"In this report, Human Rights Watch documents 33 cases between 2016 and 2020 in which authorities in areas controlled by the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have arrested, brought charges against, and sentenced journalists, activists, and other dissenting voices under
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these legal provisions. Thirteen of these cases involved individuals covering or supporting protest activities. Seven cases involved individuals writing in mainstream or social media about state corruption, a major concern motivating protesters in 2019 and 2020. Iraq’s parliament should amend laws and penal code articles that limit free speech in ways that are inconsistent with international law. Iraqi federal authorities and the Kurdistan Regional Government should direct security forces to end intimidation, harassment, and assault as well as arrests of journalists and others for exercising their right to free expression." (Back cover)
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"En gran parte de América Latina existen normas que buscan regular los actos de discurso, ya sea a través de normativas contra el discurso de odio, o mediante la penalización de los “delitos de honor” (cuyo traslado al ámbito civil y la correspondiente despenalización, dicho sea de paso, es
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tá en mora en gran parte de la región). Resulta dudosa la necesidad de regular el discurso de odio en línea a través de legislación específica que aborde el medio a través del cual se comete, sin haber justificado por qué las normas preexistentes resultan insuficientes para ser análogas al entorno en línea; más aún, resulta preocupante que se regule el discurso de odio en línea a través de normas que consideran que el medio digital debería constituir un agravante, buscando aumentar el tipo y duración de las penas específicamente para las redes sociales." (Conclusiones)
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"This Handbook, which provides non-compulsory technical guidance to EU Delegations, aims to provide tools and hands-on examples to support them in implementing the the 2014 'EU Human Rights Guidelines on Freedom of Expression Online and Offline' and in taking actions to support the safety and securi
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ty of journalists in their context. First, the Handbook presents a brief on the European and international policy framework regarding safety of journalists and clarifies relevant concepts. The second section focuses on the actions EU Delegations can carry out in their own local context – working in an emergency situation, or as tools for mid- and long-term policy and programming." (Purpose of this handbook, page 7)
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"The EU Human Rights Guidelines on Freedom of Expression Online and Offline (the Guidelines) were approved by the Council of the European Union (EU) in 2014. The Guidelines provide a policy and operational foundation for EU Delegations, EU institutions and Member States working to support freedom of
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expression and media pluralism. The Guidelines also present good practice approaches to responding in strategic and systematic ways to the challenges of promoting and protecting freedom of expression in diverse contexts [...] This Quick Guide provides a summary of the Guidelines alongside information designed to support EU Delegation staff working in third countries, focusing first on: What EU Delegations Need to Know; then on: What EU Delegations Can Do." (Introduction, page 5)
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"This document sets out ECPMF’s strategic approach to tackle the existing and emerging challenges over the next five years. Starting in September 2019, the creation of this plan is the result of several stages of research, feedback from staff and board members as well as partners and beneficiaries
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across Europe. It clearly articulates ECPMF’s vision, mission and organisational values, as well as the three core strands of the organisation’s work to ‘Monitor’, ‘Support’ and ‘Engage’. Our short term 2020-21 targets reflect ECPMF’s current top-line project commitments, including through the newly launched Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR). These concrete activity based targets will be reviewed year on year, in line with ECPMF’s overarching key strategic priorities that we have mapped out for the organisation to achieve by 2024." (Introduction, page 4)
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"Political divisions, the economic downturn after 2006, and technological disruptions have enabled Thai authorities to limit public space for political discussion and expression. People in Thailand have turned to social media instead. At present, the hashtag (#) is a growing tool for all kinds of po
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litical expression, intruding even into the taboo issue of the monarchy. Facebook, YouTube, Line and Twitter are popular platforms for netizens to publicize their political views. Authorities under Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha have moved aggressively to put restrictions on these channels. Netizens in the country are now seeking new platforms for political expression." (Executive summary)
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"Judges and courts, both at national and regional levels, will find these guidelines useful to ensure the application of international and regional human rights standards of freedom of expression and privacy when ruling on cases involving States’ responses to the COVID-19 outbreak that have an imp
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act to freedom of expression, press freedom, access to information, privacy and safety of journalists. When resorting to state of emergency powers to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, States must comply with requirements, criteria and procedures established by international and regional legal instruments to safeguard citizens’ fundamental rights and prevent abuses and arbitrariness. While reporting on the pandemic, journalists may become targets of attacks and intimidations and face limitations due to imposed restrictions. Their work should be considered as the provision of an essential service, therefore protection must be provided and any violations to their safety should be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted. The development of health data collection tools to track infections and properly identify potential disseminators of the virus should consider the effects on the right to privacy, and therefore, observe international standards regarding data protection." (Highlights)
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"Sadly the research reveal that COVID-19 temporary measures and laws on lockdowns dented freedom of expression gains that had been made over the years with concerns that if there is no financial intervention or adoption of sustainable revenue solutions in SADC, print media that were already in finan
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cial dire straits before the pandemic, will close their doors permanently. The pandemic saw countries invoking shutdowns that restricted movement and, in some cases, resulted in companies closing causing loss of jobs and income and impacting on media revenues from newspapers sales and advertising. Findings also show that the pandemic had various effects on journalism quality, mental integrity of journalists and operational problems that rendered the work of journalists difficult [...] The findings reveal that the COVID-19 restrictions denied journalists and citizens the rights to express themselves freely, thereby interfering with the rights of citizens to access critical information that could have helped them to make informed decisions as well as fight stigma and discrimination during the lockdowns." (Executive summary)
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"This publication is a compilation of 19 articles by African researchers, academics, journalists and human and digital rights activists on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on digital rights in Africa. The articles were commissioned by the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms (AfDec
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) Coalition as part of its project on “Securing human rights online in Africa through a strong and active ‘African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms’ network”. The AfDec Coalition is a pan-African initiative which promotes human rights standards and principles of openness in internet policy formulation and implementation on the continent, guided by the 13 principles established in the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms. At the time that the papers were commissioned, in June 2020, African states had either invoked existing policies or adopted new policies for prevention of spread, containment and treatment of the virus that had an impact on the enjoyment of digital rights. For example, most governments employed the use of contact tracing applications to track and trace citizens’ movements and put in place measures criminalising free speech when it contained false information about the pandemic. These two examples had the potential to be abused, particularly the latter, which was used to silence journalists and government critics. The pandemic also moved most citizens’ communication, education, work, trade and access to basic services from physical interactions to primilary online interactions. However, the continent is still largely made up of informal economies, has a low internet penetration rate of 28.2% (far below the global average of around 53%), and has seen an increase in reports of digital rights violations resulting from repressive cyberlaws, making the efforts to address the pandemic inadequate and inequitable. These articles offer reflective analyses on government efforts to curb the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of the AfDec principles, with a focus on a number of the principles including privacy and personal data protection, gender equality, freedom of expression, internet access and affordability, and the right to development and access to knowledge." (Introduction)
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"Internet shutdowns are on the rise. In the past few years, an escalation of this blunt censoring practice has affected different regions of the world, particularly Africa and Asia. Scholars and advocates have proposed no substantive solutions to effectively address Internet shutdowns, and analysis
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has largely been limited to examining the negative effects through data about their frequency, duration, and economic costs. This article attempts to move beyond the polarized debate between “keep it on” and “shut it off” to explore how there can be more transparency around decision-making processes behind Internet shutdowns. We also discuss the limits of law when it comes to the imposition and implementation of shutdowns. Shutdowns tend to be imposed somewhat arbitrarily with little process. Bringing back legal arguments into the exploration of the justifications around shutdowns may make the use of shutdowns less frequent and more limited, when they do occur." (Abstract)
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"This paper is intended to provide IMS departments and colleagues with an overview of the trends and challenges to freedom of expression, freedom of the media and access to information stemming from national governments’ responses to the Coronavirus pandemic. First, the paper look into the general
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rules established under international human rights law which define requirements for legitimate rights limitations or derogations from the human rights instruments. Then follows a consideration of the most pressing issues pertaining to media such as, inter alia: procedural shortfalls, disinformation, hate speech, troubles in accessing information, and impediments to journalistic freedom. Finally, a conclusion with a listing of likely future trends and suggestions of possible areas of involvement and response strategies for IMS and its local partners." (Introduction)
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"Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) are a form of legal harassment. Pursued by law firms on behalf of powerful individuals and organisations who seek to avoid public scrutiny, their aim is to drain the target’s financial and psychological resources and chill critical voices t
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o the detriment of public participation. Currently, no EU country has enacted targeted rules that specifically shield against SLAPP suits. EU-wide rules providing for strong and consistent protection against SLAPP suits would mark a crucial step forward towards ending this abusive practice in EU Member States and serve as a benchmark for countries in the rest of Europe and beyond. Together with other legislative and non-legislative measures, it would contribute to secure a safer environment for public watchdogs and public participation in the EU." (Page 3)
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"Myanmar Media in Transition: Legacies, Challenges and Change is the first volume to overview the country’s contemporary media landscape, providing a critical assessment of the sector during the complex and controversial political transition. Moving beyond the focus on journalism and freedom of th
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e press that characterizes many media-focused volumes, Myanmar Media in Transition also explores developments in fiction, filmmaking, social movement media and social media. Documenting changes from both academic and practitioner perspectives, the twenty-one chapters reinforce the volume’s theoretical arguments by providing on-the-ground, factual and experiential data intended to open useful dialogue between key stakeholders in the media, government and civil society sectors. Providing an overview of media studies in the country, Myanmar Media in Transition addresses current challenges, such as the use of social media in spreading hate speech and the shifting boundaries of free expression, by placing them within Myanmar’s broader historic social, political and economic context." (Publisher description)
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"This volume brings together the lectures and presentations of the main speakers at the eleventh edition of the Professional Seminar for Church Communications Offices: Dialogue, Respect and Freedom of Expression in the Public Sphere, organized by the School of Church Communications of the Pontifical
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Univwersity of the Holy Cross, in Rome in April 17 to 19, 2018." (Back cover)
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"The uptake of telecommunications technology in Myanmar has been nothing short of dramatic. After years of restricted access to information and freedom of expression, it has been a remarkable journey for civil society groups like MIDO to witness the growing interest and demand, especially among the
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youth, to use smartphones to engage politically and socially. Yet the challenges are still there, not only because of the restrictive laws but also because of the threats resulting from hate speech and misleading information that affect people's right to know. There are still missing pieces in terms of privacy and data protection, which will be crucial if the government goes ahead with its plans to introduce e-government systems and digital identification methods. If private telecommunication operators succeed in amending their licensing agreements so they are no longer responsible for offering coverage to all areas of the country, especially those with ongoing conflicts, it will mean that communities or individuals that most need connectivity will not have access through mobile telephones. It is becoming increasingly important to demand governmental and corporate transparency, as well as meaningful public participation, in the formulation of policies and laws for the telecommunications sector." (Page 374)
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"The Media Ownership Monitor found that a high degree of concentration in ownership and audience share prevails in the media industry in Pakistan and a professionally weak regulatory system poses a threat to media pluralism and freedom of expression in the country." (http://Pakistan.mom-rsf.org/en)