Joint Statements

NGOs around the world urge their governments to publicly engage with Saudi Arabia to call for the release of detained writers and activists, and to issue strong recommendations to end restrictions on the right to freedom of expression.

Over 40 NGOs call for the full repeal of Egypt’s cybercrime law and the reform of dangerous media regulation legislation. The groups describe these laws as the latest steps in the Egyptian government’s attempt to impose full control over the flow of information online.

45 civil society organizations are calling on Turkey to provide a true end to the rights restrictions of the formally-ended state of emergency, by withdrawing recently passed legislation that replicates many of the state of emergency’s provisions.

As Tep Vanny completes two years in detention, civil society organisations and communities call on the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release her, drop all dormant criminal charges and overturn any convictions against her, so that she may return to her family and community.

A critic of government corruption, Mirsaidov was handed a 12-year prison sentence on politically motivated charges in July. His appeal starts on 15 August.

The veteran photojournalist was arrested after reporting about the student protests in Dhaka, and detained for allegedly “making provocative comments”. Civil society organisations have expressed deep concern about the use of laws such as the Information Communications Technology Act to legally harass journalists like Alam.

In advance of their meeting in Argentina, civil society organizations from around the world are calling on the leaders of G20 countries to commit to building a digital ecosystem that centres human rights.

Over 25 organizations call on the Egyptian government to immediately release imprisoned Lebanese tourist Mona el-Mazbouh, yet another episode in President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s continued crackdown on rights and freedoms.

IFEX-ALC members condemn the recent threats, attacks, harassment, and censorship against media outlets and journalists in Nicaragua.

41 civil society organizations have endorsed a joint submission to the Council of Europe on how to amend their cybercrime convention to facilitate cross-border access to data by law enforcement without compromising human rights.

Free expression organisations have sent a joint letter to all candidates in the upcoming presidential elections, calling on the future president to protect and strengthen press independence in Turkey.

The IFEX-ALC is calling for the immediate release of Pedro Jaimes Criollo, a Twitter user detained and tortured for posting public information about the presidential aircraft on his aerospace news account.

Andrew Caruana Galizia, son of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, spoke about the situation of violence against women journalists in the context of a session with the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women at the UN Human Rights Council 38th Special Session.

NGOs call on Bahraini authorities to stop the trial of Sheikh Ali Salman, Secretary-General of Bahrain’s largest opposition society, al-Wefaq National Islamic Society. He is facing a potential death sentence on politically motivated charges.

Over 30 human rights organisations are calling on the Saudi authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all human rights defenders who have been arrested and detained over the past two weeks solely for supporting women’s rights in Saudi Arabia.

Over 30 NGOs have asked Manchester’s mayor to support calls for the release of Ahmed Mansoor, by naming a local street after the jailed human rights defender.