Article 19 (organisation)

Article 19 (organisation) is a human rights organization that focuses on promoting and protecting freedom of expression and freedom of information worldwide, in accordance with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The organization works closely with Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the United Nations to advance its mission. Article 19 also collaborates with Google, Facebook, and Twitter to address issues related to online censorship and digital rights. Additionally, the organization engages with European Court of Human Rights, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights to promote human rights law and standards.

● History

Article 19 was founded in 1987 by a group of human rights activists, including Martin Ennals, Sean MacBride, and Kofi Annan, with the goal of promoting and protecting freedom of expression and freedom of information worldwide. The organization's early work focused on supporting dissident writers and journalists in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, in collaboration with PEN International, Index on Censorship, and the Committee to Protect Journalists. Article 19 also worked with Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, and Oliver Tambo to promote human rights and democracy in South Africa. The organization has since expanded its work to address issues related to online censorship, surveillance, and data protection, in partnership with Electronic Frontier Foundation, Access Now, and the Open Society Foundations.

● Mission and objectives

The mission of Article 19 is to promote and protect freedom of expression and freedom of information worldwide, in accordance with international human rights law and standards. The organization's objectives include promoting transparency and accountability in government, supporting independent media and journalism, and advocating for the rights of human rights defenders and whistleblowers, in collaboration with Reporters Without Borders, International Press Institute, and the Whistleblower Protection Act. Article 19 also works to address issues related to hate speech, disinformation, and online harassment, in partnership with European Union, Council of Europe, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The organization engages with UNESCO, UNDP, and the World Bank to promote media development and access to information.

● Activities and campaigns

Article 19 engages in a range of activities and campaigns to promote and protect freedom of expression and freedom of information worldwide. The organization provides legal assistance and advocacy support to human rights defenders and journalists at risk, in collaboration with Front Line Defenders, Media Legal Defence Initiative, and the International Federation of Journalists. Article 19 also conducts research and analysis on issues related to online censorship, surveillance, and data protection, in partnership with Citizen Lab, Privacy International, and the Center for Democracy and Technology. The organization has launched campaigns to promote net neutrality, digital rights, and online freedom of expression, in collaboration with European Digital Rights, Access Now, and the Internet Society. Additionally, Article 19 works with Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, and the Internet Archive to promote online access to information and digital preservation.

● Structure and governance

Article 19 is a non-governmental organization with a global presence, with offices in London, New York, Paris, and Bangkok. The organization is governed by a board of trustees that includes human rights experts and journalists from around the world, such as Christiane Amanpour, Nicholas Kristof, and Sarah Kendzior. Article 19 is also a member of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, a global network of human rights organizations that work to promote and protect freedom of expression worldwide, in collaboration with Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, Freedom House, and the International Press Institute. The organization receives funding from a range of sources, including foundations, governments, and individual donors, such as the Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, and the National Endowment for Democracy.

● Notable cases and impact

Article 19 has been involved in a number of notable cases and campaigns to promote and protect freedom of expression and freedom of information worldwide. The organization has worked with Julian Assange, Edward Snowden, and Chelsea Manning to promote whistleblower protection and transparency in government. Article 19 has also supported journalists and human rights defenders at risk, including Reeyot Alemu, Shi Tao, and Azimzhan Askarov, in collaboration with Committee to Protect Journalists, Human Rights Watch, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The organization's work has had a significant impact on the development of human rights law and standards, including the adoption of the UN Resolution on the Safety of Journalists and the EU Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market. Additionally, Article 19 has worked with Google, Facebook, and Twitter to develop policies and guidelines on online freedom of expression and digital rights, in partnership with the Global Network Initiative and the Telecoms Ecosystem Forum.