Participation and association

The right to participation and association is closely linked to the right to freedom of expression:  it allows expression as part of a collective, enables organising and campaigning for change, challenging the status quo, and participation in local/national democracy and inter-governmental fora. The ability to ensure diversity and pluralism in public debates, and therefore build a successful democracy, depends on people’s ability to express themselves, but also to choose the organisations or political affiliations they demonstrate participation though.

Legislation that restricts NGOs’ access to foreign funding, requires registration or permits to engage with foreign governments or IGOs, provides for travel bans/restrictions, or sets out onerous reporting requirements designed to prevent NGOs’ operations, are among the many ways governments around the world can seek to limit these rights and therefore avoid criticism or dissent. At their most extreme, they can see the designation of CSOs or social movements as “terrorist organisations”.

Equally, intimidation of political opposition and activists, dissolution of political parties, and judicial harassment of political leaders are serious issues that threaten political expression as well as association and participation, and can deny the public their right to participate in democratic processes and public debate.

UK: Government must stop crackdown on freedom of expression
11.03.2024 8 min read

UK: Government must stop crackdown on freedom of expression

Click here to go to article
Russia: Sham presidential election amid total state capture of civic space
07.03.2024 19 min read

Russia: Sham presidential election amid total state capture of civic space

Click here to go to article
Event: Free speech implications of the ICJ South Africa v. Israel case
29.02.2024 7 min read

Event: Free speech implications of the ICJ South Africa v. Israel case

Click here to go to article
Bahrain: Formula One must investigate human rights violations
26.02.2024 14 min read

Bahrain: Formula One must investigate human rights violations

Click here to go to article
Russia: Accountability and justice for Navalny and all political dissidents
21.02.2024 4 min read

Russia: Accountability and justice for Navalny and all political dissidents

Click here to go to article
​​Senegal: Protect freedoms during democratic crisis
16.02.2024 18 min read

​​Senegal: Protect freedoms during democratic crisis

Click here to go to article
Russia:  ARTICLE 19’s ‘undesirable’ status is only about silencing Russians
15.02.2024 3 min read

Russia: ARTICLE 19’s ‘undesirable’ status is only about silencing Russians

Click here to go to article
Poland: Five priorities for restoring protection for freedom of expression
05.02.2024 15 min read

Poland: Five priorities for restoring protection for freedom of expression

Click here to go to article
Iran: The ‘state-sanctioned murder’ of protester Mohammad Ghobadlu
23.01.2024 5 min read

Iran: The ‘state-sanctioned murder’ of protester Mohammad Ghobadlu

Click here to go to article