ARTICLE 19

17/09/2026

On 16 September, we marked four years since the death of Mahsa Jhina Amini. Her killing sparked the powerful ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ movement, bringing thousands to the streets in cities across Iran and around the world to voice their outrage and call for change.
 
But four years on, the repression continues. And yet, despite the grim environment, women and girls continue to assert their right to choice and autonomy through acts of civil disobedience and resistance.
 
The global community must take action. It must keep up the pressure, including through diplomatic channels, to ensure Iranian authorities honour their human rights obligations.
 
The people of Iran demand it, and we are listening.
 
Read more. Link in bio.

03/09/2026

Today, we join International Press Institute Free Press Unlimited ECPMF EFJ - European Federation of Journalists in lamenting the failure to convict the alleged mastermind in the murder of Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The coalition hopes the demoralising verdict will swiftly be overturned on appeal.

We express solidarity with Daphne Caruana Galizia’s family and legal team at this shocking and difficult time.

We stand firm in our commitment to bring justice for Daphne, and end impunity for those who use violence and murder to silence. We will continue to push for a safe environment for all journalists.

Although yesterday’s verdict represents a serious setback, the fight for justice and press freedom reforms continues.

Read more. Link in bio

28/08/2026

Iran is escalating its crackdown on people’s freedom of expression, introducing a bill that would make it a criminal activity to communicate or engage with media perceived to be ‘hostile’ to the Islamic Republic. ARTICLE 19 calls on the Iranian government to withdraw the bill. 

Read the full statement at the link in bio.

12/08/2026

The European Union is presiding over the most significant expansion of border surveillance in its history – in the process, outsourcing power to private companies. 
 

Our new report ‘Your data, their decision’ looks at the rollout of the EU’s new digital system capable of screening over 1.4 billion travellers ✈️, which turns people into searchable profiles combining biometric, migration, visa, and law enforcement data. 
 

At the heart of this system is EU-LISA: a little-known agency responsible for building and operating the large-scale digital systems underpinning Europe’s migration and border regime. 

🔍 We analysed €1.99 billion in contracts awarded by EU-LISA and show how private companies have been given unprecedented power to shape how the systems operate, with no public oversight. 

The design, development, and deployment of digital border infrastructure cannot proceed in the dark. Our report includes recommendations – to EU institutions, member states, regulators, companies and civil society – to help ensure it is brought back into the scope of democratic accountability.

Find out more — link in bio.

31/07/2026

Targeting a woman’s identity and not what she says or does is not legitimate criticism. It is gender-based violence and discrimination.

ARTICLE 19 is concerned by the growing number of smear campaigns, cyber-harassment, hate speech, and judicial proceedings targeting women in Tunisia, particularly those who are visible in public life.

Beyond the individuals directly targeted, these attacks send a message to all women, severely undermining their right to participate freely in public life. The result is a lasting effect of exclusion and self-censorship.

Read more — link in bio

Photo credit: Hasan Mrad/Shutterstock

22/07/2026

Tunisia’s crackdown on media freedom has intensified: over the last week, journalists Haythem el Mekki, Hamza Belloumi, Insaf Boughdiri, and Hichem Snoussi – a former legal representative for ARTICLE 19 MENA – have all been handed down heavy sentences.  

Read more about the government’s new campaign of harassment, and our calls for it to drop charges against journalists reporting in the public interest.
 
Link in bio

07/07/2026

ARTICLE 19 is deeply concerned about the reported arrests of Houman Jowkar and Sepideh Kashani, environmentalists from the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, by Iranian security forces on 1 July. Their detention is part of a broader pattern of repression targeting civil society, human rights advocates, and other individuals engaged in public interest activities. We call for their immediate release and all charges to be dropped against them. 
 
Link to the full statement in bio

29/06/2026

15/06/2026

Today, the United Kingdom announced a ban on social media for under-16s. The ban is framed as a protective measure — but in reality it’s unlikely to make children safer. 
 
By shifting responsibility away from social media platforms and onto users, the government is avoiding the real issues: business models that profit from maximising engagement, harvesting data and amplifying harmful content.