Freedom of expression: the art of defending it and how to use it

The essential manifestation of existing is communicating. The first action of a regime on the road to dictatorship is to restrict freedom of communication, your right to exist and manifest yourself, as it were. Like any abuser, the best protection against the consequences of its harmful actions is to impose the law of silence, censorship, and instill fear of speaking out in others.

That's why the freedom to communicate is at the heart of the constitutions of all states founded on citizenship: we're not afraid of citizens' contributions to the activities of the state; on the contrary, we seek them out; the state has little or nothing to hide.

That's why we also benefit from increasing the freedom to communicate by all means: everyone benefits. But communicating does not mean spreading falsehoods and lies, destroying reputations or spreading hatred. With the right to communicate comes responsibility: the common good.

Here are the essential resources on freedom of expression

• International organizations where you can share your observations or monitor the state of freedom of expression around the world
  
  
  • Reporters Without Borders
  • IFEX International Freedom of Expression Exchange
  • International Federation of Journalists
  • World Association of News Publishers
    
    
• International organizations with sections on freedom of expression
  
  
  • Alternatives - Freedom of Expression
  • Amnesty International (in French, Spanish, English and Arabic)
  • Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese)
  • The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) - "Access to Information and Freedom of Expression".
  • Human Right Watch (in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese and Russian)
  • Institute for Propaganda Analysis
  • United for Human Rights
    
    
• National groups
  
  
  • InfoSud - Agence de Presse
  • CFJE - Journalistes canadiens pour la liberté d'expression (Canadian journalists for free expression)
    
    
• Online journals that are banned in some countries, but are quite daring. They'll be happy to pass on any information you have to share with them.
  • Le Togolais.com
  • Le Réveil tunisien

If you think we should add other freedom of expression resources, please let us know: [email protected]