News & Alerts - World Movement for Democracy

Hong Kong Sentences Umbrella Movement Democracy Activists

The World Movement strongly condemns the sentencing of nine democracy activists by a Hong Kong district court for their involvement in the 2014 peaceful pro-democracy Umbrella Movement. The individuals, called the “Umbrella Nine,” were handed sentences of up to 16 months on charges of “conspiracy to cause public nuisance” and “inciting others to commit public […]
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May 16, 2019

Call for Applications: Vaclav Havel Journalism Fellowship

RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty is accepting applications for the Vaclav Havel Journalism Fellowship until June 2, 2019. Through the fellowship, aspiring journalists from countries with repressive media environments will have the opportunity to develop journalistic skills, participate in editorial discussions and decisions, and undertake a personal project. The fellowship “also features workshops on journalistic practices and tools; discussions […]

May 16, 2019

Positive Outcome from Panama Election Process

From May 2-5, 2019, La Red Latinoamericana y del Caribe para la Democracia (REDLAD) and their partner Transparencia Electoral participated in a mission to observe Panama’s recent presidential elections. Ahead of election day on May 5, REDLAD representatives had the opportunity to meet with civil society organizations and government representatives to discuss recent electoral reforms. […]

May 16, 2019

Civil Society Leader Prevented from Leaving the Republic of the Congo

The World Movement is concerned to learn that the Executive Director of the Congolese Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH), Trésor Chardon Nzila, was prevented from leaving the Republic of the Congo—also known as Congo-Brazzaville—on May 11, 2019. Nzila was scheduled to attend a conference on good governance and justice in Nairobi, Kenya. Authorities cited concerns […]

May 16, 2019

Taking on Gender-Based Violence at Work in Indonesia

“Union women leaders in Indonesia are developing unique strategies to educate and empower working women on the rights to safe workplaces free from gender-based abuse,” says a new Solidarity Center blog post. Traditionally, women’s issues have been outweighed by economic demands within unions that represent factory workers. However, women are making their needs heard by […]

May 16, 2019

“Are Africans’ freedoms slipping away?”

Afrobarometer’s most recent pan-African survey finds that many Africans “see their individual freedoms diminishing, and many are willing to give up at least some liberties in the name of security.” The report acknowledges that support for several freedoms remains strong. For example, across the 34 surveyed countries, 62% of Africans support freedom of association. However, the […]

May 2, 2019

Participant Story: Zainab Bangura

Zainab Bangura, Chairperson of the World Movement for Democracy Steering Committee, reflects on how she became involved in the World Movement as a democracy activist in Sierra Leone and what steps civil society must take to confront upcoming challenges.

May 2, 2019

Hong Kong Sentences Umbrella Movement Democracy Activists

The World Movement strongly condemns the sentencing of nine democracy activists by a Hong Kong district court for their involvement in the 2014 peaceful pro-democracy Umbrella Movement. The individuals, called the “Umbrella Nine,” were handed sentences of up to 16 months on charges of “conspiracy to cause public nuisance” and “inciting others to commit public […]

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April 2, 2019

#SetThemFree Campaign Updates – Nicaragua

The #SetThemFree campaign highlights four new Nicaraguan political prisoners. Irlanda Jerez is a dentist who has been imprisoned for over nine months for organizing a civil disobedience campaign among shop-owners in the country’s largest market. Miguel Mora Barberena is a well-respected journalist and the director of news outlet 100% Noticias who has been detained for […]

April 2, 2019

#SetThemFree Campaign Updates – Azerbaijan

The president of Azerbaijan pardoned 51 political prisoners on March 16, 2019, ahead of the country’s New Year celebration called Noruz. Pardons are common during holiday celebrations, but generally do not include political prisoners. Several of those freed were featured in the #SetThemFree campaign, including Gozal Bayramli, Ilkin Rustamzade, Bayram Mammadov, and Giyas Ibrahimov. While […]

April 2, 2019

Indian Civil Society Remembers the Legacy of George Fernandes

On March 6, 2019, the New Delhi-based Institute of Social Sciences hosted a day-long event to celebrate the life and legacy of George Fernandes, an “impassioned voice” of India’s labor movement. The World Movement was honored to welcome him as a participant during its inaugural Assembly in New Delhi in 1999. Fernandes spent many years […]