Stories about Freedom of Speech from December, 2024
Data Narratives Civic Media Observatory: Country Reports
The reports examined the complexities of the data governance landscape across the five countries through the lens of the data narratives and counter-narratives that shape conversations in each country.
How the UN Cybercrime Convention 2023 can pose a threat to human rights defenders and exiled journalists
The convention must include mandatory dual criminality clauses, respect human rights safeguards, establishing that no cooperation will be provided in cases that could result in violations of fundamental rights.
Greek state suppresses peaceful protestors commemorating 2008 police killing of a boy
On December 6, Greek police intervened in demonstrations commemorating the death of a 15-year-old boy fatally shot by police back on December 6, 2008. The intervention led to the arrests of over 100 people.
Exploring the depths of Nepali poetry: A conversation with poet Bhupeen
In an email interview, poet Bhupeen Khadka shared insights into his literary path, poetry's social impact, and Nepali poetry's evolving role in global literature.
New documentary explores Sri Lanka’s Buddhist supremacy and minority communities
Sri Lankan Filmmaker Sulochona Peiris talks about her latest documentary, which explores how contested religious sites incite complex ethnic tensions between Sri Lanka's Buddhist Sinhalese and Hindu Tamil communities.
Global Voices Summit 2024: Where have all the bloggers gone?
Blogging has changed over time, making the online space in which people are expressing themselves more valuable than ever.
Women in public positions in North Macedonia are easy targets of hate speech
Despite visible progress in the fight for women’s rights, increased representation in politics and greater attention to issues affecting women, the tendency to express contempt and insult them persists.
Chinese president Xi Jinping visits Macau to spotlight the casino hub as a showcase of One Country Two Systems
To ensure the Chinese president’s inspection tour in the casino hub is perfectly safe, Macau authorities have beefed up security measures
In Azerbaijan, authorities are again targeting journalists, in a new wave of arrests
The authorities in Baku insist none of the criticisms are true, instead accusing those critical of the regime of double standards, bias and meddling in the country's internal matters.
A pro-China rapper blows whistle on Beijing's influencer network in Taiwan
Chen Po-yuan, an insider of a pro-China influencer network in Taiwan, publicly revealed the operation of mainland Chinese state agencies within the self-ruled region.
Protests continue in Georgia despite police crackdown
In response to ongoing protests and the ruling Georgia Dream government's disproportionate and violent response, several countries have issued sanctions against high ranking government officials.
Online safety or censorship? Malaysia’s parliament passes two contentious media bills
“These measures risk transforming Malaysia’s digital spaces into stricter and highly regulated environments, stifling open discourse and innovation while entrenching state control over the internet.”
‘Free yourselves from fear’: Cambodian youth activists fight for environmental justice
"The more they arrest our members, the more defenders are coming up. We will be always here fighting for environmental justice."
How death threats, job losses, and lack of protection affect whistleblowers in West Africa
Across Africa, corruption remains a critical barrier to development, undermining democratic institutions, slowing economic growth, contributing to governmental instability, and fueling organized crime and general insecurity.
Feminist literature under fire: The ‘Cometierra’ controversy in Argentina
“Cometierra,” Argentine writer Dolores Reyes's debut novel, is the main target in the Argentine government's censorship campaign against feminist literature in schools.
From inbox to front page: How the media fuels hate speech in North Macedonia
This is not the first time the media has carelessly published politicians’ statements without critically analyzing them, using the situation to generate sensationalism and boost viewership.
