[1]
Inside Expression: November 2023
LASTING LEGACY: REMEMBERING WOMEN JOURNALISTS
Tomorrow (29 November) is International Day for Women Human Rights
Defenders, which celebrates the inspiring women who have built – and
continue to build – a better world for all, as well as highlighting the
violence and discrimination they face for doing so.
Journalists are critical to the defence of human rights: they bear witness
to abuses, expose corruption, and provide us with the information we need
to demand justice. Yet this often comes at great personal cost –
including, in the most extreme cases, murder:
* AYAT KHADOURA and ALAA TAHER AL-HASSANAT were two of the many
Palestinian journalists who lost their lives in Israeli airstrikes against
Gaza this month.
* Last month in Sudan, soldiers from the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary
group killed 29-year-old journalist HALIMA IDRIS SALIM by running over her
with a vehicle. She had covered the armed conflict in the country since its
outbreak in April.
* Impunity for these crimes is becoming the norm, not the exception – as
we saw just a couple of weeks ago, when Vladimir Putin shamefully pardoned
[2] one of the murderers of celebrated Russian journalist, ANNA
POLITKOVSKAYA (shot dead in 2006).
We must honour their memories by standing with women journalists worldwide,
who face threats and attacks for bravely shining a light in the darkest
corners – for all our sakes.
‘I CHOSE JOURNALISM TO BE CLOSE TO PEOPLE. IT MIGHT NOT BE EASY TO CHANGE
THE REALITY, BUT AT LEAST I COULD BRING THEIR VOICE TO THE WORLD.’
– Shireen Abu Akleh
(Palestinian–American journalist)
ON WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS DAY, ARTICLE 19 IS PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE
COURAGEOUS, DETERMINED, POWERFUL WOMEN JOURNALISTS WHO DEDICATED THEIR
LIVES TO EXPOSING THE TRUTH.
DO YOU REMEMBER THEIR INCREDIBLE LEGACIES?
Take our quiz to find out
[3]
THIS #GIVINGTUESDAY, JOIN OUR MOVEMENT
ARTICLE 19 is building a global movement for freedom of expression so that
everyone, everywhere, can realise the power of their voices.
BUT TO DO THIS, WE NEED YOUR INVESTMENT.
As well as supporting the vital work of journalists and human rights
defenders – like the courageous women above – we have achieved some
impressive wins across the broad spectrum of expression.
Wins like:
* SECURING THE RELEASE OF TURKISH WRITER AHMET ALTAN, who was sentenced to
10 years for criticising his government.
* TAMING BIG TECH IN EUROPE, by leading advocacy for a Digital Markets Act
that rebalances power, increases consumer choice, and protects people’s
data.
* SAVING THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE DURING COVID-19, by
supporting 30 grassroots groups in Brazil’s Amazon region to disseminate
accurate health information.
But all of this depends on people like you, who are prepared to put their
hands in their pockets to promote justice, equality, and dignity for all.
The world is at a critical juncture.
THIS YEAR, FOR #GIVINGTUESDAY, WILL YOU JOIN THE MOVEMENT AND INVEST IN
THIS WORK?
No amount is too small. Whatever you can afford to invest in this movement
– YOUR movement – will be spent on building a freer, fairer world for
all.
Invest in free expression today
PROTECT FREE SPEECH AND CIVILIANS IN ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED
PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
ARTICLE 19 welcomes the pause in fighting to allow Israeli hostages and
Palestinian detainees to be freed and the delivery of much-needed
humanitarian aid, and reiterates our call for an immediate ceasefire [4] by
all parties.
In addition, we call on the authorities to:
* Maintain connectivity at all times. People must be able to contact their
families, communities, and aid organisations, and to access vital news and
information.
* Protect journalists and ensure they can carry out their work safely.
Uphold press freedom and refrain from censoring or banning media outlets.
This is crucial at a time of war so that the public can access accurate
reporting and quickly understand when conflict escalates to crimes against
humanity or genocide.
* Ensure the media have access to Gaza to conduct impartial, on-the-ground
reporting and enable the voices of people at the centre of the conflict to
reach the world.
* Respect the right to protest and expressions of solidarity.
[5]
TECHTONIC: THE SMALL-TOWN PAPER RAIDED BY POLICE
In the latest episode [6] of Techtonic, the editor and proprietor of a
small Kansas newspaper tells us about the day the police raided his home in
what he says was a politically motivated attack on freedom of the press.
How is press freedom faring in a divided America, and what can we do to
protect it at a time when opinion is increasingly replacing the facts?
‘WHEN JOURNALISM IS DECIMATED, THE PEOPLE IN POWER THAT JOURNALISM IS
SUPPOSED TO HOLD IN CHECK START GETTING MORE BRAZEN.’
– Eric Meyer, Marion County Record
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcast [7], Spotify [8] or Google Podcast.
[9]
Subscribe to Techtonic [10] wherever you get your podcasts to hear new
episodes, released fortnightly on Mondays.
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: BUSINESS & HUMAN RIGHTS RESOURCE CENTRE RELEASES NEW
TOOL TO TRACK CORPORATE COMMITMENTS TO HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre has launched a new tool [11]
that documents businesses’ policy commitments to human rights defenders
(HRDs).
The tracker enables anyone to identify which companies have adopted
policies that support HRDs and to identify gaps between policy and
practice. It is based on assessments by the Corporate Human Rights
Benchmark (CHRB).
The scale of attacks on HRDs who raise concerns about business-related
harms [12] shows the urgent need for all companies to adopt a
zero-tolerance approach.
It also shows that policy commitments are not enough – they must be
accompanied by robust implementation and evaluation of their effectiveness.
EXPRESSION AROUND THE WORLD
DEFEND PUBLIC INTEREST REPORTING IN IRELAND
Why are politicians in Ireland [13] increasingly using lawsuits against
journalists and the media? ARTICLE 19 and partner organisations have
written to Sinn Féin leader, Mary Lou McDonald, urging the party’s
members to stop intimidating journalists and the media.
SUPPORT JOURNALISM IN SENEGAL
Authorities in Senegal [14] continue their crackdown on journalists, the
media, and the right to voice opinions. Journalist Pape Sané was recently
arrested on charges of ‘spreading false news’ after he posted an
article on Facebook about the unrest and protests that followed the
detention of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko.
PROTEST IN EUROPE
Barbora Bukovská (ARTICLE 19’s Senior Director for Law and Policy)
talked to _The Guardian [15]_ about recent clampdowns on the right to
protest across Western Europe.
TACKLING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN KENYA
As the UN’s 16 Days of Activism begins, Sarah Wesonga (Program Officer
for Transparency and Access to Information at ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa)
tells the Open Government Partnership [16] why transparency and information
rights are so vital to address gender-based violence in Kenya.
[17]
THIS #GIVINGTUESDAY, BECOME AN EXPRESSION SUPERHERO!
Human rights defenders are the superheroes of freedom of expression. But
not all activism takes place on the frontline. Just as important is
building a sustainable global movement.
This #GivingTuesday, you can be a superhero too.
Invest in freedom of expression today
‘ARTICLE 19 IS AN ORGANISATION THAT FOR MANY HAS MADE THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH … THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID FOR ME AND HUNDREDS
OF MY COUNTRYMEN. WITHOUT YOUR HELP I WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE STANDING HERE
IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.’
– Zwelakhe Sisulu
South African anti-apartheid journalist released from prison as a result of
ARTICLE 19’s first campaign (1989)
BOOKMARK
[18]
DOPPELGANGER: A TRIP INTO THE MIRROR WORLD [18]
By NAOMI KLEIN
'Naomi Klein's true master work: the ultimate expression of our collective
crisis ... [shows] everything from Covid conspiracies to climate denialism
in a new light. A triumph.’ – Douglas Rushkoff
Coming soon:
Bangladesh prepares to vote
DID A FRIEND OR COLLEAGUE FORWARD THIS TO YOU?
Subscribe [19] to ARTICLE 19's monthly Inside Expression update.
[20] [21] [22] [23]
_Copyright © 2023 ARTICLE 19, All rights reserved._
You are receiving this email because you are currently on our regular
subscriber list.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences [24].
Links:
------
[1] [link removed]
[2] [link removed]
[3] [link removed]
[4] [link removed]
[5] [link removed]
[6] [link removed]
[7] [link removed]
[8] [link removed]
[9] [link removed]
[10] [link removed]
[11] [link removed]
[12] [link removed]
[13] [link removed]
[14] [link removed]
[15] [link removed]
[16] [link removed]
[17] [link removed]
[18] [link removed]
[19] [link removed]
[20] [link removed]
[21] [link removed]
[22] [link removed]
[23] [link removed]
[24] [link removed]