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September 18, 2023

Democracy ALERT: Hisham Kassem, Prominent Egyptian Publisher and Democracy Advocate Sentenced to Six Months in Jail

On September 16, 2023, an Egyptian court sentenced Hisham Kassem, a prominent publisher and democracy advocate, to six months in prison over charges that stemmed from an online spat with the former Minister of Manpower, Kamal Abu Eita, and grew to include allegations of verbal assault against police officers. According to Mr. Kassem’s lawyer Nasser […]

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September 15, 2023

Celebrating the International Day of Democracy with Democracy Champions!

This International Day of Democracy we celebrate the power of the next generation! Meet the World Movement’s Democracy Champions, Hello Gulö and Sandra Zenda. Gulö is a storyteller and environmentalist from Indonesia. In 2022, he founded Jadi PNS, a youth-led platform focused on inspiring youth through informative and educational talk shows covering a wide variety […]

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September 15, 2023

Victory for Maria Ressa, Rappler, and Press Freedom in the Philippines: Cleared of Tax Evasion Charge

On September 12, Maria Ressa, World Movement’s Steering Committee Chair and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, as well as her media outlet Rappler, were acquitted of tax evasion charges. The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) 1st Division’s ruling, put an end to a four-year and ten-month legal battle for Ressa and Rappler that started in November of […]

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September 15, 2023

Kazakhstan: Oil Workers Finally Achieve Union Registration

After a strenuous two-year ordeal, the Trade Union of Fuel and Energy Industry Workers in Kazakhstan managed to register a branch of its union in the city of Almaty on September 1. This victory for the union movement is significant as registration procedures are complex and serve to prevent the creation of free and independent […]

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September 15, 2023

Sudanese Activist Duaa Tari Recognized as one of the World’s 100 Next-Gen Leaders

Duaa Tari, executive director of ColorSudan, has been included in Time Magazine’s 2023 Time 100 Next, an annual publication featuring 100 rising leaders around the world. Duaa and ColorSudan work with socially conscious artists to organize public art installations on themes such as human rights, anti-corruption, and democratic values. In 2019, Duaa was part of […]

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September 15, 2023

What’s Next for Youth and Democracy

During the second Summit for Democracy, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) assembled a delegation of young leaders from different countries across Latin America to participate in the Summit activities that took place in San Jose, Costa Rica, on March 29-30. The activities focused on youth and the role of the younger population in democratic systems. […]

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September 1, 2023

Iran: How the “Woman, Life, Freedom” Movement Has Changed Documenting Human Rights Violations

It has been almost a year since the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement started in Iran with unprecedented nationwide demonstrations over the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the Islamic Republic’s morality police. The movement elevated the world’s interest in the situation of human rights in Iran, not only reaching governments and human rights […]

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September 1, 2023

Nicaragua: The Government Closes the Central American University (UCA)

On August 16, 2023, the Ortega-Murillo regime confiscated the assets and bank accounts of the Central American University (UCA), accusing its board of terrorism and suspending all academic activities for over 5,000 students and more than 500 faculty. The Central American University has historically been a pillar of academic freedom and freedom of expression, representing […]

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September 1, 2023

Tunisian Civil Society Urges the Government to Respect the Role of CSOs and Feminist Organizations in the Country

On August 26, 2023, the General Secretary of the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women, Ahlam Bousserwel, was detained after being accused of insulting a public servant. This is a new trend that the Tunisian regime has used to detain feminists, human rights defenders, women human rights defenders, and activists since 2021. While Ms. Brousserwell was […]

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September 1, 2023

Egypt’s Policy of Repression Against Free Expression Continues

On August 20, 2023, prominent publisher and democracy advocate, Hisham Kassem was arrested by the Egyptian authorities. Mr. Kassem was summoned to testify in a defamation case filed against him by the former Minister of Manpower, Kamal Abu Eita, accusing Mr. Kassem of insult and slander. After refusing to pay bail of 5,000 Egyptian pounds, Mr. Kassem […]

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