ARTICLE 19

Who we are

Established in 1987, ARTICLE 19 fights for all hostages of censorship, defends dissenting voices, and campaigns against laws and practices that silence. With offices in London, Bangladesh, Brazil, Kenya, Mexico and Senegal, and in collaboration with 90 partners across the world, we strengthen national capacities, and build or reform institutions and policies to protect transparency and the free flow of information. We take our name from Article 19 of the UDHR: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” ARTICLE 19 monitors, researches, publishes, advocates, campaigns, sets standards and litigates on behalf of freedom of expression wherever it is threatened. We provide expertise on international human rights standards and for legislation that protects the right to speak and right to know in countries emerging from conflict, war and genocide or repression. We campaign to safeguard media pluralism, independence and diversity of views. We champion freedom of expression, including freedom of information, as a fundamental human right that is also central to the protection of other rights. We promote the right to know of poorer communities and advocate for the implementation of freedom of information legislation to ensure transparency and strengthen citizens' participation.