Blog Post Apr 7, 2023 Like, Tweet, & Torment: Transnational Repression in the Digital Age A typical move in the dictator’s handbook is not only oppressing those within the country but silencing voices of dissent outside the country. And technology has only made it easier.
Blog Post Apr 7, 2023 Like, Tweet, & Torment: Authoritarian Troll Farms “They were attacking him basically every single day, threatening him, trying to silence him. So Jamal felt the whole country was against him – and that was hurting. He said sometimes ‘I feel like I don’t want to talk about anything, I don’t want to expose my opinion.’ “
Blog Post Apr 7, 2023 Like, Tweet, & Torment: Repression by Proxy Authoritarian regimes have been increasingly creative in developing ways to control the digital space and the flow of information. Aside from jailing people for their tweets, monitoring accounts that uncover a regime’s misdeeds, and siccing cyber trolls on dissidents, they have also discovered the convenience of using intermediaries to censor. The message is straightforward: “Help us control social media or lose your business.” It is to repress by means of a proxy.
Blog Post Apr 7, 2023 Like, Tweet, & Torment: Exposing Atrocities on Social Media Using photos and videos in criminal trials isn’t a recent phenomenon. The Nuremberg trials were the first, using images of Nazi concentration camps to bring perpetrators to justice. Today, social media has changed the game entirely.
Blog Post Apr 3, 2023 Freedom in Focus: HRF Spring Newsletter this edition of Freedom in Focus, you’ll learn more about the Human Rights Foundation (HRF)’s recent efforts and achievements.
Blog Post Mar 31, 2023 Women at the Forefront of Democracy: Mobilizing Women and Youth in Madagascar Democracy is facing a myriad of challenges across the African continent, from Nigeria’s flawed presidential election to military coups in the Sahel, from deadly crackdowns on pro-democracy movements in countries like Eswatini, Chad, and Rwanda to Russia’s efforts in the region to fan public cynicism about liberal values.
Blog Post Mar 28, 2023 Women at the Forefront of Democracy: Combatting Oppressive Laws in Saudi Arabia As authoritarianism persists throughout the Middle East and North Africa, it’s crucial to recognize the women’s rights activists who have stood up against these dictators despite severe repercussions. In Saudi Arabia, one of the region’s most repressive regimes, advocating for human rights comes with a high risk.
Blog Post Mar 24, 2023 Women at the Forefront of Democracy: Strength in Eastern Europe A mere 48 hours after the start of Vladimir Putin’s “special military operation” in Ukraine, the Feminist Anti-War Resistance (FAR) emerged in Russia. FAR has since supported citizens detained at anti-war demonstrations and published a newspaper detailing the realities of the war for people outside of activist circles.
Blog Post Mar 21, 2023 Women at the Forefront of Democracy: Promoting Freedom in Latin America Women in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua have become the face of resistance against the dictatorial regimes ruling their countries in recent years. Despite constant harassment, threats, and violence, these women have shown remarkable resilience in their pursuit of democracy, justice, and the liberation of prisoners of conscience.
Blog Post Mar 17, 2023 Women at the Forefront of Democracy: Tackling the Military Regime in Thailand In May 2014, a Thai military coup effectively put an end to democracy. Coup leader General Prayuth Chan-o-cha announced in a television broadcast at the time that “in order to run the country smoothly, [the military has] suspended the constitution of 2007, except for the chapter on the monarchy.” The country has continued toward authoritarianism.
Blog Post Feb 24, 2023 February 24, One Year Later: Putin’s Playbook On Feb. 24, the Russian army, on the orders of Vladimir Putin, began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a sovereign nation of just over 43 million people.
Blog Post Feb 24, 2023 February 24, One Year Later: Repression in Russia On Feb. 24, the Russian army, on the orders of Vladimir Putin, began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a sovereign nation of just over 43 million people.
Blog Post Feb 24, 2023 February 24, One Year Later: Hope on the Humanitarian Front On Feb. 24, the Russian army, on the orders of Vladimir Putin, began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a sovereign nation of just over 43 million people. The attack —preceded by the annexation of Crimea, an armed conflict in the Donbas region, and never-ending propaganda on Russian TV —has upended world order and undermined the international security system that has been forming since the end of World War II.
Blog Post Jan 25, 2023 Champion of Solidarity: African Democracy Defenders Standing With Ukraine Last month, thousands took to the streets of China in response to the Chinese Communist Party’s severe pandemic lockdowns. The demonstrations were not only a rallying cry for the end of the country’s rigid COVID restrictions; they were also a showcase of the people’s determination for freedom and human rights.
Blog Post Dec 21, 2022 Champion of Democracy: Combatting Authoritarianism in Latin America The Cuban and Nicaraguan regimes have engaged in some of the most ruthless repression campaigns in recent history.
Blog Post Dec 21, 2022 Champion of Freedom: The Fearless Women of Iran & Afghanistan The condition of women and girls is a significant indicator of the democratic status of a country and 2022 proved that, in many places around the globe, the diagnosis isn’t good: The systematic assault on women’s rights under authoritarian regimes was illuminated time and again, especially in the Middle East and South Asia.
Blog Post Dec 21, 2022 Champion of the Forgotten: The Overlooked Dictatorships of Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos Last month, thousands took to the streets of China in response to the Chinese Communist Party’s severe pandemic lockdowns.
Blog Post Dec 21, 2022 Champion of Courage: How Ukraine is Fighting For its Future Last month, thousands took to the streets of China in response to the Chinese Communist Party’s severe pandemic lockdowns.
Blog Post Nov 16, 2022 Enforced Disappearances: The Silenced Truths of Burma The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) explores the topic of enforced disappearances in a series of blog posts to draw much-needed attention to this forgotten crime.
Blog Post Aug 30, 2022 Enforced Disappearances: A Crime Without a Trace Today, August 30th is the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
