UKRAINE:
In May 2006, ARTICLE 19 and its Ukrainian partners, the environmental organisation EcoPravo Kyiv, started a project to promote freedom of information by linking it to the public’s right to access environmental information. The project aims at enhancing the Ukrainian public’s participation in environmental policy development by encouraging the implementation of domestic legislation and international instruments, such as the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters. It also integrates development and environment discourses, by advocating that economic and human development are unsustainable without public’s right to a safe environment, including clean air and water.

The project focuses on three key regions: Kyiv, Donetsk and Lviv oblasts and is sponsored by the European Commission’s Tacis Institution Building Partnership Programme (IBPP). Read more…

In addition, the Europe Programme continues regular monitoring of the freedom of expression and freedom of information situation in the Western CIS. We continue to provide legal advice to legislators in the region to support the development of media laws in line with international standards. We also carry out international and national advocacy to promote the findings and recommendations of our work.

SOUTH CAUCASUS
Since 2003 ARTICLE 19 has worked in the South Caucasus to contribute the promotion of freedom of expression by: advocating for institutional and legal reform; and by educating young professionals on international and regional standards of freedom of expression.

A major project on freedom of information in Azerbaijan is currently under development. The project will map the status of the recently enacted Freedom of Information law, and develop policy and practice recommendations. ARTICLE 19 will support strategic litigations and nationwide training of public officials and civil society in order to improve implementation of the law.

RUSSIA
ARTICLE 19´s work in Russia over the past eight years has had a strong focus on the Central Black Soil region. With our partner organisation, the Voronezh-based Mass Media Defence Centre (MMDC), we have trained lawyers and judges on international standards of freedom of expression (particularly resulting from Russia’s ratification of the European Court of Human Rights). We have also trained journalists on legally safe reporting and journalistic professional ethics. We have translated and widely distributed resource materials for legal practitioners, such as ARTICLE 19’s publication series on international standards, and materials on the European Court of Human Rights’ case-law relating to the right of freedom of expression.

In December 2006, ARTICLE 19 started a project on the freedom of expression in the North Caucasus, implemented with MMDC and the Centre for Journalism in Extreme Situations. The project aims at studying the relationship between expression and conflict in Russia, and the type of information people receive in this area. In September and October 2007 we monitored the main Russian television channels and newspapers, as well as selected media in Dagestan, Chechnya and North Ossetia. The findings will be included in a report to be launched in March 2008.

Under the same project, in May 2007, a centre for legal defence of journalists was established in Makhachkala, the Mass Media Defence Centre of the Republic of Dagestan (MMDC-RD). Since then, MMDC-RD has provided legal consultation and representation in court to journalists and editors, taken active part in events in Dagestan on media and freedom of expression, and organised an event in Makhachkala in November 2007. This event brought together journalists, lawyers and judges through training and discussions on Russian media law and international standards of freedom of expression. This year the project will gather journalists from different republics of the North Caucasus for a similar type of training. The project is funded by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

In November 2006, ARTICLE 19 published The Forbidden Zone: Access to Environmental Information Denied in Russia, examining how the withdrawal of environmental information affects people’s well-being in Russia.

In addition, ARTICLE 19 monitors general developments affecting freedom of expression in Russia and reacts through the issuing of statements and protest letters, including recommendations for the authorities.

CENTRAL ASIA
ARTICLE 19 is developing a project to support freedom of expression in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Work will focus on building trust between public officials, journalists and the judiciary. In parallel, a lobbying and public information campaign will aim to improve current legislation, influence upcoming developments and raise public awareness of freedom of expression issues.