Understanding Misinformation: Our Society, Our Technology, Ourselves Published: 12 October 2020 Comment The internet has become the perfect breeding ground and circulatory system for all kinds of untrue or inaccurate claims, thanks in part to the sheer speed and volume of information that it accommodates. As civil society and governments focus on increasing media literacy and pressuring technology companies to change their policies, what can citizens and technology users do in the face of misinformation? By Christy Lange
On the Value of Human Rights Published: 11 September 2020 Analysis In 2020, we celebrate 75 years of the UN, the intergovernmental organization that, since its formation, aimed to maintain international peace, security, and a protection of human rights. Silke Voß-Kyeck, an expert on the United Nations and rapporteur for Forum Menschenrechte, explores the correlation between finances and human rights protection within the UN for the 75th anniversary of the organisation. By Silke Voß-Kyeck
The Zoom Boom: It Matters Which Tech Tools You Choose to Work from Home Published: 31 August 2020 Due to the pandemic and the resulting quarantine, millions of people around the world found themselves at home and in need of digital tools to continue their work and communication. Yet, how secure are the digital tools that have become a part of our everyday life? By Christy Lange
The Behavioural Surveillance Dilemma: Human Rights, Technology and the New Normal Published: 30 July 2020 Analyse "When we recover we must be better than before." This sentiment has been echoed frequently in the response to the Covid-19 crisis. It is a sign of hope and an invitation to utilise the crisis for progress. Will this be a positive leap forward or a move in the wrong direction? By Stephanie Hankey
Tackling hate speech requires the protection of freedom of expression Published: 17 December 2019 Analysis In a digitalized and increasingly polarised world, questions about how to protect freedom of expression online while curbing hate speech and online abuse, are at the centre of discussions about human rights protection. By Patricia Meléndez
Protecting those who defend our human rights Published: 10 December 2019 Background Human rights defenders advocate humanity and fight for freedom, dignity, equtiy and equality for all people. In many countries, they're being surpressed and punished for standing up for those who can't. Therefore, the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders was created. By Salma El Hosseiny
Uncalculated Risks: Threats and Attacks against Human Rights Defenders and the Role of Development Financiers Published: 31 May 2019 Compendium Through 25 case studies, Uncalculated Risks explores the nature of the threats and attacks against defenders in development, and examines the role of development finance institutions (DFIs) in mitigating or exacerbating these risks.
Sudan’s Civil Society - Aspirant Revolutionaries Once More Published: 30 April 2019 Civil society has always played a key role in Sudan’s long ongoing struggle for political reform and the National Congress Party, which has ruthlessly clung to power for nearly 30 years, is cognisant of this.
70 Years of Human Rights. Indivisible. Inalienable. Universal. Published: 9 January 2019 Introduction 70 years ago, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We work with our partners around the world towards making democracy and human rights, dignity and freedom a reality for all. The triad of Human Rights - Democracy- Ecological Sustainability is the basis for our work. By Barbara Unmüßig
The Hungarian state is refusing to carry out certain court orders regarding freedom of information requests Published: 28 December 2018 Analysis The state cannot expect regular people to respect the decisions made in courtrooms if state agencies themselves ignore them. By Dániel G. Szabó
Orban most probably used a military aircraft to spend an evening in Milan’s La Scala Published: 28 December 2018 Report The prime minister and his wife attended a show in Milan’s famous opera house, La Scala, on November 15. Coincidentally, one of the airplanes owned by the Hungarian military, which Orban had used several times before for official trips, flew to Milan on the same day. By Katalin Erdélyi
The Do-All, the Real Estate Agent and the Casino Man: three businessmen close to prime minister Orban control nearly 400 companies Published: 21 December 2018 Analysis Three influential businessmen close to Viktor Orbán have interests in almost every sector. Lőrinc Mészáros has almost doubled the number of his enterprises last year, the companies of Garancsi are soaring and Andy Vajna’s wealth grows exponentially. By Oroszi Babett
The Orban government spent billions on Hungarian football clubs in Serbia, Romania and Slovakia Published: 21 December 2018 Analysis The Hungarian government is financially supporting soccer wherever it can: new stadiums are being built across the country. Besides professional soccer, there is a huge amount of money spent on junior teams and training the new generations of soccer players as well. By Oroszi Babett
Interactive feature: follow the luxury jet and the yacht used by the Hungarian governing elite Published: 21 December 2018 Tool The watchdog NGO Atlatszo revealed in September that Viktor Orban and the political and economic elite close to the government are using a €56-million luxury jet and a €21-million yacht. It decided to build an online tool where anyone can track the yacht and the jet in real time. By Erdélyi Katalin
Data visualization: this is how the pro-government media empire owning 476 outlets was formed Published: 21 December 2018 Infographic This week 476 media outlets became parts of the new Hungarian media holding controlled by pro-government forces. The name of the mammoth is Central European Press and Media Foundation. This infographic shows you what happened! By Bátorfy Attila
Authoritarian Turn and Human Rights Crisis in the Philippines Published: 30 November 2018 Background Since winning the presidency in 2016, Rodrigo Duterte’s regime has enacted policies of fear and repression that have eroded democratic norms and endorsed violations of fundamental rights. By Joshua Makalintal
Europe Must Do More for Media and Democracy Published: 29 November 2018 Background While the European Commission is supporting restrictive measures to tackle the spread of false news online, independent and critical media are being left to survive on their own in the face of hostility. By Maryia Sadouskaya-Komlach
Orchestrated Uncertainty: Another independent media outlet in Orbán’s hands Published: 1 November 2018 The Hungarian Government has identified its new target: Index.hu, the country’s biggest independent news website, is now under the indirect control of government-friendly investors. Their journalists, in the meantime, have promised that they won’t give up without a fight. By Krisztián Simon
Criminalization of homeless people in Hungary is taken a step further Published: 26 October 2018 Analysis After first targeting refugees, the Hungarian Government has now turned its focus back to one of its old “enemies”. Just a few months before the upcoming municipal elections in spring 2019, homeless people have recently become a more intensely-targeted group than ever before. By András Jámbor
Five Things Experts Are Saying About the 2018 Midterm Elections Published: 23 October 2018 Listicle We spoke with three election experts – Dr. David Barker at American University, Dr. Danny Hayes at George Washington University, and Dr. Candice Nelson at American University – to get their perspective on what to expect in November.
