Human Rights Watch is pleased to invite you to a virtual news conference at 11:00 a.m. CET on Thursday, February 11, 2021 for the launch of its new global report, “Covid-19 Triggers Wave of Free Speech Abuse.”

Joining us are ARTICLE 19 and the Committee to Protect Journalists.

In more than 90 countries around the world, governments have used Covid-19 as justification to clamp down on free speech and peaceful assembly by journalists, activists, health workers, political opponents, and others who have criticized their responses to the Covid-19 crisis. The authorities have also used Covid-19 as an excuse to stifle dissent unrelated to the pandemic. Violations include killings and other violence, arbitrary detention and prosecution, media shutdowns, and enacting vague laws criminalizing speech.

On February 11, Human Rights Watch will release a report documenting these violations, with a multimedia feature that tracks incidents by country or theme. The report calls on countries to halt these abuses. It urges the UN Human Rights Council to increase monitoring of national responses to Covid-19.

Joining Human Rights Watch at a news conference to share our findings will be ARTICLE 19 and the Committee to Protect Journalists, which will highlight their own extensive documentation of free speech violations in the name of Covid-19.

What:
Launch of Human Rights Watch global report “Covid-19 Triggers Wave of Free Speech Abuse.”

Who:
Gerry Simpson, Associate Crisis and Conflict Director, Human Rights Watch
Matthew Bugher, Head of Asia Programme, ARTICLE 19
Tom Gibson, EU Representative and Advocacy Manager, Committee to Project Journalists

When:
Thursday, February 11, 2021, 11:00 a.m. CET

Please register at:
https://hrworg.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HqBEiClyRG6og6lJPNqy_w