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:
| “ | Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers. | ” |
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ARTICLE 19 monitors threats to free expression around the globe, lobbies 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 Tunisian 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'.[1]
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.