How can the UN protect freedom of expression; the Wagner Group's crimes in Africa; register for our Western Balkans AI-tool demo sessions

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** SPOTLIGHT
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Protest calling for a ceasefire, Birmingham, UK, 29 October, 2023. Photo: Cal Ford/Shutterstock

How can the UN protect freedom of expression for our future?

The rapidly escalating conflict in the Middle East is the latest terrifying reminder of the volatile times we now live in. While the region is on the brink of all-out war, freedom of expression may seem to be of secondary importance. But it’s precisely at this time that we realise how essential it is for people to stay informed and communicate freely. The right to freedom of expression is not just a cherished right, it’s an essential one.

On 22 September, UN Member States adopted the Pact for the Future ([link removed]) – a commitment to protect and promote peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights and equality across the globe. The discussions and negotiations took place against a backdrop of unprecedented global turmoil: escalating war and continuing humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, but also in Ukraine and Sudan; the climate emergency; and crippling growing debt among Global Majority countries.

Despite Russia’s last-minute calls for amendments, the UN Member States adopted the Pact and its annexes by consensus, including the Global Digital Compact ([link removed]) , which sets out a robust digital future anchored by human rights.

The UN Member States have come together, despite their differences, to build a safer world for all: all 193 agreed on the decisions that form the Pact.

As advocates for freedom of expression and human rights, we have called for stronger language in these agreements and would have liked to see the establishment of stronger international norms ([link removed]) . Unclear and vague terminology – terms such as ’trustworthiness’ or the ‘benefit of humanity’ – can be wide open to interpretation and slow down or impede commitments from becoming a reality.

International humanitarian law and international refugee law must also be guiding principles — at the moment, they are noticeably absent from the Global Digital Compact.

There was, however, some progress. We welcome States’ firm recognition of the crucial role young people play in bringing about positive change to promote global peace, security, and human rights. We must continue to listen to their voices.

It’s important also that some key guiding principles have been reiterated and reconfirmed in the Global Digital Compact: respect for international human rights law, ensuring gender equality, and equitable and meaningful inclusion in the digital economy. Together with partner civil society ([link removed]) groups, ARTICLE 19 has weighed in on the Global Digital Compact ([link removed]) , highlighting some of the shortcomings in fulfilling its brief. Meaningful connectivity, multi-stakeholder internet governance, information integrity ([link removed]) , and data privacy are key to this future: a future that means everyone, everywhere enjoys all human rights equally online as they do offline.

More effective coordination and a human-rights based approach ([link removed]) across the UN system is essential. It is a shame that strong references to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) were watered down throughout the various revisions of the compact. We call on Member States to ensure a strong role for the OHCHR in the implementation of the agreement, with a view to ensuring strong protections for human rights.

The UN and its Member States must honour their commitments and ensure that happens.

“We welcome the progress made towards building an inclusive, human-rights-based future for our digital environments. But governments must take action on these commitments, and the Global Compact only offers the beginning. States must build further on this – including by ensuring the voices of civil society groups, among them vulnerable and marginalised communities, and those with direct experience of the issues we all face, are heard.”

— Anna Oosterlinck, Head of UN, ARTICLE 19

Read more about our work at the UN ([link removed])


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Exposing the Wagner Group’s atrocities in Africa

Today the Wagner Group is known to many for the role it played in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Less is known about its activities in Africa.

In the latest episode of Silenced, Nigerian journalist Philip Obaji Jr. shares his story of investigating the Wagner Group’s crimes in central and west Africa.

Listen now on Spotify ([link removed]) , Apple Podcasts ([link removed]) , and Amazon ([link removed]'s-atrocities-in-africa) .
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Register now for the Dalil Western Balkan AI tool demo sessions

Session dates:

15 October & 22 October

11:00 – 11:45am CET

Join us as we launch a new AI-powered fact-checking tool for journalists. Our advanced platform tracks the most popular stories while also flagging content for biases, manipulation, and even AI-generated text.

Register here ([link removed])
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