Wednesday 18 December 2024 - 5:30PM - London - Free
OPEN 19 is a platform event hosted by the freedom of expression organisation, ARTICLE 19 with the support of many partners friends. Following a pandemic which disrupted so many of the connections we once enjoyed, OPEN 19 is is an informal space where those of us who work on human rights and freedom of expression issues meet and engage with each other.
OPEN 19 events are centred on current affairs and issues of freedom of expression. Each event includes an open mic session for participants who want to introduce an issue or idea in the form of a 3-minute pitch to the audience. The pitch might include a short reading, a point of view on a new policy, or a new way of looking at AI and disinformation.
Following the Open mic session is an in-depth conversation with experts on a pre-announced theme, each of whom are invited to share their perspectives on questions posed by the session lead.
WHAT MUST WE DO TO REVERSE DECLINES IN FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN THE UK?
Where: The Coin Laundry, 70 Exmouth Market, London, EC1R 4QP
When: 27th June 2024
Tickets: Free entry (and inaugural complimentary bar provided)
Doors open: 17.30
Event start: 18.15 followed by Open Mic session (max 15 mins)
OPEN 19 conversation with guest speakers: 18.30-20.00
For our inaugural OPEN 19 event we are in conversation with UK experts on freedom of expression at a pivotal time for the country. With the UK election just a few days away, and the UK’s leadership in human rights in reverse, we ask “What must the new government do to reverse the downward trend in freedom of expression?”
The UK has fallen in ARTICLE 19’s global rankings for freedom of expression over the last decade. We have seen declines in indicators measuring academic freedom, government transparency, and the right to protest among many other areas. A combination of scandals, problematic legislation and dog-whistle politics have created a febrile atmosphere for freedom of expression on and off-line, on our streets and within our academic institutions.
What has to be done to reverse these trends and what do you want to see change?
Join us for an informed and engaging conversation in a space where your voice matters. Guests include Mark Johnson from Big Brother Watch, Daniel Gorman from English PEN, and Sara Alsherif from Open Rights Group.
Due to limited capacity, booking is essential
Speakers
Mark Johnson, Advocacy Manager at Big Brother Watch, has long been an advocate for civil liberties and democracy and has worked in parliament, party politics, and public affairs. Mark was previously a Parliamentary Assistant where he worked on domestic and international human rights issues including opposition to the death penalty and freedom of religion.
Daniel Gorman is the Director of English PEN and former Executive Director of Shubbak, Europe’s largest festival of contemporary Arab culture. Daniel is also a co-founder of Highlight Arts, who hashave organised UK-based international arts festivals and events since 2007 including projects working with writers in Pakistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria. Daniel is a National Arts Strategies ‘CEO Community and Culture’ 2015 fellow and a British Council Cultural Leadership International fellow.
Sara Alsherif is the Migrant Digital Justice Programme Manager at Open Rights Group, a human/ rights defender and researcher in digital rights. Her academic research covers critical analysis of how data harvesting in social media, the impact of women’s representation in technology on code bias, machine learning and recognition technology, and their human rights implications. In 2021, Sara launched a podcast in Arabic called Talk-Nology, which talks about technology, human rights and the effects of new technology on people’s rights. She has been involved in several studies and work with UNESCO, New America Foundation, Media Diversity Institute, Association for Progressive Communication (APC), Global voices, and in Egypt with Massar for technology and Law and Motoon. Sara is involved in many human rights and charitable local groups and movements in Brighton, like Amnesty and Thousand for thousand.