Campaigning for Free Expression: a Handbook For
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IFEX CAMPAIGNING FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION A HANDBOOK FOR ADVOCATES INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION EXCHANGE IFEX HANDBOOK ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Acknowledgements THIS HANDBOOK WAS VERY MUCH A COLLECTIVE EFFORT. WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE TO THANK FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS. This handbook would not have been possible Carlos Eduardo Huertas and Gabriel We were very fortunate to have the without the generous support of the Royal Chávez-Tafur, Instituto de Prensa y Sociedad award-winning expertise of Soapbox Design Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway. Communications. Anthony Löwstedt and Barbara Trionfi, Several members of the IFEX community International Press Institute Thanks to Maureen James, Amanda Watson- generously contributed their time and energy Boles and Juliana Cano Nieto for providing Zoé Titus, Media Institute for Southern Africa to filling out questionnaires and answering valuable editorial feedback, and to Fitsum queries for the case studies. Our thanks to: Sara Whyatt and Cathy McCann, Writers Kassa for proofreading the handbook. in Prison Committee, International PEN Luitgard Hammerer and Sara Buchanan, Thank you to the following IFEX Clearing ARTICLE 19 Special thanks to those outside the IFEX House staff who contributed their time and community who generously shared their ideas: Nick Fillmore, Maureen James, Michaël Amanda Watson-Boles, Committee to experiences on campaigning with us: Elbaz and Marianna Tzabiras of the IFEX Protect Journalists (extra thanks to Amanda Clearing House. The editorial skills and ideas for also writing the Toolbox section on Mats Abrahamsson, Selene of our summer intern, Ned Richardson-Little, Investigative Missions) Elizabeth Bernstein, proved invaluable for the Toolbox sections. Simon Kimani Ndung’u, International Campaign to Ban Land Mines Finally, our biggest thanks to Anders Hayden Freedom of Expression Institute Sarah Bladen, WWF International for a stellar job of writing the introduction Juliana Cano Nieto, Anyle Coté, Rights and Democracy and case studies, and for his steadfast commit- Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa ment to the project. Carl Morten Iversen of Norwegian PEN Mak Yin-Ting, Hong Kong provided important research material which Journalists Association formed the basis for many of the case studies. Geoffrey Chan and Rachael Kay HANDBOOK COORDINATORS Veronika Leila Szente Goldston, We are also indebted to Amnesty International Human Rights Watch for allowing us to use material from their Campaigning Manual in many of the Toolbox sections of this handbook. IFEX HANDBOOK TELL US YOUR CAMPAIGN STORIES Tell us Your We encourage IFEX members and other Campaign Stories non-governmental organisations to tell us about any additional campaign tools or techniques that have been used successfully for free expression campaigning. As the handbook is likely to be updated in the future, we would welcome your comments and suggestions. Please write to: [email protected] PUBLISHED 2005. THE INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION EXCHANGE (IFEX) CLEARING HOUSE, C/O CANADIAN JOURNALISTS FOR FREE EXPRESSION. 489 COLLEGE STREET, SUITE 403, TORONTO, ONTARIO M6G 1A5 CANADA PERMISSION IS GRANTED FOR MATERIAL IN THIS PUBLICATION TO BE REPRODUCED OR REPUBLISHED AS LONG AS IFEX IS CITED AS A REFERENCE AND A WEBSITE LINK IS INCLUDED (WWW.IFEX.ORG). IFEX HANDBOOK TABLE OF CONTENTS USER DIRECTIONS 1 RIGHT HAND TABS click the coloured tabs on the righthand side of the page to go directly to each section. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS access each subsection by clicking on the bold headings in the table of contents. 3 RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS to be directed back to the table of contents, click on the brown tab. Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 3.3 Harnessing Legal Expertise 3.8 Lobbying PREFACE Toolbox: How Legal Expertise Toolbox: How to Lobby Effectively 91 can Strengthen a Campaign 46 INTRODUCTION AND HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK Case Studies: Case Study: ARTICLE 19 and the Freedom a) International: Human Rights Watch SECTION 1 of Information Act Campaign in Croatia 50 and the European Bank for Reconstruction DEVELOPING CAMPAIGN STRATEGY Resources 54 and Development 96 1.1 A Strategic Framework for Campaigning 9 3.4 Working With Coalitions b) National: International Press 1.2 The Power Analysis – a Tool Institute’s 2003 Mission to Israel 101 to Build Effective Campaigns 13 Toolbox: How Coalitions can Strengthen a Campaign 55 Resources 105 1.3 An Effective Campaign: Greenpeace and the “Coke Spotlight” 16 Case Study: Freedom of Expression 3.9 Press Conferences Institute and the and the Campaign against Toolbox: How to South Africa’s Anti-Terrorism Bill 58 SECTION 2 Organise a Press Conference 106 Resources 62 GOING BEYOND ALERTS Case Study: Committee to 2.1 Going Beyond Alerts: MISA and the SADC 3.5 Celebrity Support Protect Journalists’ Annual Report 111 Journalists Under Fire Campaign 19 Toolbox: How Celebrity Support Resources 114 can Strengthen a Campaign 63 SECTION 3 3.10 Letter Writing Case Study: International CAMPAIGN TOOLS AND BEST-PRACTICE CASE STUDIES Toolbox: How Letter Writing can Campaign to Ban Land Mines 67 Section 3 Index: Toolbox, Case Studies Strengthen a Campaign 115 Resources 72 and Resources 25 Case Study: International PEN and the General Gallardo Campaign 119 3.1 IFEX Joint Actions 3.6 Speaking Tours Resources 124 Toolbox: How to Initiate an IFEX Joint Action 26 Toolbox: How Speaking Tours Can Strengthen a Campaign 73 Case Study: Hong Kong Journalists Association 3.11 Other Campaigning Resources 125 and the Campaign Against Article 23 34 Case Study: Rights & Democracy and the Annual John Humphrey Award Tour 77 ABOUT IFEX 126 3.2 Cyber-Activism Resources 82 DIRECTORY OF IFEX MEMBERS 129 Toolbox: Internet Tools that PHOTO CREDITS 136 can be Used in a Campaign 37 3.7 Investigative Missions Case Study: WWF’s Panda Passport Toolbox: How to Plan an Investigative Mission 83 and the Maui’s Dolphin Campaign 40 Case Study: International Joint Mission to Resources 45 Barrancabermeja, Colombia 87 Resources 90 IFEX HANDBOOK PREFACE Preface Through the power of the Internet, IFEX’s Action Alert Network serves as a vital early warning system for the global community about free expression violations. When journalists, writers and human rights activists are jailed or harassed for doing their work, IFEX alerts mobilise rapid responses, resulting often in the releasing of individuals and the saving of lives. The alerts thus play an important role – but only after the fact. The importance of this unique handbook is that it addresses the environment in which the abuses are enabled. It introduces proven campaigning techniques that enable free expression advocates to effect change in a greater number of ways. It gives us vivid examples of how these techniques have been used to force governments to act in less repressive ways. Most importantly, we learn that by doing skillful, tactical and strategic campaigning – of the kind described in this handbook – free expression advocates can maximise their resources to become even more powerful agents of change. Rod Macdonell EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, IFEX CLEARING HOUSE IFEX 5 IFEX HANDBOOK INTRODUCTION Introduction Since IFEX’s founding in 1992, the members of the International Freedom of Expression eXchange have made great use of the Action Alerts Network to raise awareness of free expression violations around the world. The spotlight of national and international attention has, on many occasions, led to the release of jailed journalists and writers, and sent a message to violators that the world is watching their every step. While it is difficult, if not impossible, to say whose writings and opinions challenge the that there is a cause-and-effect relationship powerful – although that still occurs with between the issuing of an alert and the release alarming frequency in some countries. of a jailed individual, there is plenty of anecdot- Governments and other forces are employing al evidence that suggests alerts can make a more sophisticated methods to restrict freedom difference when used in combination with of expression. In the aftermath of 9-11, many other strategies.1 countries have passed sweeping anti-terrorism Many in the IFEX community have been laws that pressure journalists to reveal their asking how they can build on, and go beyond, sources and leave them more vulnerable to issuing alerts to have an even greater impact in arrest and prosecution. Criminal defamation defending and promoting freedom of expres- laws are being used to hinder proper scrutiny of sion. With this question in mind, the IFEX the activities of public officials, business leaders Clearing House has produced this handbook and others. Meanwhile, Internet censorship is to give members a “toolbox” of ideas, best spreading worldwide as governments find practices and resources for campaigning. new ways of limiting citizens’ expression and The need for more concerted campaigning access to information on the World Wide Web. on free expression issues is increasingly urgent And violence against journalists and other today. Threats to freedom of expression go far media workers remains an ever-present danger beyond the arrest and imprisonment of those in many places. 1 Kim Brice. An Evaluation of the International Freedom of Expression eXchange, Humanist Institute for Cooperation with Developing Countries (HIVOS), 2003. IFEX 6 IFEX HANDBOOK INTRODUCTION In this context, IFEX members need to • How to conduct a “power analysis” that • A Toolbox of tips, ideas and questions be equally, if not more, creative than the identifies the powers at play and how they to consider; perpetrators of abuses in fighting back. interact in order to deploy limited resources • A Best Practice Case Study of an IFEX While alerts remain an important first stage where they can have the greatest impact member or other organisation that has of action, they can have far more impact (Section 1.2) successfully used the campaign tool; as part of broader campaign strategies that • How a Greenpeace campaign convinced • A list of Resources for further information. use multi-pronged approaches to defending Coca-Cola to stop using ozone-destroying and promoting freedom of expression.