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IFEX Communiqué Vol 21, No 06

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Syria

Amid fresh bombing, security forces torture children, says Human Rights Watch

Syria's bloody crackdown on dissent does not discriminate by age: children as young as 13 have been detained and tortured with impunity by Syrian forces fighting opposition protests, documents Human Rights Watch in a new report.

Kazakhstan

Editor's detention exposes regime's crushing of dissent in wake of December violence

Igor Vinyavsky, the editor-in-chief of one of the last remaining independent national newspapers in Kazakhstan, has a long history of being a thorn in the side of the Kazakh government. So IFEX members called his detention last month by Kazakhstan's security services "politically motivated." Adil Soz and 28 other IFEX members are rallying together for his release - and to draw attention to the growing trend of silencing those critical of the government in the wake of violent protests in Zhanaozen last December.

Philippines

UN declares defamation conviction a free expression violation

In a case that could have global implications, the UN Human Rights Committee for the first time has found that jailing a writer for libel represents a violation of freedom of expression, report the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) in the Philippines and the International Press Institute (IPI).

Americas

OAS adopts proposals that could weaken role of free expression special rapporteur

The Organization of American States (OAS) Permanent Council adopted the proposals of a working group that could be used to threaten the authority of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, report IFEX's Latin American and Caribbean group (IFEX-ALC), the International Press Institute (IPI) and other IFEX members.

Bahrain

Send flowers to the people of Bahrain

On 14 February, post a virtual flower for peace in solidarity with the people of Bahrain as they mark the one-year anniversary of their uprising.

International / Awards and other opportunities

Have your say: What should the global standards for free expression be?

The Internet and mobile phones have opened up endless possibilities for free expression. But how best should we use this freedom? What limits should there be and what should be regulated by law? And who should decide? Oxford University has launched a multilingual platform, Free Speech Debate, to debate global norms for free expression - and wants you to join the conversation.

International / Awards and other opportunities

Nominate a woman for Courage in Journalism Awards

The International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) is seeking nominations for its 2012 Courage in Journalism Awards, which honour women reporters around the world whose work puts them in danger. The deadline for nominations is 2 March 2012.