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Inside Expression

The power of our voices in 2023

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Hello John,

If you were asked to pick a word to sum up the world in 2023, chances are
that ‘victorious’ wouldn’t be it. Yet despite the numerous crises
that unfolded, ordinary people achieved extraordinary wins worldwide.

Activists uniting in solidarity in Israel and Palestine.

Landmark protections for Indigenous campaigners in the Amazon.

Historic legal wins on biometrics and countering abusive lawsuits brought
by once-untouchable elites.

These wins and many more are the result of steady, determined, long-term
efforts. That they are less likely to reach our screens than stories of
war, climate crisis, and economic hardship doesn’t make them any less
real. Indeed, the fact that they were achieved at all in such a difficult
year is a testament to the power of our voices.

AS 2023 DRAWS TO A CLOSE, JOIN ARTICLE 19 AS WE CELEBRATE A YEAR OF
PROGRESS TOWARDS A FREER, FAIRER WORLD – DESPITE THE ODDS.

LANDMARK RULING ON FACIAL RECOGNITION FROM THE EUROPEAN COURT 

Following ARTICLE 19’s intervention, the European Court of Human Rights
found [2] that Russia violated the rights to freedom of expression and
privacy by using facial recognition technology to arrest and convict a
peaceful protester.

We argued that facial recognition technology must be used with the utmost
caution, accompanied by adequate safeguards [3], and that biometric mass
surveillance is one of the greatest threats to human rights in the digital
age.

The landmark victory is significant because it establishes a binding or
persuasive precedent within its jurisdiction. It is proof that we can push
authorities to show greater tolerance for peaceful protests and ensure that
digital technologies strengthen freedom of expression for all.

BUILDING MOMENTUM FOR UN-BACKED RED LINES ON AI TECHNOLOGIES

As part of our concerted efforts to ensure that digital technologies
respect human rights and benefit all people, we’ve lobbied the UN to do
the same.

CHECK OUT OUR PROGRESS IN 2023:

[4]

LIKE WHAT YOU SEE? INVEST IN THIS WORK TO ENSURE THAT BIOMETRIC
TECHNOLOGIES PROTECT HUMAN BEINGS EVERYWHERE.

FUND FREE EXPRESSION TODAY [5]

AN HISTORIC MOMENT TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS AND KEEP POWERFUL ELITES
ACCOUNTABLE

Journalists reporting on some of the most important issues of our time –
war and conflict, corruption, or human rights violations – must enjoy the
full protection of the government and its institutions. The rise of corrupt
elites using strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) [6],
to intimidate and silence free reporting and block the public from having
access to information they need, poses a dangerous threat to the safety of
journalists and our collective ability to keep abuses of power in check.

IN EUROPE, JOURNALISTS AND FREE EXPRESSION ADVOCATES ARE CELEBRATING A
SIGNIFICANT WIN: AFTER A LONG, HARD-FOUGHT CAMPAIGN, A DIRECTIVE TO PROTECT
THEM FROM SLAPPS IS FINALLY ON THE HORIZON. 

The early signs indicate that stakeholders pushed back firmly against the
EU Council’s attempts to water down key safeguards. This means we are
witnessing an _HISTORIC_ moment when it comes to countering abusive
litigation against public watchdogs.

Since the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, ARTICLE 19 and the Coalition
Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE) have pushed relentlessly – through
country missions, public events, and call-outs on social media – to urge
governments to take bold measures to counter abusive litigation against
those who expose corruption.

This is a ringing endorsement for freedom of expression and journalists’
safety. Protecting those who are at the forefront of defending the right to
freedom of expression is fundamental – and this proves that, when we
stand together, we can build more resilient communities that protect each
other.

‘WE ARE AT A CRUCIAL MOMENT THAT MAY DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC
WATCHDOGS’ PROTECTION FROM ABUSES OF POWER. PROTECT DEMOCRACY NOW. STOP
GAG LAWSUITS.’ 

– CASE COALITION (WHICH INCLUDES ARTICLE 19)

IF YOU WANT TO SEE THESE ESSENTIAL PROTECTIONS ENACTED AT THE NATIONAL
LEVEL, SUPPORT THIS VITAL WORK.

INVEST FOR A MORE ACCOUNTABLE WORLD [5]

REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT FOR AMAZON ACTIVISTS IN BRAZIL 

On 11 December – the day after Human Rights Day – Brazil witnessed a
pivotal moment: THE GOVERNMENT COMMITTED TO CONFRONTING AND PREVENTING
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN THE AMAZON. 

Eighteen months on from the murder of Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and
British journalist Dom Philips, the Ministry of Human Rights inaugurated a
Working Group of government representatives, ARTICLE 19 and other civil
society organisations, and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to
fully investigate the murders, implement protections for land rights
activists in the Vale do Javari Indigenous territory, and implement
measures to ensure such a tragedy cannot be repeated.

‘ALTHOUGH URGENT WORK REMAINS, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT WIN FOLLOWING MONTHS
OF TIRELESS CAMPAIGNING AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT. THIS REMARKABLE
ACHIEVEMENT WILL BENEFIT NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE OF BRAZIL BUT ALSO THE WIDER
REGION.’  

– RAÍSA CETRA, CO-DIRECTOR, ARTICLE 19 BRAZIL AND SOUTH AMERICA

MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT FINALLY USES HUMAN RIGHTS TO COUNTER HATE
SPEECH  

For 7 long years, ARTICLE 19 has tirelessly advocated for human rights
frameworks to be adopted into national policy – AND THE MALAYSIAN
GOVERNMENT IS FINALLY LISTENING! 

In July, the Law and Institutional Reform Minister relied on expert
analysis from ARTICLE 19 as the government prepared to overhaul rules on
race, religion, and royalty. Our landmark publications, the Camden
Principles [7] on Freedom of Expression and Equality and the Rabat Plan of
Action [8] on the prohibition of incitement, were used [9] as primary
documents to help the minister better understand the complexities in
addressing this issue.

What’s more, in September, THE PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCED THAT THE
GOVERNMENT WILL ENACT THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. ARTICLE 19, along
with other NGOs, will lead on drafting the bills the government adopts.

This progress is proof that passionate advocacy can achieve tangible
results, and we look forward to the next chapter in Malaysia’s move
towards a more inclusive society.

SAFER COMMUNITIES, STRONGER VOICES  

With Social Media 4 Peace [10], a UNESCO project funded by the European
Union, ARTICLE 19 has set up local coalitions in KENYA, INDONESIA, AND
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA to address the challenges global tech giants pose to
local communities. Completely voluntary and made up of national regulators,
media associations, tech companies, fact-checkers, peace-building
organisations, international non-governmental and civil society
organisations, and academia, they are a testament to the power of
collective voice, collective participation, and collective action.

Our advocacy efforts in TAJIKISTAN have paid off! The government has agreed
to abolish repressive provisions of the draft media law and introduced new
legal provisions that give journalists greater protections when reporting
on public officials.

ARTICLE 19 and other civil society organisations have consistently
supported and advocated for an Independent International Fact-Finding
Mission [11] in IRAN, which will document rights violations and
international crimes. In July, together with Impact Iran and Front Line
Defenders, ARTICLE 19 addressed [4] the Human Rights Council about the
mission’s ongoing investigations – emphasising the key role they will
play in helping us hold perpetrators accountable. We will continue to
support the people of Iran in their search for truth and justice [4].

‘EVEN WITH EYES BLINDED, WE CAN SEE THE SPARK OF HOPE.’

– IRANIAN BLINDED DURING A PROTEST

We hope you are more likely to describe 2023 as ‘victorious’ at the end
of this newsletter than you were at the start!

All of the successes above were the result of people coming together, over
the course of many years, to build a better world.

But systemic change doesn’t happen overnight.

This kind of deep, sustained, long-term progress requires investment from
people who want a freer, fairer future for all.

PEOPLE LIKE YOU

OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON THE ACTIONS OF ALL OF US.

INVEST IN FREE EXPRESSION TODAY [5]

Thank you for your support, interest, and belief in our mission.

With our warmest wishes for a peaceful and joyful holiday season,

All of us at ARTICLE 19

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