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	The Covid-19 pandemic has deepened the trend of democratic deterioration by International IDEA   Nov. 2021   More democratic governments are increasingly adopting authoritarian tactics, accentuated by the Covid-19 pandemic, while autocratic regimes are consolidating their power, says a new report from International IDEA.   The world is becoming more authoritarian as autocratic regimes become even more brazen in their repression. Many democratic governments are backsliding and are adopting authoritarian tactics by restricting free speech and weakening the rule of law, a trend exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.   These are the key findings of the “The Global State of Democracy Report 2021 - Building Resilience in a Pandemic Era”, published by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), an intergovernmental organization based in Stockholm.   The number of backsliding democracies has doubled in the past decade, now accounting for a quarter of the world’s population. This includes established democracies such as the United States, but also EU Member States such as Hungary, Poland and Slovenia. More than two-thirds of the world’s population now live in backsliding democracies or autocratic regimes.   Overall, the number of countries moving in an authoritarian direction in 2020 outnumbered those going in a democratic direction.   The world has lost at least four democracies in the last two years, either through flawed elections or military coups. The Global State of Democracy (GSoD) indices show that authoritarian regimes have increased their repression, with 2020 being the worst year on record.   The Covid-19 pandemic has deepened the trend of democratic deterioration—As of August 2021, 64 percent of countries have taken an action deemed to be disproportionate, unnecessary or illegal to curb the pandemic.   But democratic erosion is not a one-way street. Many democracies have proved resilient, including during the Covid-19 pandemic, by introducing or expanding democratic innovations and adapting their practices and institutions in record time.   “The political flaws and social fault lines revealed by the pandemic will drive more people towards populist and authoritarian leaders that seldom deliver durable solutions for the concerns of citizens”, said International IDEA Secretary-General Kevin Casas-Zamora. “If there is one key message in this Report, it is that this is the time for democracies to be bold, to innovate and revitalize themselves.”   The Report finds that many countries held credible elections in exceedingly difficult conditions created by the pandemic, often by expanding the modalities to exercise suffrage.   Nonetheless, International IDEA warns against the grave and looming threat of disinformation and baseless accusations of electoral fraud, as seen in Myanmar, Peru and the United States.   One of the key findings of this research is the remarkable strength of civic activism all over the world. Pro-democracy movements have braved repression in places such as Belarus, Eswatini, Myanmar, and Sudan, and global social movements for tackling climate change and fighting racial injustice have thrived.   More than 80 countries have experienced protests and civic action of different kinds during the pandemic despite often harsh government restrictions.   The Report recommends actions to bolster global democratic renewal by embracing more equitable and sustainable social contracts, reforming existing political institutions, and shoring up defenses against democratic backsliding and authoritarianism.   ASIA AND THE PACIFIC   The continent has suffered a wave of growing authoritarianism as crises of various kinds have affected Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Myanmar. Democratic erosion is also widespread, including in India, the Philippines and Sri Lanka with many of them suffering from rising ethnonationalism and the militarization of politics. China’s influence, coupled with its own deepening autocratization has widening impacts.   AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST   Recent declines in democracy in Africa have undermined progress made across the continent over the past three decades. The Covid-19 pandemic, though seemingly less damaging to public health than elsewhere in the world, has added pressure on governments to respond to concerns regarding governance, rights and social inequality.   While regular elections remain the norm, the democratic quality of these elections is on the decline and attempts to evade or remove presidential term limits present a risk to democracy. Moreover, the year has seen four successful military coups in Chad, Guinea-Conakry, Mali and Sudan.   The Middle East’s tainted track record on protecting civil liberties was even further strained by the pandemic, with many elections held with the sole aim of keeping existing regimes in power, such as in Algeria, Egypt and Syria.   THE AMERICAS   Half the democracies in the region have suffered democratic erosion, including notable declines in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador and the United States.   Still, most democracies have been resilient to the disruptive effects of the pandemic, with most elections going ahead and parliaments, judiciaries and media managing to exercise their functions of oversight. The Dominican Republic and Ecuador have made progress in the quality of their democracies.   EUROPE   The pandemic has placed a strain on democracy. In some countries where democratic principles were already under threat, it provided an excuse for governments to weaken democracy further.   Ongoing democratic backsliding intensified in EU Member States Hungary and Poland, while Slovenia joined them as the region’s third backsliding democracy in 2020. Europe’s non-democratic governments—Azerbaijan, Belarus, Russia and Turkey have intensified their already very repressive practices.
	Hungary: Government’s stranglehold on media poses serious risks to human rights by Irene Khan, Mary Lawlor Special Rapporteur on right to freedom of opinion and expression   Nov. 2021   Hungary’s interventions in the media sector over the past decade could create risks for human rights in the upcoming elections, the UN expert on freedom of opinion and expression said at the end of an official visit to the country.   “There can be no information monopoly in a democracy,” Khan said at the end of her week-long visit.   “By exerting influence over media regulatory bodies, providing substantial state funds to support pro-government media, facilitating the expansion and development of media that follow a pro-government editorial line, and ostracizing media outlets and journalists reporting critically on the government, the authorities have proactively reshaped the media sector and in their efforts to create “balance” have undermined media diversity, pluralism and independence.”   Khan called on the authorities to safeguard editorial freedom and access to diverse sources of information, enhance the independence of regulatory bodies and ensure that State actions, including advertising, does not distort the media market.   “In light of the upcoming parliamentary elections, I call on monitoring and oversight mechanisms to ensure equal, equitable access of election contestants to media, impartial coverage of information, news and opinion about candidates and their programmes, and freedom of the media to report freely and of electorate to seek and receive information from diverse sources.”   The UN expert also called on the OSCE/ODIHR to monitor the state of media freedom in the country in the lead up to the elections, and on European Union and EU Member States to encourage the Hungarian Government to take resolute action to uphold human rights.   “In my meetings, stakeholders have repeatedly stated that the attacks on media freedom that we see are not an isolated phenomenon but worrying signs of a broader pattern of actions through laws, policies, and practices to suppress dissenting voices, discredit civil society, and weaken human rights protection.”   Expressing serious concerns at reports of recurring campaigns of hate-speech, harassment, or stigmatisation of journalists and human rights defenders working on the rights of migrants, refugees and LGBTI, the UN expert called on the Government to promote and recognise the important contributions that these individuals make in building a more just and inclusive society.   “I am deeply troubled by the toxic environment deliberately created by political leaders to sow social divisions and hatred,” Khan said.   “I note the repeal of the controversial 2017 NGO Transparency Law, which stigmatised and undermined the work of NGOs, following a decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union. In light of another recent decision of the Court against the so-called ‘Stop Soros’ legislation, I call on the Government to review its approach and revise its policies on civil society organizations which are an essential pillar of democratic society,” Khan added.   “I have also listened to concerns of the academic community at the growing pressure on their institutional independence. Given the risks linked to the privatisation of public universities for the autonomy of the scholars, I urge the authorities to effectively protect academic freedom and respect the rights of professors and students.   “The realisation of freedom of expression requires, on the one hand, strong protection of independent institutions, whether regulatory, judiciary or academic, and on the other hand, commitment by politicians and public officials to promote human rights and nurture open and inclusive debate,” concluded Irene Khan.   During her mission, the Special Rapporteur met with State authorities, as well as civil society organisations, journalists, academics, and individuals fighting gender-based discrimination and violence.   http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/06/ensuring-media-freedom-and-safety-journalists-requires-urgent-concrete http://www.icj.org/hungary-purported-emergency-must-not-be-used-as-a-pretext-for-further-attacks-on-the-rule-of-law/ http://www.hrw.org/news/2022/09/15/european-parliament-ups-pressure-action-hungary   Nov. 2021   Greece: Guilty verdict for migrant rights defenders could mean more deaths at sea, says Mary Lawlor - Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders   A UN human rights expert urged judicial authorities in Greece against criminalising the work of migrant rescuers in the Mediterranean Sea, saying a guilty verdict in a court case against two human rights defenders whose trial opened today could translate into ‘death sentences’ for countless more migrants.   Search and rescue volunteers Sarah Mardini and Seán Binder face criminal charges related to their lifesaving humanitarian work off the Greek island of Lesvos. “If they are found guilty it could amount to criminalisation of search and rescue work,” said Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.   “A guilty verdict, which could put them in prison for 25 years, would set a dangerous precedent of making criminals of people who support the rights of migrants and refugees across Greece and the European Union,” Lawlor said. “It would lead to more deaths at sea and could see others put behind bars for human rights work.”   Ms. Mardini and Mr. Binder face trial in Greece on four charges classified as “misdemeanours”: espionage, disclosure of state secrets, unlawful use of radio frequencies and forgery. Ms. Mardini, a Syrian refugee living in Germany, is being tried in absentia because the Greek authorities have banned her from returning to the country. Mr. Binder, Irish-German, has returned to the country voluntarily to stand trial.   The two were held in pre-trial detention for 107 days in 2018 while authorities investigated the “misdemeanours” and possible felony charges: facilitation of illegal entry, money laundering and fraud. The investigation continues and the two have not been formally indicted with any felonies. If convicted on all misdemeanour and felony charges, they could face up to 25 years in prison.   Mr. Binder and Ms Mardini worked with humanitarian organisation Emergency Response Centre International on the Greek island of Lesvos in 2017 and 2018. Mr. Binder conducted civilian search and rescue operations and Ms. Mardini provided aid and translation for those who arrived safely to shore.   “The fact that authorities have spent more than three years investigating the case has been a deterrent to civil society working for migrant rights in Greece,” Lawlor said. “Other human rights defenders have told me that they are afraid to continue their work for fear of facing a similar fate.”   Lawlor also criticised the fact that the Greek court last week refused Ms. Mardini’s lawyer’s appeal to allow her to travel to Greece: “How can the trial be seen as fair if the defendant is not allowed to be present during court proceedings?”   Lawlor acknowledged that Greece has been under immense pressure since the peak of the migration crisis in 2015, exacerbated by lack of solidarity from the European Union.   “But this is no excuse for clamping down on civil society,” she said. “The Greek Government should be working with human rights defenders to manage the humanitarian crisis – not against them.”   The case against Ms. Mardini and Mr. Binder spotlights the shrinking space for civil society to stand up for migrant and refugee rights, Lawlor said.   “Some defenders have told me their work has become next to impossible because of onerous reporting requirements for their non-governmental organisations, threats and attacks against them from non-State actors, and harassment from police,” she said.   “To what have we come that we go against people who are offering solidarity? A guilty verdict for Ms. Mardini and Mr. Binder would be a dark day for Greece, and a dark day for human rights in Europe,” she said.   The trial was postponed until a later date. Ms. Lawlor is in contact with the Greek authorities on this issue. http://srdefenders.org/   http://www.ohchr.org/en/Issues/SRHRDefenders/Pages/SRHRDefendersIndex.aspx Visit the related web page
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