Transparency International EU’s Post

Highly recommend this HRW report on transnational repression. It is a comprehensive work analyzing governments’ human rights abuses towards their own citizens accross borders. What I found most interesting was digital transnational repression part. In light of various and many digital innovations, proper intergovernmental regulations are vital and soon to cover broader agenda.

🇸🇰Six years after the tragic murder of Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová, we, alongside the #MediaFreedom Rapid Response consortium, renew our call for justice. Read our joint statement👉 https://buff.ly/3uyr5mq Growing political hostility to journalists and legal changes in Slovakia raise concerns. As we remember Ján and Martina's legacy, let's advocate for justice and #PressFreedom throughout Europe. European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) Free Press Unlimited Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa ARTICLE 19 European Federation of Journalists Reporters Without Borders (RSF) #AllForJan

The 122nd edition of MENARY Monitor, international law experts are warning of the recent Tunisia-EU agreement that aims to address the issue of irregular migration, citing concerns over its likelihood to increase human rights violations. Also in this edition, a new report by Carnegie discusses the future of youth activism in the region. Click the link below to read about it and more: https://lnkd.in/dkHqx_8r

The survival of independent civil society & media is at stake in #Azerbaijan❗ Over the last couple of months, the number of political prisoners has tripled in Azerbaijan and the list is getting longer every day! 🔟 years after the infamous #crackdown on #civilsociety, a new wave of arrests on trumped-up charges is in full swing in #Azerbaijan! Activists, journalists, whisteblowers, political opposition, academics - they are all targets of Aliyev's consolidated repressive regime! The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum joins International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR), Freedom Now, Crude Accountability, People in Need, Norwegian Helsinki Committee and OMCT - World Organisation Against Torture and calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to: 1️⃣ Immediately release all unjustly detained civil society activists, journalists, and human rights defenders;  2️⃣ Guarantee the detainees’ access to lawyers of their own choice and contact with their families;  3️⃣ Cease the use of criminal prosecution as a tool to suppress critical voices. Read our full statement ▶ https://t.ly/9mSnG #yetər #enough #ExperienceAzerbaijan #FreeThemAll #ToplumTV #AbsazMedia #Kanal13 #FreeGubad #Azerbaijan #COP29 #humanrights

We remember Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová six years after their tragic killings, and demand justice and protection for media freedom in #Slovakia. ARTICLE 19 joins Media Freedom Rapid Response partners to call on the Slovak authorities to fulfil their obligation to protect media freedom and free expression and to ensure full justice for the murders of Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová. The government must #ProtectJournalists and uphold democratic values. https://lnkd.in/e7-d5nxu

𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐥𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 Transparency International Russia condemns today's decision by the Russian authorities to block access to 81 European media outlets, including BBC News Russian Service, Estonia's Delfi, France's Le Monde, Poland's BELSAT, POLITICO Europe, and many others. Freedom of information is fundamental to transparency and public accountability. Without access to independent news sources, citizens are left uninformed, undermining the democratic principles enshrined in the Russian Constitution. Since the onset of the full-scale war against Ukraine, dozens of Russian media outlets have been unlawfully labeled as "foreign agents" and "undesirable organizations." Many journalists have been forced to leave Russia due to pressure, the threat of imprisonment, and the inability to perform their professional duties. Please support independent media! A transparent society is a just society.

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM: A CLARION CALL On behalf of the Management and Board of the Citizens Participation Against Corruption Initiative,I congratulate the Nigerian Journalists on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day 2024. We commend the Nigerian Journalists on their nationalistic contribution towards nation- building,which historically started since colonial times during which they played a role in the struggle that brought about the emancipation of Nigeria from the shackles of colonialism. During military era, also,the media was also in the forefront in ending authoritarianism, and restoration of Democracy in Nigeria. Having commended the media and acknowledge the sacrifices of the Nigerian Journalists,this organization is hereby calling on the Nigerian Journalists to focus more on issues that will strengthen Democracy especially in a time when some our neighbouring countries are now under authoritarian rule. Nigerian media must never be a promoter of authoritarianism. The Nigeria journalists should also begin to sell the assets and positive sides of the country. Our country is not the worst spot on earth,so let us not undermine it. Lastly, this organization is calling on the state governors to domesticate the Freedom of Information Act 2011 in their respective states in order to promote transparency and accountability in governance.

Human rights in Palestinian occupied territories: UN Special Rapporteur's Briefing | United Nations Press conference by Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967. The Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel, Navi Pillay, said that there are “clear indications that international crimes have been committed” in the current conflict. Briefing journalists in New York today (25 Oct), Pillay added, “So accordingly in line with our mandate, we began collecting evidence of war crimes committed by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups and by Israeli security forces, and we issued a call for submissions later last week.” Pillay also said, “I assure you that we intend to continue pursuing the fulfilment of our mandate, including in relation to making recommendations, in particular on accountability measures, with a view to avoiding and ending impunity and ensuring legal accountability, including individual criminal and command responsibility.” The Commission's Chair noted, “International law has clear obligations on every state whether they exercising self defense, or hostile warfare to protect civilians, and I fear that this is not happening. Civilians are being targeted and civilian objects, structures are being damaged, irreparably, so it's a huge concern and we are going to be looking into this, expanding on this.” Another member of the Commission, Chris Sidoti, noted that the law of armed conflict applies in this case. Sidoti added, “That does mean that the State of Israel has the obligation to defend its citizens. But it means that it must be done in accordance with international law, and the principles of necessity, reasonableness, proportionality, discrimination, precaution and so forth. And it's those principles and the observance of those principles that becomes the critical question. And that's the question that we are going to have to examine in the investigation that, as our chair has indicated, we've already announced.” The expert concluded, “Is it possible to conduct the kind of military operation that Israel is conducting in Gaza and still comply with international law? That is a live question, we don't have conclusions, we need to investigate. But that is really the fundamental question that confronts the international system at the moment. Israel has an obligation to defend its citizens, no doubt about that. But is it possible to do that in the way in which it is being done and still comply with international law? That's the question.”

International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) recently released an insightful report addressing the concept of digital authoritarianism in Russia. Digital authoritarianism encompasses the use of digital technology to bolster authoritarian regimes, a practice increasingly prevalent on a global scale. The report offers a comprehensive overview of this issue, tracing its historical roots and focusing on three key tools, which I also find very disturbing: 😶 Facial Recognition Programs: These programs, initially introduced under the guise of public safety, have been employed to surveil and subsequently detain thousands of Russian protesters who voiced opposition to the war in Ukraine - both proactively and in retrospect. Also have been used to find and draft recruits hiding from mobilisation to fight in Ukraine. 🕵♂️ SORM (System for Operative Investigative Activities): Originally used in the 1990s for phone call interception, the current infrastructure allows for the collection and storage of various communication data, including calls, messages, and images, for over six months. It also mandates the retention of metadata for such communications for three years. This usage has been identified as a human rights violation in cases brought before the ECHR. 💻 Sovereign Internet: This comprehensive ideological and technological framework facilitates the independent existence of the Russian segment of the Internet. It has evolved significantly in recent years, enabling the censorship of online content through traffic rerouting and blocking. Despite these restrictions, the Russian Internet (RuNet) possesses the necessary infrastructure to function autonomously, including its own search engine, social media platforms, and video hosting services. Very hi-tech. Highly dystopian. Can happen anywhere. https://lnkd.in/dTd6J3Qb