ARTICLE 19
Encyclopedia
ARTICLE 19 is a London
-based human rights
organisation with a specific mandate and focus on the defence and promotion of freedom of expression and freedom of information
worldwide. The organisation takes its name from Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
, which states:
governments to adopt laws that conform to international standards on freedom of expression; and drafts legal standards which strengthen media
, public broadcasting
, free expression and access 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 to non-governmental organisations, judges and lawyers, journalists, media owners, media lawyers, public officials and parliamentarians
.
ARTICLE 19’s work is organised into five Regional Programmes – Africa
, Asia, Europe
, Latin America
, the Middle 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 expression violations worldwide. It is also a member of the Tunisia Monitoring Group
, a coalition of 16 free expression organisations that lobbies the Tunisia
n 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'.
In June 2009, ARTICLE 19 moved to Farringdon Road
in London to become part of the Free Word Centre
promoting literature, literacy and free expression.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
organisation with a specific mandate and focus on the defence and promotion of freedom of expression and freedom of information
Freedom of information legislation
Freedom of information legislation comprises laws that guarantee access to data held by the state. They establish a "right-to-know" legal process by which requests may be made for government-held information, to be received freely or at minimal cost, barring standard exceptions...
worldwide. The organisation takes its name from Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly . The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled...
, which states:
Activities
ARTICLE 19 monitors threats to free expression around the globe, lobbiesLobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
governments to adopt laws that conform to international standards on freedom of expression; and drafts legal standards which strengthen media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
, public broadcasting
Public broadcasting
Public broadcasting includes radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing.Public broadcasting may be...
, free expression and access 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 to non-governmental organisations, judges and lawyers, journalists, media owners, media lawyers, public officials and parliamentarians
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
.
ARTICLE 19’s work is organised into five Regional Programmes – Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Asia, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far 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
Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi, AC is a Burmese opposition politician and the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. In the 1990 general election, her National League for Democracy party won 59% of the national votes and 81% of the seats in Parliament. She had, however, already been detained...
, who turned 60.
ARTICLE 19 is a founding member of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange
International Freedom of Expression Exchange
The International Freedom of Expression eXchange , founded in 1992, is a global network of around 90 non-governmental organisations that promotes and defends the right to freedom of expression....
(IFEX), a global network of non-governmental organisations that monitors free expression violations worldwide. It is also a member of the Tunisia Monitoring Group
Tunisia Monitoring Group
The Tunisia Monitoring Group is a coalition of 21 free expression organisations that belong to the International Freedom of Expression Exchange , a global network of non-governmental organisations that promotes and defends the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the press.The IFEX-TMG...
, a coalition of 16 free expression organisations that lobbies the Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
n 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'.
In June 2009, ARTICLE 19 moved to Farringdon Road
Farringdon Road
Farringdon Road is a road in Clerkenwell, Central London. Its construction, which took almost 20 years between the 1840s and the 1860s, is considered one of the greatest urban engineering achievements of the nineteenth century...
in London to become part of the Free Word Centre
Free Word Centre
The Free Word Centre is an international centre promoting literature, literacy and free expression, based in Farringdon, London. It is funded by the Arts council and its director is Rose Fenton. It opened in June 2009 and hosts ten resident organisations including ARTICLE 19, English PEN and Index...
promoting literature, literacy and free expression.
See also
- Freedom of information legislationFreedom of information legislationFreedom of information legislation comprises laws that guarantee access to data held by the state. They establish a "right-to-know" legal process by which requests may be made for government-held information, to be received freely or at minimal cost, barring standard exceptions...
- International Freedom of Expression ExchangeInternational Freedom of Expression ExchangeThe International Freedom of Expression eXchange , founded in 1992, is a global network of around 90 non-governmental organisations that promotes and defends the right to freedom of expression....
- Tunisia Monitoring GroupTunisia Monitoring GroupThe Tunisia Monitoring Group is a coalition of 21 free expression organisations that belong to the International Freedom of Expression Exchange , a global network of non-governmental organisations that promotes and defends the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the press.The IFEX-TMG...