The World Movement for Democracy and international community welcome the release of Evan Mawarire, a Zimbabwean evangelical pastor turned activist who created the popular #ThisFlag Movement. On July 6, 2016, Mawarire called for a “stay-away day,” urging Zimbabweans to stay home from work to protest against the chronic delays in paying civil servants, cash shortage,…
On July 1, 2016, the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) passed the HRC32 Resolution, reaffirming the right to freedom of expression online and condemning any government action to block or disrupt internet access. The passage is a major win for civil society despite authoritarian regimes’ efforts to introduce amendments to the resolution which would…
Zimbabwe’s Institute for Young Women Development (IYWD) released a statement in response to the recent violent clashes between protestors and Zimbabwean authorities. The protests were triggered by the deteriorating economic conditions in the country and turned violent as riot police and military were deployed in response. The subsequent increase of heavily armed police and military…
The World Movement For Democracy (WMD) is pleased to be celebrating the release of an Azeri investigative journalist, Khadija Ismayilova, and prominent Bahraini activist, Zainab Al-Khawaja. Ismayilova served as head of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Azerbaijan service and published extremely detailed accounts of rampant corruption by President Aliyev and his family, making her a target…