Initiatives

Joint Letters

One hundred organisations call to end assault on freedom of speech, and to free all detained human rights defenders and netizens

May 21 2012 - 6:09pm

The following is a letter calling on the Bahrain Royal Family to release jailed human rights defenders and netizens, including the founder and president of IFEX member Bahrain Centre for Human Rights. The signing organisations further call on the UN Human Rights Council, the European Parliament, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and all concerned governments to exert their influence on the ruling family to stop violating human rights in Bahrain:

Issues: 
Human Rights Defense
Regions: 
Middle East and North Africa
Statements

Azerbaijan: International freedom of expression coalition launches website ahead of Eurovision

May 21 2012 - 12:37pm

The International Partnership Group for Azerbaijan (the IPGA), coordinated by ARTICLE 19, has launched its website www.AzerbaijanFreeXpression.org and Facebook and Twitter profiles ahead of this week’s Eurovision Song Competition, which will commence in Baku, Azerbaijan  tomorrow, May 22.  Looking behind the glitz of Eurovision, the IPGA website examines the alarming freedom of expression situation in Azerbaijan, where journalists and others face blackmail, intimidation, violence, and imprisonment for expressing critical views.

Issues: 
Freedom of Expression
Regions: 
Central and Eastern Europe/Eurasia
Testimonies

Sustained US Global Leadership Needed to Defend Civil Society and Human Rights Defenders in an Era of Activism

May 17 2012 - 1:58pm

Lisa Davis, Freedom House's senior advisor for international legal affairs, submitted testimony for the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission about strengthening US support for human rights defenders and civil society abroad on May 17, 2012.

Issues: 
Civil Society, Human Rights Defense, U.S. Foreign Policy
Policy Briefs

Exercising U.S. Leadership: Democracy Funding in a Time of Global Change

May 15 2012 - 10:21am

The U.S. Congress should fully fund the Administration’s request for $56 billion to support international affairs for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013, a 2% increase over FY 2012.[1]  This budget is one of the primary tools the United States uses to maintain leadership abroad, pursue its international priorities and promote American values.

As Americans display growing fatigue over costly military interventions abroad, the Obama Administration has appropriately placed greater emphasis on diplomacy and development to advance U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives. In order to do so effectively, a robust foreign assistance budget is needed, along with carefully targeted use of available funds.

Issues: 
Human Rights Defense, U.S. Foreign Policy
Statements

CEPA and Freedom House Release Open Letter to International Ice Hockey Federation President René Fasel

May 10 2012 - 3:31pm

The Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) and Freedom House today released an Open Letter to International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) President René Fasel opposing plans to allow Belarus to host the 2014 Ice Hockey World Championship in Minsk.

Issues: 
Civil Society
Regions: 
Central and Eastern Europe/Eurasia
Statements

The ASEAN Human Rights Declaration: Drafts must be published and subject to meaningful consultations with local, national and regional civil society and human rights defenders

May 2 2012 - 10:51am

We, the undersigned international human rights organizations, are concerned that the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) has yet to take the necessary steps to ensure that the process of drafting the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) is transparent and fully consultative with civil society organizations in the ASEAN region.

Issues: 
Civil Society, Human Rights Defense
Regions: 
Asia-Pacific
Joint Letters

Letter to Russian Minister Nurgaliev

Apr 27 2012 - 4:40pm

Letter to Russian Minister Nurgaliev, April 27, 2012

Issues: 
Media Freedom, Rule of Law
Regions: 
Central and Eastern Europe/Eurasia
Statements

Cambodian Buddhist Monk - Nominated by Witness, Freedom House and Civil Rights Defenders - Is a Finalist for Human Rights Defenders Award

Apr 24 2012 - 10:05am

Buddhist monk Venerable Luon Sovath is one of three finalists for the prestigious Martin Ennals Award for human rights defenders announced today in Geneva. The announcement event is being ‘broadcast’ live at 11am Geneva time (5am ET) on www.martinennalsaward.org.

Issues: 
Human Rights Defense, Religious Freedom
Regions: 
Asia-Pacific
Joint Letters

Forty-eight IFEX members and partners call for freedom for Bahraini human rights defenders, bloggers and activists

Apr 18 2012 - 9:26am

Read the IFEX leter sent to the King of Bahrain expressing concern with ongoing human rights violations in Bahrain.

Issues: 
Civil Society, Human Rights Defense
Regions: 
Middle East and North Africa
Joint Letters

Open Letter to President Santos and the Leaders of the Americas

Apr 13 2012 - 5:59pm

Freedom House and the Latin American Network for Democracy and Human Rights wrote an open letter to the Colombian government and leaders in the hemisphere calling for the inclusion of topics of democracy and human rights in their deliberations, and their inclusion in the agenda of subsequent summits. Nearly 150 activists and organizations from throughout the hemisphere signed the letter.

Issues: 
Civil Society, Human Rights Defense
Regions: 
Americas

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