Across Eastern Africa, the democratic reversals captured in ARTICLE 19’s Global Expression Report are having a devastating impact on people’s right to speak and to know.
But throughout 2023, as ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa’s annual report (published today) shows, we met this repression with resistance at every turn:
- Press freedom deteriorated – from internet shutdowns to the surveillance, harassment, and prosecution of journalists. In response, we successfully lobbied for a new resolution at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and more community radio stations adopted our Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy.
- Digital platforms are allowing hate speech, incitement, and disinformation to proliferate, exacerbating polarisation and erecting serious obstacles between the people and accurate information. In 2023, as part of our work on Social Media 4 Peace, we launched a coalition in Kenya to bridge these gaps between global tech giants and local communities.
- Civic space is under threat, and people’s capacity for civic engagement is greatly reduced due to economic crises, the soaring cost of living, and unemployment. In response, via our Free Expression Platform, we supported nearly 100 student leaders and human rights defenders to build resilient social movements.
Despite the challenges, in Kenya alone, 85% of people say that human rights reflect values that they believe in, and 8 out of 10 still believe in democracy. Freedom of expression is the lifeblood of democracy.
In other words, even – or especially – in times of crisis, ARTICLE 19’s mandate remains critical.