Censorship

As digital censorship concerns cloud DR Congo’s crucial election, elsewhere in Francophone Africa, internet shutdowns also threaten livelihoods and democracy

“Internet shutdowns have a negative impact on democracy in French-speaking Africa, especially during election periods. They constitute a form of censorship that limits freedom of expression and access to information. They prevent citizens from finding out about candidates and election issues, [...]Read the full article

Is press freedom stifled by the travel restrictions faced by African journalists?

27 November 2023

Is press freedom stifled by the travel restrictions faced by African journalists?

Many African journalists can relate to the feeling of missing important opportunities due to international travel and visa restrictions. These barriers not only limit them from accessing diverse sources and reporting on international issues from their own perspective with depth and accuracy, [...]Read the full article

The stifling gag on civil society in Morocco

10 February 2023

The stifling gag on civil society in Morocco

The announcement that Morocco allegedly bribed prominent figures in the European Parliament to defend its interests in Brussels has led to increased scrutiny of human rights violations in Morocco. The resulting picture is not a flattering [...]Read the full article

In Yerevan, feminists and members of the LGBTQ+ community hide away to read

23 January 2023

In Yerevan, feminists and members of the LGBTQ+ community hide away to read

In Yerevan, Armenia, a group of LGBTQ+ and feminist activists have opened the FemLibrary, the first feminist library in the city, in an apartment.Read the full article

Ken Loach: “The BBC's role in the destruction of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership has been absolutely shameless”

16 December 2022

Ken Loach: “The BBC’s role in the destruction of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership has been absolutely shameless”

“Jeremy Corbyn doesn’t exist in history now, and all the purges [of the Labour party], the manipulation of the rules, and the straight aggression has been unbelievable.”Read the full article

Egypt's NGOs and activists are not welcome at COP27

31 October 2022

Egypt’s NGOs and activists are not welcome at COP27

“The Egyptian authorities are sending a clear message to Egyptian NGOs that what happens in Egypt must be kept hidden from the rest of the world. NGOs from all over the world can go there but Egyptian NGOs are not welcome.”Read the full article

Building Hong Kong's civil society was a decades-long process; destroying it took just months

30 June 2022

Building Hong Kong’s civil society was a decades-long process; destroying it took just months

Macy Leung : The very systems that have made Hong Kong an open society, a remarkable success story and a free place distinctly different from repressed China, have all but disintegrated.Read the full article

3 May 2022

The media are our greatest allies, and we need to be theirs

Annie Game: We need to value and support the critical work of journalists countering the mis- and disinformation flooding our communications channels, especially during crises, conflicts, and elections. The good news is that when the media and civil society work together, they create a better information [...]Read the full article

3 February 2022

This Beijing Olympics, ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’ also applies to Omicron

Annie Sparrow: “The substandard, get-by-on-the-cheap procedures that the Chinese government and the IOC have instituted for the Beijing Olympics risk lowering global standards for everyone. It is unlikely that only athletes will pay the price.”Read the full article

These are dark days for journalism in Afghanistan; we must support those who seek to shine a light

23 September 2021

These are dark days for journalism in Afghanistan; we must support those who seek to shine a light

Jeremy Dear: “We have to change our location daily to hide from the Taliban as they are checking and searching for the people who always talked against them and women who appeared on the radio, television. Living such a life is very hard.”Read the full article

The shrinking space for journalistic rights and freedoms in Palestine

28 July 2021

The shrinking space for journalistic rights and freedoms in Palestine

Already beleaguered by the routine violations of their rights by the Israeli military occupation, Palestinian journalists also have to cope with poor working conditions and political pressure from within Palestinian society itself.Read the full article

In the United States, the digital giants are baring their claws against emerging support for trade unions

14 June 2021

In the United States, the digital giants are baring their claws against emerging support for trade unions

Amazon employees accuse the world leader in e-commerce of seeking to interfere in a ballot to form a union in the Bessemer warehouse in Alabama.Read the full article

Will Beijing's education reforms succeed in “brainwashing” Hong Kong's rebellious youth?

22 January 2021

Will Beijing’s education reforms succeed in “brainwashing” Hong Kong’s rebellious youth?

“The enormous political pressure facing teachers today is without precedent in the history of Hong Kong. The chilling effects are sweeping across school campuses, curricula and even exam papers.”Read the full article

3 December 2020

After nine years of indefatigable struggle, Somalia’s free trade union movement has been totally vindicated

Omar Faruk Osman: It is unthinkable that a government led by a former member of civil society would take the extraordinary step of charging a trade unionist with treason simply for exercising his right to freedom of association and to preserve the independence of his [...]Read the full article

Reasserting the importance of committed, truthful, on-the-ground reporting on the centenary of John Reed's passing

28 October 2020

Reasserting the importance of committed, truthful, on-the-ground reporting on the centenary of John Reed’s passing

The author of ’Insurgent Mexico’ and ’Ten Days that Shook the World’, Reed provides an invaluable example of committed journalism dedicated to social justice while ensuring truthful reporting, respect for sources and the indispensable need for the journalist to be where the news is [...]Read the full article

In Central and South-Eastern Europe, media freedom is under attack, and journalists are on the frontline

24 August 2020

In Central and South-Eastern Europe, media freedom is under attack, and journalists are on the frontline

Across Central and South-Eastern Europe, media workers are facing threats, financial precarity and smear campaigns because of their reporting.Read the full article

As it finances extraction and construction projects around the world, China is exporting its labour model and standards

19 August 2020

As it finances extraction and construction projects around the world, China is exporting its labour model and standards

The single factor that most damages China’s reputation abroad is undoubtedly the treatment of workers in its investment projects.Read the full article

How Egypt silences popular and dissident music

9 June 2020

How Egypt silences popular and dissident music

“One of the characteristics of this type of music lies in the subject matter is deals with, often linked to the poverty, violence and policy brutality that occur in their neighbourhoods.”Read the full article

Internet censorship and shutdowns are becoming an increasingly complex and widespread tool for repression

12 May 2020

Internet censorship and shutdowns are becoming an increasingly complex and widespread tool for repression

In 2019, 35 countries cut off access to the internet, 40 per cent more than in 2018. This figure is all the more alarming as internet shutdowns are becoming increasingly specific, targeted, complex, and above all, lengthy.Read the full article

How to win friends and influence people – the Beijing way

20 April 2020

How to win friends and influence people – the Beijing way

Behind China’s friendly narrative, in which it presents itself as an example to follow for its successful economic transition from communism and for its speedy recovery from the 2008 financial crisis, often lies veiled criticism of the West and the values of liberal [...]Read the full article

Why supporting Julian Assange means defending freedom of information

20 February 2020

Why supporting Julian Assange means defending freedom of information

Anthony Bellanger: “If Assange is extradited to the United States, he has no chance of a fair trial.”Read the full article

Is there a glimmer of hope for Vietnamese workers?

18 February 2020

Is there a glimmer of hope for Vietnamese workers?

Last November, the Vietnamese National Assembly took a long-awaited decision on a demand that came from both inside and outside the country: the authorisation of worker representative organisations from 2021. While it remains to be seen how this will be implemented, it is still a major [...]Read the full article

Something is shifting in the MENA region – and it is happening from the ground up

30 January 2020