Half of the world’s population is unable to speak their mind freely, according to a new report on freedom of expression.
among them annual reportAccording to advocacy group Article 19, the number of people facing a “threat” to freedom of speech and information will soar from 34% in 2022 to 53% in 2023, the highest this century.
Quinn McCue, executive director of Article 19, said: “Over the past 20 years, more people have had the ability to express their opinions, access free media and participate in free and open elections. “I have never been denied the benefits of an open society.”
The report’s authors were particularly alarmed by India’s deterioration over the past decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rule, changing its classification from “restricted” to “crisis.”
Ethiopia was also reclassified as “crisis,” and eight other countries, including Burkina Faso, Senegal and Mongolia, also experienced a decline in freedom last year.
“The erosion of freedoms takes place every day around the world as leaders erode our freedoms one by one, often through subtle policy shifts in the name of ‘public safety,’ ‘morality’ or ‘national security,’ tightening the net until there’s no room to breathe,” McCue said.
The report describes countries in a crisis state as those where freedom of expression and information is at an abysmal level, where citizens are unable to speak out freely or express dissent with impunity, and where the media is censored and attacked.
One source said journalists in the Kashmir region have reported harsh crackdowns on their ability to work, including passport revocation and bans on leaving the country. “I think 10 times before going to a particular place. About my identity as a Muslim and as a journalist. I haven’t even said I’m Kashmiri – it’s a whole new game.”
During interviews, they said they feared being attacked by Hindu nationalists. “As a Muslim reporter, it is very difficult to go to vulnerable places now,” they said.
According to sources, their passports have been confiscated by authorities and they are no longer able to travel for interviews or training.
“I felt like I was suffocating,” they said. “I’ve lost a lot of jobs. My opportunities have diminished so much that sometimes I want to quit journalism.”
While Article 19 laments the state of freedom of expression worldwide, the report is hopeful that there have been improvements in Brazil since Jair Bolsonaro was ousted from power, Brazil, previously classified as “restricted”, is now classified as “open”.
Maria Trajan of Brazil Article 19 said: “The example of Brazil gives us hope that change is possible. But it also reminds us that rights and freedoms must never be taken for granted, that rights are guaranteed and strengthened. It also serves as a reminder that we must continue to strive for improvement.”
The Guardian Foundation is a charity dedicated to promoting press freedom worldwide. Open Society FoundationsThe organizations and governments that contribute to some of the Guardian’s journalism are also among the organizations and governments that donate money to Article 19.
