ARTICLE 19 is an independent international human rights organization that works throughout the world to promote and defend freedom of expression. It takes its name from Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which guarantees freedom of expression.
It was founded in 1987. Its International Council brings together prominent journalists, academics, lawyers and campaign specialists from around the world. ARTICLE 19 is headquartered in London, UK with regional and national offices in Africa, Latin America, Asia, Middle East and Eastern Europe.
ARTICLE 19 has observer status with the Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc), the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Inter-American Organization for Human Rights and the Council of Europe . ARTICLE 19 works closely with the four mandates to ensure respect for freedom of expression in the world.
ARTICLE 19 is one of the most influential organizations on issues of freedom of expression around the world. ARTICLE 19 supports the professional development of the media through a series of training and capacity building in the fields of press freedom, journalists’ rights, defamation, public service broadcasting, media pluralism and diversity in media coverage.
As part of its ‘Holistic Protection’ program ARTICLE 19 defends victims by monitoring and analyzing violations, by publishing the situation of people under attack, by organizing training sessions on security measures for the benefit of victims. journalists, human rights defenders, through legal actions for the benefit of all these people and material, psychological and medical emergency support.
ARTICLE 19 requires transparency and accountability by assessing government provisions and practices relating to access to information. Also ARTICLE 19 conducts campaigns for the proactive dissemination of information of public interest and the establishment of adequate legal frameworks to facilitate public access to information.
In 2007, ARTICLE 19 experienced regionalization, moving from a single office in London to a growing number of regional offices. This regionalization helps to better understand the local realities and context of our work to respond to opportunities and threats in a more effective and relevant way. In addition to London, the organization now has offices in Bangladesh, Burma, Brazil, Kenya, Mexico, Senegal, Tunisia and the USA and collaborates with more than 100 partners worldwide.
It is in this vein that ARTICLE 19 has set up its regional office in Senegal to respond adequately to local and regional needs in West Africa, to provide timely and relevant support, to contribute to strengthening national capacities and building or reforming institutions and policies to protect transparency and the free flow of information. The Senegal office plays a strategic role in the region and has operational autonomy.