IFEX Regional Briefs

Monthly free expression round ups produced by IFEX’s Regional Editors, based on IFEX member reports and news from the regions. 

Protesters outside Parliament during the End Queer and Trans Hate Campaign, in Cape Town, South Africa, 26 April 2021, Gallo Images/Brenton Geach

WPFD returns to its birthplace amidst a backdrop of media violations across the continent

April 2021 in Africa: A free expression roundup produced by IFEX’s regional editor Reyhana Masters, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region. You can also check out our special edition of our podcast Africa Brief marking World Press Freedom Day here.

A journalist and a camera operator wear personal protective equipment amidst the surge in COVID-19 infections, at a crematorium in New Delhi, India, 20 April 2021, Ganesh Chandra/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

COVID-19 surges, obstructions to information, coup violence, media convictions, and satire

April 2021 in Asia-Pacific: A free expression roundup produced by IFEX’s regional editor Mong Palatino, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region.

People take part in a rally for women's rights and protection, after a young woman kidnapped for marriage was found dead, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 8 April 2021, VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO/AFP via Getty Images

Press and civil society under pressure from Europe and Central Asia’s “strongmen”

April 2021 in Europe and Central Asia: A free expression round up produced by IFEX’s Regional Editor Cathal Sheerin, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region.

Members of Jordan's Darak forces (gendarmerie) stand on guard as protesters demonstrate against measures imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19 amidst concerns over the economy, in Amman, Jordan, 15 March 2021, KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP via Getty Images

Silencing dissent in MENA: How authorities are targeting exiles, journalists and prisoners of conscience

March 2021 in Middle East and North Africa: A free expression roundup produced by IFEX’s Regional Editor Naseem Tarawnah, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region.

A group of Nigerian women mark International Women's Day and voice their concerns over the recent rise in insecurity, hunger and inequality for women, in Lagos, 8 March 2021, Olukayode Jaiyeola/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Attacks on whistleblowers, legislating patriotism, #IWD and a bittersweet tribute

March 2021 in Africa: A free expression roundup produced by IFEX’s regional editor Reyhana Masters, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region. An audio discussion relating to this piece is available here.

The President of Mexico, Andres Manuel López Obrador, points during a press conference, in Mexico City, 5 April 2021, Luis Barron / Eyepix Group/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Critical voices attacked, no excuse for online abuse, and privacy in the Americas

March 2021 in the Americas: A free expression round up produced by IFEX’s Regional Editor Paula Martins, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region.

Kathmandu, Nepal, 31 March 2021. A protester holding a burning candle while making the three-finger salute attends a candlelight vigil for those who died in protests in Myanmar, Prabin Ranabhat/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Coup terror in Myanmar, impunity in Afghanistan, and uproar in Bangladesh

March 2021 in Asia-Pacific: A free expression roundup produced by IFEX’s regional editor Mong Palatino, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region.

Women in red dance holding up red tulips as they welcome spring during a protest against the Belarus presidential election results near the village of Maloje Zapruddzie, 1 March 2021, -/AFP via Getty Images

Partial justice in Turkey and holding Lukashenko to account

March 2021 in Europe and Central Asia: A free expression round up produced by IFEX’s Regional Editor Cathal Sheerin, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region.

A woman holds a banner depicting murdered Honduran environmental activist Berta Cáceres during a protest calling for justice in her case, outside the Central-American Economic Integration Bank (BCIE), Tegucigalpa, Honduras, 3 October 2020, ORLANDO SIERRA/AFP via Getty Images

Journalists are not the enemy… and the virus of censorship continues to spread

February 2021 in the Americas: A free expression round up produced by IFEX’s Regional Editor Paula Martins, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region.

The five members of the collective "Black lives matter in Italian Fashion", during a fashion show ahead of Milan Fashion Week, Milan, Italy, 17 February 2021, MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images

Angola abolishes anti-gay law, Fab Five debut BLM-inspired designs, and Fela Kuti nominated to Rock n Roll Hall of Fame

February 2021 in Africa: A free expression roundup produced by IFEX’s regional editor Reyhana Masters, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region. An audio discussion relating to this piece is available here.

A protester wears a mask depicting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman with his hands painted red next to people holding posters of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, during a demonstration outside the Saudi Arabia consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, 25 October 2018, YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty Images

In MENA: The search for justice in a pandemic of impunity

February 2021 in Middle East and North Africa: A free expression roundup produced by IFEX’s Regional Editor Naseem Tarawnah, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region.

Protesters hold signs during a demonstration against the military coup near Sule Pagoda in central Yangon, Myanmar, 22 February 2021, Myat Thu Kyaw/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Coup and civil disobedience in Myanmar, farmers’ protests, and #MeToo victory in India

February 2021 in Asia-Pacific: A free expression roundup produced by IFEX’s regional editor Mong Palatino, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region.

A statue of Themis, an ancient Greek Goddess of Justice, and a Russian national state emblem are seen at the entrance of Russia's Supreme Court in Moscow, 20 February 2021, the day that a court upheld a ruling to jail Alexei Navalny, ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images

“I am not asking for declarations. I demand actions.” – Europe and Central Asia in February

February 2021 in Europe and Central Asia: A free expression round up produced by IFEX’s Regional Editor Cathal Sheerin, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region.

Ethiopian Army soldiers stand in front of a group of children at the Mai Aini Refugee camp for Eritrean refugees amidst the conflict in Tigray, Ethiopia, 30 January 2021, EDUARDO SOTERAS/AFP via Getty Images

A death in the dark, a regional platform for journalist safety, toxic masculinity and a South African infodemic

January 2021 in Africa: A free expression roundup produced by IFEX’s regional editor Reyhana Masters, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region. An audio discussion relating to this piece is available here.

Brazilians take part in a protest against president Jair Bolsonaro and his management of the COVID-19 outbreak, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 31 January 2021, Cris Faga/NurPhoto

Ama Llulla! Vulnerabilities in COVID applications and violence against Black and transgender councillors

January 2021 in the Americas: A free expression round up produced by IFEX’s Regional Editor Paula Martins, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region.

A young woman in front of a line of riot police during a demonstration against police repression and calling for the release of recently detained protesters, Tunis, Tunisia, 30 January 2021, Yassine Gaidi/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

MENA’s Winter of Discontent: Old grievances, new suppression tactics

January 2021 in Middle East and North Africa: A free expression roundup produced by IFEX’s Regional Editor Naseem Tarawnah, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region.