Transparency and corruption

In the name of security, France plans to monitor crowds using AI and algorithms during the Paris Olympics

Many fear that France’s planned use of algorithmic video surveillance (AVS) for the 2024 Paris Olympics will infringe on civil liberties and lead to widespread mass surveillance beyond the event.Read the full article

As Sudan's latest conflict intensifies, artisanal gold miners are caught in the crosshairs

24 May 2023

As Sudan’s latest conflict intensifies, artisanal gold miners are caught in the crosshairs

“As long as this war goes on, the military will keep coming after us. We are living in danger.”Read the full article

In Argentina, and elsewhere in Latin America, the fight against corruption almost exclusively targets the left

30 March 2023

In Argentina, and elsewhere in Latin America, the fight against corruption almost exclusively targets the left

María Ana Skotadi: In Argentina and throughout the region, the fight against corruption shows signs of systematic bias against left-wing leaders. Their political opponents have weaponised the media and the justice system and resisted the progressive will of [...]Read the full article

How a poorly paid and multi-employed police force is driving private security initiatives in Lebanon

27 March 2023

How a poorly paid and multi-employed police force is driving private security initiatives in Lebanon

The disintegration of Lebanon’s police force is undermining law and order in a country ravaged by crisis after crisis. Many of the non-governmental initiatives emerging to restore a sense of security on the streets are reminiscent of some of the dark chapters of the Lebanese civil [...]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

Romania's civil society wanted to protect whistleblowers; instead, they got “a slap in the face”

25 January 2023

Romania’s civil society wanted to protect whistleblowers; instead, they got “a slap in the face”

According to an EU Directive, every state must bring its whistleblower legislation up to date. Romania, a country that benefitted from the strong protection of whistleblowers, understood the assignment differently and stripped them of their [...]Read the full article

Zambia's anti-corruption drive is seeing stolen assets returned in exchange for a get-out-of-jail card

9 November 2022

Zambia’s anti-corruption drive is seeing stolen assets returned in exchange for a get-out-of-jail card

Hichilema’s government is not following the traditional ‘arrest, prosecute, convict’ anti-graft playbook. Instead, it is embracing a hybrid approach of prosecution for some offenders and a policy of ‘no jail but surrender the assets’ for [...]Read the full article

Pushing back against China's debt-trap deniers

20 October 2022

Pushing back against China’s debt-trap deniers

Paulo Casaca : Although China did not invent the concept of the ‘debt-trap’, as the world’s most important source of international development finance, China is currently the main international player of this centuries-old debt power game.Read the full article

In Egypt, ambitious redevelopment projects are forcing thousands of residents from their homes

26 July 2022

In Egypt, ambitious redevelopment projects are forcing thousands of residents from their homes

After labelling their neighbourhood a ‘slum,’ the government evicted its residents to make way for luxury housing developments in the so-called ‘Maspero Triangle’, located two kilometres from Tahrir Square in the Boulaq district. These new flats are aimed at more affluent [...]Read the full article

23 June 2022

The Sri Lankan state is using violence to unleash fury on its citizens, as its political and economic crisis deepens

Niro Kandasamy: Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since independence, and the responses of the state indicate it is incapable of protecting its citizens.Read the full article

Commodification of EU citizenship: will the EU ban ‘golden passports'?

13 May 2022

Commodification of EU citizenship: will the EU ban ‘golden passports’?

Sanctions on Russia are accelerating the European drive to end the ‘golden passport’ trade and to regulate ‘golden visas’. According to critical observers, the main beneficiaries of residency and citizenship by investment schemes have been Chinese and Russian [...]Read the full article

Is physical money destined to disappear?

17 March 2022

Is physical money destined to disappear?

Fundación Alternativas: Attempts to implement top-down mechanisms, such as the single digital payment, that leave out a significant percentage of the world’s population will only result in poverty and exclusion. Virtual money already coexists seamlessly with physical money. But paper banknotes still have a lot of use [...]Read the full article

Putin is the product of a corrupt economic system that we must now reform

4 March 2022

Putin is the product of a corrupt economic system that we must now reform

Mary Kaldor: The courageous Ukrainian resistance and the anti-war movement in Russia are a civic, not ethnic, reaction to the invasion. And their civic stance has global support.Read the full article

Kazakhstan: a breach of the social contract and the end of a political cycle

10 February 2022

Kazakhstan: a breach of the social contract and the end of a political cycle

The Conversation: Since the beginning of January 2022, Kazakhstan has found itself in the throes of a social and political crisis of unprecedented proportions. Popular demonstrations, armed riots and an attempted coup d’état have shaken Central Asia’s largest and richest [...]Read the full article

Commodity trading: the shadowy industry destroying the planet

29 July 2021

Commodity trading: the shadowy industry destroying the planet

Joseph Baines: Commodity traders wreak havoc on global markets and profit from ecological and social devastation. Can they be stopped?Read the full article

On the banks of Thailand's Mun River, villages are struggling to survive in the shadow of the dams

29 January 2021

On the banks of Thailand’s Mun River, villages are struggling to survive in the shadow of the dams

The construction of the Rasi Salai dam across the Mun River in the mid-1990s caused the flooding of 16,000 hectares of land and brought an abrupt end to a three-century-old way of life. Today, thousands of families are still fighting for compensation for the loss of their land, ecological [...]Read the full article

21 January 2021

Illicit financial flows hinder development in Africa – the UN must rise to the challenge of ending this

Chloé Maurel: Every year, US$88.6 billion leaves Africa in the form of illicit capital flight, according to the UN. Africa is affected more than all other continents, making it a net creditor to the rest of the world, contrary to the popular belief of an Africa aided by the countries of the [...]Read the full article

Why it's time to blow the whistle on Amazon

24 November 2020

Why it’s time to blow the whistle on Amazon

The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in soaring profits for US tech giant Amazon, but around the world, workers, small businesses, local communities and national economies are all paying the price.Read the full article

Eight years after the Ali Enterprises factory fire in Pakistan, victims and their families are still fighting for justice

19 October 2020

Eight years after the Ali Enterprises factory fire in Pakistan, victims and their families are still fighting for justice

“Workplaces in Pakistan are still unsafe as the government, the factory owners and the international brands have learnt nothing since the Ali Enterprises factory fire.”Read the full article

1 October 2020

The future is digital, but we should keep digital chapters out of our trade deals

Duncan McCann: “We must ensure that, as we enter a new phase in the digital disruption of the economy, we do not shackle our democratic institutions from regulating the digital sphere.”Read the full article

El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua: so far from God, so close to the United States

3 September 2020

El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua: so far from God, so close to the United States

Luis Linares: The socioeconomic policies in CA-4 countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua) are geared towards protecting business interests rather than building welfare states. The lack of opportunities leaves young people with only one way out: migration to the United [...]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

The technology used to facilitate human trafficking can also be used to fight it

30 July 2020

The technology used to facilitate human trafficking can also be used to fight it

“The technology to combat human trafficking is there,” says Cucos. What we need to do now, as he underlines in the report, is “to move beyond the cycle of developing and piloting new initiatives, and toward expanding the coverage of those existing initiatives that are showing [...]Read the full article

Lawyers, the last bulwark of judicial independence in Turkey, are under grave threat

8 July 2020

Lawyers, the last bulwark of judicial independence in Turkey, are under grave threat

“In Turkey, being accused of belonging to a terrorist organisation is a common accusation made against those working to defend human rights or on other political matters. The government doesn’t want us to defend such cases, it’s their way of preventing us from doing our [...]Read the full article

The fight to protect one of Japan's last remaining concrete-free beaches

22 June 2020

Environment

The fight to protect one of Japan’s last remaining concrete-free beaches

The fight to protect Katoku Beach in Amami Ōshima, Japan, provides a case study for environmental learning and community-led conservation, and could provide a sign of hope for future generations.Read the full article

The risks of teaming up with Big Brother to protect health

18 June 2020

The risks of teaming up with Big Brother to protect health

Adrián Foncillas: Surveillance technology has helped to contain the spread of coronavirus, but it is essential that limits be set on how much information can be collected and for how long, to prevent governments from extending its use once the crisis is [...]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

“We resist, we build, we watch” – in Sudan, neighbourhood resistance committees are the guardians of the revolution

8 April 2020

“We resist, we build, we watch” – in Sudan, neighbourhood resistance committees are the guardians of the revolution

Neighbourhood resistance committees played a central role in the protests that led to the fall of the Omar al-Bashir regime a year ago in Sudan. Today, they are at the heart of neighbourhood life and see to it that the revolution keeps its [...]Read the full article

The challenge of providing protection and new reporting tools for whistleblowers in Europe

30 March 2020

The challenge of providing protection and new reporting tools for whistleblowers in Europe

In October 2019, the European Commission adopted a directive aimed at providing better protection for whistleblowers. By 2021, the 27 countries of the EU will have to transpose this text, recognising whistleblowers’ legitimacy and punishing any reprisals taken against them, into national law. [...]Read the full article

In Honduras and El Salvador, “trade union leaders are vulnerable to possible assassination at any moment”

4 March 2020

In Honduras and El Salvador, “trade union leaders are vulnerable to possible assassination at any moment”

Union organising in Honduras, the sixth most unequal country in the world, and El Salvador, where 70 per cent of workers do not have stable, salaried work, both in one of the most violent regions in the world, is incredibly risky.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

Will east Africa sail off into the sunset with its economy-boosting port projects, or are there clouds on the horizon?

2 December 2019

Will east Africa sail off into the sunset with its economy-boosting port projects, or are there clouds on the horizon?

If all the projects are successfully completed, by 2040 the east African coastline could be home to the busiest chain of ports outside of China.Read the full article

Twenty years after the İzmit earthquake killed 17,000 people, is Istanbul prepared for another major earthquake?

29 November 2019

Twenty years after the İzmit earthquake killed 17,000 people, is Istanbul prepared for another major earthquake?

Istanbul’s speedy, unchecked development predates the Justice and Development Party (AKP) by decades. But 15 years of the party’s administration has pushed the city to its absolute limits.Read the full article

Mass protests in Latin America against the neoliberal model

13 November 2019

Mass protests in Latin America against the neoliberal model

The one thing that most defines these protests is their sheer size and diversity.Read the full article

Social and economic woes weigh heavily on Algeria's future

6 November 2019

Social and economic woes weigh heavily on Algeria’s future

After eight months of protests, Algerians want change. They do not believe that minor reforms or the elections scheduled for December are capable of resolving the profound economic and social discontent in the country.Read the full article

Benin sets a winning example in the fight against fake medicine

14 October 2019

Benin sets a winning example in the fight against fake medicine

Once a major hub of fake medicine trafficking, the west Africa country of Benin has managed to reverse this trend within two years.Read the full article

Reasserting the rights and duties of journalists with the IFJ's new Global Charter of Ethics

19 September 2019

Reasserting the rights and duties of journalists with the IFJ’s new Global Charter of Ethics

Anthony Bellanger: The growing contempt towards journalists around the world has prompted the IFJ to draw up a new global charter reinforcing the ethical standards governing the profession.Read the full article

Emboldened by the state, Brazil's militias are operating with increasing impunity

30 August 2019

Emboldened by the state, Brazil’s militias are operating with increasing impunity

By allowing citizens to own guns, President Bolsonaro is actively helping militias, narcotraffickers, land grabbers collaborating with agrobusinesses and other criminals gain access to even more firepower.Read the full article

Two years on, Grenfell survivors are still waiting for justice

14 June 2019

Two years on, Grenfell survivors are still waiting for justice

It has been two years since 72 people lost their lives following a fire at Grenfell Tower in London, but survivors and families of the bereaved still have very few answers.Read the full article

Haiti's political and social crisis persists despite the deceptive calm

31 May 2019

Haiti’s political and social crisis persists despite the deceptive calm

Haiti has seen repeated protest movements for over a year now. While calm seems to have been restored in the last few weeks, the reasons for the anger behind the protests remain.Read the full article

‘Justice for Marija' – Serbia's first #MeToo scandal highlights the weaknesses of its democracy

23 May 2019

‘Justice for Marija’ – Serbia’s first #MeToo scandal highlights the weaknesses of its democracy

By demanding that her aggressor be brought to justice, Marija Lukić became an inspiration for women who are victims of violence, and a problem for political leaders trying to maintain their progressive image.Read the full article

To build grassroots democracy, journalists across the world are consolidating and reinventing their local media

3 May 2019

To build grassroots democracy, journalists across the world are consolidating and reinventing their local media

In Europe, local newspapers have lost readers’ trust and support, but new media outlets are emerging with a different approach. In South America and Africa, meanwhile, new opportunities are emerging to build counterpower at local [...]Read the full article

12 April 2019

More of the same in Israel

Jesús A. Núñez Villaverde: Aside from a few nuances and the uncertainties regarding the formation of a new government, the one overall conclusion we can draw from these elections is that we can expect to see more of the same, in other words, more fait accompli tactics being deployed by Israel and more hardships for the [...]Read the full article

Strategic destruction to make way for exclusive reconstruction in post-war Syria

26 March 2019

Strategic destruction to make way for exclusive reconstruction in post-war Syria

As the final tremors of war subside, the time has come to rebuild a country in ruins, to allow for the return of its population. But what kind of reconstruction model has been chosen?Read the full article

Ukraine's healthcare system is in need of shock therapy

1 March 2019

Ukraine’s healthcare system is in need of shock therapy

Between a lack of investment and chronic corruption, Ukraine’s healthcare system has deteriorated significantly in recent years. For many Ukrainians – especially those with modest incomes – the best option is simply not to get sick.Read the full article

Undertaking the crucial task of bringing cryptography to activists

11 February 2019

Undertaking the crucial task of bringing cryptography to activists

“We need to be aware of the negative consequences of these technologies. But it’s not the task of cryptographers to decide who can and cannot use cryptography.”Read the full article

18 January 2019

We need to reimagine democracy to create a better life for all

Mandeep Tiwana: Through meaningful democratic participation, better decisions can be taken, and decision-makers can be made more accountable.Read the full article

Transnistria: the price of unilateral independence

11 January 2019

Transnistria: the price of unilateral independence

In 1990, Transnistria, a narrow strip of land located between the Dniester River and Ukraine, declared its independence from Moldova. No member states of the United Nations have recognised the self-proclaimed republic, leaving its half a million citizens to political [...]Read the full article

Critics, activists and trade unionists in Cambodia: on the verge of outlaw status?

3 December 2018

Critics, activists and trade unionists in Cambodia: on the verge of outlaw status?

On 29 July 2018, a single party, the CPP, received 100 per cent of the seats in parliament. In Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Cambodia, there is no separation between party, state and government. Those who challenge his power – the media, NGOs, activists, critics, and trade unions – find themselves in [...]Read the full article

21 November 2018

The 2019 Nigerian general elections: what’s at stake for the working poor?

Akhator Joel Odigie: With an estimated 75 per cent of all working Nigerians in the informal economy, the need to improve the lives of working people is more urgent than ever in the run-up to the February 2019 elections.Read the full article

Khashoggi is being used as a bargaining chip in Turkey's negotiations

8 November 2018

Khashoggi is being used as a bargaining chip in Turkey’s negotiations

Jesús A. Núñez Villaverde: “If it were not for the fact that Recep Tayyip Erdoğan saw this terrible episode as an unexpected opportunity to try and strengthen his hand in relations with both Riyadh and Washington, the disappearance of the journalist would barely have received more attention than the many others who [...]Read the full article

Over 37,000 people have been made to disappear in Mexico

29 October 2018

Over 37,000 people have been made to disappear in Mexico

Faced with the authorities’ failure, or inability, to act, it is the families of the disappeared who are undertaking the search for their loved ones. While the unmarked graves are frequently found, identifying the bodies and the remains within them is a [...]Read the full article

Puerto Ricans want a clean and just energy future

5 October 2018

Environment

Puerto Ricans want a clean and just energy future

“A just transition to renewable energy is not just about minimising the effects of climate change, it’s also about ensuring access to energy for everyone.”Read the full article

How Kabila and the mining giants went from best friends to adversaries

27 September 2018

How Kabila and the mining giants went from best friends to adversaries

Claude Kabemba: While the new mining code may have ensured the government get more returns, recent developments suggest these will remain in a few select hands, and that deals continue to be made between powerful individuals behind closed doors.Read the full article

Women make a difference in Brazilian politics and activism

25 September 2018

Women make a difference in Brazilian politics and activism

Brazil is set to elect its new president in October. As tensions are heightened by Lula’s imprisonment, the recent assassination of councillor Marielle Franco and the stabbing of the ultra-right candidate, women are continuing to battle on the sidelines and are gaining ground in party politics [...]Read the full article

31 August 2018

SOS democracy?

Have we entered the era of populism and authoritarianism? Regardless of which continent you look at, there is no shortage of examples to stir pessimism. And yet there are less autocracies than three decades ago, and two thirds of the world’s people live in democratic [...]Read the full article

Beyond the green shoots of global grassroots activism

10 August 2018

Beyond the green shoots of global grassroots activism

What lessons can these new grassroots movements teach us? Can local or individual struggles have global resonance? One thing they do demonstrate is how uniting and fighting together can have a real impact.Read the full article

The madness of new dams is threatening the natural heritage of the Balkans

25 July 2018

Environment

The madness of new dams is threatening the natural heritage of the Balkans

Hundreds of hydro-electric power stations are being built on the rivers of the Balkans, threatening fragile eco-systems and the daily lives of a population already sorely tempted to emigrate.Read the full article

As the death toll rises, Nicaragua cries out for help to resolve the brutal sociopolitical crisis with the #SOSNicaragua movement

24 July 2018