- ARTICLE 19
ARTICLE 19 is a
London -basedhuman rights organisation with a specific mandate and focus on the defence and promotion offreedom of expression and freedom of information worldwide. The organisation takes its name from Article 19 of theUniversal Declaration of Human Rights , which states: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers."Activities
ARTICLE 19 monitors threats to free expression around the globe, lobbies
governments to adopt laws that conform to international standards on freedom of expression; and drafts legal standards which strengthen media,public broadcasting , free expression andaccess to government-held information . It also produces legal analysis and critiques of national laws, including media laws; provides legal counsel on behalf of individuals or groups whose rights have been violated; and provides capacity-building support tonon-governmental organisations , judges andlawyers ,journalists , media owners, media lawyers, public officials and parliamentarians.ARTICLE 19’s work is organised into five Regional Programmes –
Africa ,Asia ,Europe ,Latin America , theMiddle East – and a Law Programme. It works in partnership with 52 organisations in more than 30 countries around the world.In June 2005, ARTICLE 19 joined human rights groups around the world in calling for the release of jailed Burmese opposition leader
Aung San Suu Kyi , who turned 60.ARTICLE 19 is a founding member of the
International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), a global network of non-governmental organisations that monitors free expressionviolations worldwide. It is also a member of theTunisia Monitoring Group , a coalition of 16 free expression organisations that lobbies the Tunisian government to improve its human rights record.ARTICLE 19 is a founding member of the Freedom of Information Advocates (FOIA) Network, a global forum that aims to support campaigning, advocacy and fundraising on access to information through the exchange of information, ideas and strategies. The FOIA Network also aims to facilitate the formation of regional or international coalitions to address access to information issues.
On November 18 2005, 80,000 supporters joined an ARTICLE 19-led march on the Houses of Parliament with the aim of defeating several bills and Acts which would restrict freedom of expression in order to 'tighten anti-terror laws and prevent incitement of racial hatred' ["Racial and Religious Hatred Bill" pg. 4] .
ee also
*
Freedom of information legislation
*International Freedom of Expression Exchange
*Tunisia Monitoring Group External links
* [http://www.access-info.org/ Access Info Europe]
* [http://www.article19.org/ ARTICLE 19]
* [http://www.foiadvocates.net Freedom of Information Advocates Network]
* [http://freedominfo.org/ Freedominfo]
*WiredForBooks|kevinboyle|Real Audio interview with Kevin Boyle about Article 19|byDon Swaim Notes
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