Governments should focus on protecting speech, not squashing it
Freedom of speech is a prerequisite for a free society, and a fundamental human right guaranteed by every major human rights treaty. Upholding this right is essential for the protection of all of our human rights.
Increasingly, we are seeing not only the failure to protect free speech, but also the introduction of measures by the state to actively silence and sanction free expression. State-driven censorship fuels cancel culture and a climate of fear. Once the state starts censoring “unpopular” speech, there is no logical stopping point.
Without free speech, every human right is imperiled
While laws that punish speech often impose different punishments and occur in different contexts, the foundation is often very similar. For example, blasphemy laws and “hate speech” laws are both state-driven censorship grounded in the idea that some words are simply too offensive to be heard.
In a free society, ideas should be challenged with ideas, not censorship.
Who is being censored around the world today?
These are our clients, prosecuted under different laws in different countries for peacefully sharing their views. We are defending their — and your — right to speak freely.
A Finnish parliamentarian investigated for quoting the Bible. A Brazilian student facing up to 10 years in prison for a social media post. A Nigerian woman sentenced to death for a private message. An Australian activist arrested for wearing a sign. A British charity volunteer charged for standing silently in prayer.
ADF International’s response
As international human rights advocates with deep expertise in defending the right to free speech, ADF International is uniquely positioned to address the escalating censorship crisis worldwide. Our work focuses on the international institutions — including the European Court of Human Rights and the Organization of American States — which were set up to ensure states respect their human rights commitments.
We also champion our clients’ rights in national courts and defend fundamental freedoms before law-making bodies, securing precedent-setting victories that benefit everyone.
Will you stand with them and free speech?
We receive no public funding and never charge our clients for legal support. Everything we receive comes from the generosity of people like you. Your gift helps defend free speech around the world — protecting the rights of those who dare to speak truth.
