Friday 28 March 2014

PRESS RELEASE

Tunisia: Progress needed on access to information law

A law that guarantees the right to information for all citizens must be adopted ahead of presidential and legislative elections later this year. ARTICLE 19 urges the interim government and Tunisian National Constituent Assembly (ANC) to take action to ensure legislation is passed to give effect to the right, which has already been recognised in the country’s new constitution.

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JOINT REPORT LAUNCH

Mexico: "Soft" censorship poses significant dangers to press freedom

Press freedom in Mexico faces widespread and growing threats from “soft censorship” that includes government use of financial incentives and penalties to pressure news media, punish critical reporting, and reward favourable coverage, according to a new report released today. Read more >

STATEMENT

Pakistan: Draft Computer Crimes Law endangers freedom of expression

ARTICLE 19 and Digital Rights Foundation Pakistan are concerned about the draft Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act of Pakistan 2014 (Draft Law) currently being prepared for presentation before the Pakistani Parliament. Although the Draft Law contains a number of welcome procedural safeguards, several provisions violate international standards on freedom of expression. We therefore call on the Pakistani Government to amend the Draft Law in accordance with our recommendations below before submitting it for Parliament’s consideration. Read more >

PRESS RELEASE

Mandate of UN Rapporteur on free expression renewed for three years

ARTICLE 19 welcomes the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression for a period of three years at the 25th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. Read more >

PRESS RELEASE

Human Rights Council: states must reject proposed amendments to resolution on peaceful protest

ARTICLE 19 together with 15 other leading international human rights organisations has called on Member States of the Human Rights Council to reject amendments, proposed by South Africa and a group of “like minded States”, to weaken a resolution on promoting and protecting human rights in the context of peaceful protest. Read more >

PRESS RELEASE

Turkey: Blanket blocking of Twitter is a serious violation of the right to free speech

ARTICLE 19 condemns today's decision by the Turkish authorities to block access to Twitter in the country. The Turkish Telecommunications Directorate (TİB) restricted access to Twitter only hours after Prime Minister Erdogan stated his desire to “root out Twitter”. The blocking of Twitter was justified by the TİB on the basis of four court orders where the action was said to be a “protective measure”. Read more >