IFEX

🌍 In response to the UN Independent Expert on international solidarity’s report on civil society organizations engaging in international solidarity, IFEX’s submission highlighted the challenges faced by activists due to rising authoritarianism and repressive actions, underscoring the critical role of civil society in advocating for human rights accountability. Drawing on IFEX members' experiences, the submission reveals how repressive legislation and barriers to participation in high-level spaces at the UN have targeted and obstructed the work of civil society organizations (CSOs). IFEX’s networked approach, combining collaborative advocacy, operational support, access to resources, and other expressions of solidarity, strengthens the capacity of organisations to effectively counter authoritarian regimes and defend civic space. Check out our submission here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gXHU3TNf

I appreciated the opportunity to speak to Geneva Solutions about IFEX's long-standing struggle to get ECOSOC accreditation through the UN's Committee on NGOs. States with abysmal records on civic space have abused their position to keep legitimate NGOs like IFEX, and countless others, from fully participating in UN policy debates. Reform is urgently needed to end the politicization of this UN body and ensure meaningful civil society participation. https://lnkd.in/gSMexmNn

🌍 In response to the UN Independent Expert on international solidarity’s report on civil society organizations engaging in international solidarity, IFEX’s submission highlighted the challenges faced by activists due to rising authoritarianism and repressive actions, underscoring the critical role of civil society in advocating for human rights accountability. Drawing on IFEX members' experiences, the submission reveals how repressive legislation and barriers to participation in high-level spaces at the UN have targeted and obstructed the work of civil society organizations (CSOs). IFEX’s networked approach, combining collaborative advocacy, operational support, access to resources, and other expressions of solidarity, strengthens the capacity of organisations to effectively counter authoritarian regimes and defend civic space. Check out our submission here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gXHU3TNf

#RegisterNow #ThisWeek Introducing our esteemed panelists for the #FreeSpeechTracker 2.0 launch on July 26th at 5 PM IST! Rachael Kay is the Executive Director of IFEX. She leads a remarkable team and brings creativity and purpose to the strategic development of the IFEX as Executive Director. Rachael’s background in international relations, languages, and project and financial management enables her to provide support and guidance to IFEX as a global network. Register Now: https://lnkd.in/dusytMan 📢 Spread the word! 📢 #SFLCin #India #FreeSpeech #FreeSpeechMatters #FreedomOfExpression #Censorship #blocked #BANNED #censored

IFEX recently responded to Irene Khan's (UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of expression) call for submissions on trends, challenges and threats to freedom of expression concerning the ongoing crisis in #Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), and its wider implications for media freedom, journalist safety, artistic and academic freedom, political expression, and the right to peaceful protest. IFEX's submission underscored how Israel’s efforts to control the narrative on Gaza by targeting #Palestinian journalists and media outlets is bolstered by a growing trend of State repression of solidarity protests, notably among States with democratic reputations. The Palestinian narrative has been further distorted by social media platform policies and practices that censor expressions of solidarity with Palestine while perpetuating harmful content. The resulting environment reveals a troubling trend towards normalising censorship, with alarming implications for democracy, human rights, and civic space. Check out our submission here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gyN9Z9Uc

🚀 We are thrilled to present IFEX's 2023 Annual Report! This past year, IFEX faced numerous challenges, but we continued to adapt, strengthening our dedication to defending freedom of expression and information. The challenges aren’t going away anytime soon — but neither is IFEX. Throughout 2023, IFEX provided crucial support to members under pressure, contributed to tackling gendered disinformation, and helped members empower youth participation at the global climate conference #COP28. We also supported member initiatives documenting attacks on journalists, defending cartoonists' rights, and addressing online platform abuse and #disinformation. 🔍 Swipe through the carousel to explore some of our key achievements from the past year. 👉 Learn how IFEX is making a difference worldwide by reading our full report here: https://lnkd.in/gUFcbuWU

A healthy civic space is fundamental to the exercise of democracy. The rights to freedom of expression and information, freedom of association and the right to peaceful protest, which are fundamental to a free and just society, must be respected and guaranteed by the state, especially during election periods. Criminalising those who protest peacefully is a form of censorship that affects all people, regardless of their political views. Furthermore, persecuting those who vocally question public power is an attempt to control the narrative and impose a truth, which violates democracy. The IFEX network, together with their members IPYS Venezuela and ONG Espacio Público, calls for the protection of civic space in Venezuela in the run-up to the elections. Read the statement (in Spanish only): https://lnkd.in/dPhyMbFJ --------- Un espacio cívico saludable es fundamental para el ejercicio de la democracia. Los derechos a la libertad de expresión e información, la libertad de asociación y el derecho a la protesta pacífica, básicos para una sociedad libre y justa, deben ser respetados y garantizados por el Estado, en especial durante el periodo electoral. Criminalizar a quienes protestan de forma pacífica es una forma de censura que afecta a todas las personas, sin importar su postura política. Además, perseguir a quienes cuestionan el poder público en voz alta busca controlar la narrativa e imponer una verdad, violentando a la democracia. La red IFEX junto a sus miembros IPYS Venezuela y Espacio Público llaman a la protección del espacio cívico venezolano en periodo electoral. Únete y #ProtegeElEspacioCívico en Venezuela:

IFEX demands justice in Palestine. We are alarmed by the devastating impact of impunity and stand in solidarity with our members in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). We call for an end to Israeli impunity in the growing number of cases of violations of the right to freedom of expression of all Palestinians, including journalists, artists, writers and human rights defenders. The toll on journalists is unprecedented and the repression of Palestinian solidarity and ceasefire protests is alarming. Despite pressure from international legal mechanisms such as South Africa's genocide case at the ICJ and ICC investigations into possible war crimes, Israel's offensive on Gaza continues. Since 7 October, the assault on Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 36,000 Palestinians, including thousands of children and women. Journalists in Gaza face extreme dangers, with 146 killed since October 2023. As pressure mounts from international legal bodies, the IFEX network renews our calls for an end to Israeli impunity and for accountability to protect the right to freedom of expression worldwide. Read the full statement: https://lnkd.in/epBHVy3E 

Our latest newsletter is out! Stay informed on the latest #FreeExpression news from around the world. 📣 In this edition: 🔸 Two years on, justice for killing of Palestinian-American journalist #ShireenAbuAkleh remains elusive 🔸 #Tunisia's escalating crackdown on dissent 🔸 #Turkey court reverses journalist Sinan Aygül’s conviction 🔸 #Guatemala: authorities urged to release José Rubén Zamora 👉 Don't miss out—read and subscribe now! https://lnkd.in/gGcDW-i9

📬 🌍 Want to stay informed about freedom of expression issues around the world? Our newsletter has you covered: This week in #FreeExpression news: - Journalists covering pro-#Palestine protests face violations and #Israel bans Al Jazeera - Prominent #Pakistan journalist killed on #WorldPressFreedomDay - Reporters Without Borders (RSF)'s #WorldPressFreedomIndex finds states are failing to protect journalism 👉 Read more: https://ow.ly/92BW50RAEOW 📩 Subscribe for weekly updates! https://ifex.org/#signup