Source description last updated: 30 August 2021

In brief: ARTICLE 19 is an international human rights NGO promoting freedom of expression and freedom of information worldwide.

Coverage on ecoi.net:

Selected reports and articles.

Covered weekly on ecoi.net, for countries of priorities A-C.

Mission/Mandate/Objectives:

“ARTICLE 19 works for a world where all people everywhere can freely express themselves and actively engage in public life without fear of discrimination. We do this by working on two interlocking freedoms: the Freedom to Speak, and the Freedom to Know.” (ARTICLE 19 website: What we do, undated)

The organisation’s name is derived from Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Freedom of expression and the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas. The organisation was founded in 1987 and its mission is “to promote, protect, develop and fulfil freedom of expression and the free flow of information and ideas in order to strengthen global social justice and empower people to make autonomous choices” (ARTICLE 19: Annual Report 2005, 2006, p. 6).

ARTICLE 19 was among the founders of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) and has consultative status with ECOSOC, the Council of Europe and the Organisation of African Unity and also works with other international organizations (ARTICLE 19: Annual Report 2005, 2006, p. 6).

Funding:

ARTICLE 19 is mainly funded through grants and donations from governments, trusts and foundations.

The organisation provides details on accountability and funding at: https://www.article19.org/accountability/ and https://www.article19.org/financials/

See for instance:

ARTICLE 19: International Annual Report 2020, 2021, pp. 66-67
https://www.article19.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Annual-Report-2020-low-res-1.pdf

ARTICLE 19: Report and Financial Statements, 31 December 2019
https://www.article19.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Report-and-Financial-Statements-2019.pdf

Scope of reporting:

Geographic scope: Selected countries all over the world

Thematic scope: Freedom of expression and freedom of information

Methodology:

Desk research, including research with local partners (see for instance: ARTICLE 19, 10 December 2019, p. 1). ARTICLE 19 engages in monitoring, research, litigation, lobbying and works to set standards on behalf of freedom of expression (ARTICLE 19: Annual Report 2005, 2006, p. 6).

Article 19 provides legal analyses of national laws relating to free expression, submits expert opinions through amicus briefs to national and regional courts, and shapes international standards on the right to freedom of expression and information through UN advocacy and the production of policy documents on core free expression issues. (ARTICLE 19 website: Law and Policy, undated)

ARTICLE 19 works with partners in many countries and has 9 regional offices around the world (ARTICLE 19 website: Where we work, undated)

Every year, ARTICLE 19 publishes the “Global Expression Report” on the status of freedom of expression worldwide. The GxR metric measures certain aspects of freedom of expression, looking at 25 indicators across 162 countries. For details, see https://www.article19.org/gxr-2021/ and the Global Expression Report 2021.

Language(s) of publications:

Most information is published in English, some in French, Arabic, Spanish and other languages.

Further reading / links:

ARTICLE 19: Statement by Zwelakhe Sisulu on the Occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the Founding of ARTICLE 19, 11 December 2008
https://www.article19.org/data/files/pdfs/other/statement-by-zwelakhe-sisulu-on-the-occasion-of-the-20th-anniversary-of-the-.pdf

Bode-Harlass, C.: Article 19, in: Anheier, H.K. & Toepler, S. (eds.): International Encyclopedia of Civil Society, 2010
https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-0-387-93996-4_723

United Nations: Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 10 December 1948
https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights

 

All links accessed 30 August 2021.

 

Methodological note:

ecoi.net's source descriptions contain background information on an organisation’s mission & objective, funding and reporting methodology, as well as on how we cover the source. The descriptions were prepared after researching publicly accessible information within time constraints. Most information contained in a source description was taken from the source itself. The aim is to provide a brief introduction to the sources covered regularly, offering information on relevant aspects in one place in a systematic manner.