members of the council.

A Turkish national flag with the word 'offline' projected on it, is seen through a Twitter logo in this photo illustration taken in Zenica, 21 March 2014. , REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

Turkey shuts down Twitter, court overturns ban five days later

The Twitter shutdown came six weeks after the Turkish Parliament passed a series of amendments to existing Internet legislation, known as Law 5651, that impose alarming restrictions on digital liberties and freedom of expression.

Link to: Costa Rican court rules surveillance of journalist is unconstitutional

Costa Rican court rules surveillance of journalist is unconstitutional

A Costa Rican court has ruled that government surveillance of a reporter’s phone records was unconstitutional. The ruling was made in the case of Diario Extra journalist, Manuel Estrada, who was targeted by the Judicial Investigation Police after he wrote an article that criticised the agency.

Reporters shout as they march to demonstrate for press freedom in Yangon, 7 January 7, 2014, after a journalist was sentenced on defamation charges, REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

What does the state of media freedom tell us about Burma’s “transition to democracy”?

Three years after Burma embarked on a path toward democracy and away from its history of military rule, assessments of its success vary, especially around media freedom and free expression.

Link to: Grenada Parliament amends electronic defamation law

Grenada Parliament amends electronic defamation law

Grenada’s official Government Information Service reported that the House of Representatives voted to amend the Electronic Crimes Act 2013 by withdrawing three sections that various groups had criticised for their potentially harmful effects on press freedom and freedom of expression.

Aung San Suu Kyi, pictured here on a visit to Northern Ireland in 2013, told a conference in Yangon: "Unless there is a free press to check those who are in power, we will not be able to defend the rights and freedoms of the people" , REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton

Press freedom in Burma: Aung San Suu Kyi on the importance of the news media

Aung San Suu Kyi, an icon of the struggle for democracy in Burma, recently spoke to a room full of journalists who came to Yangon to attend the East-West Center conference “Challenges of a Free Press”.