1. History
  2. Members
  3. In The Press
  4. Contact

History

The IPGA is a coalition of international organisations working to promote and protect freedom of expression in Azerbaijan. The coalition was founded in 2010 under the auspices of the international media partnerships organised by the Open Society Foundations and International Media Support.

Under the leadership of ARTICLE 19, the IPGA has engaged in many joint initiatives, including the following:

  • In September 2010, the IPGA undertook an international freedom of expression mission to Baku, where representatives met with local journalists, activists, victims of human rights abuse, and state officials. The mission produced the report Free Expression Under Attack: Azerbaijan’s Deteriorating Media Environment.
  • In November 2010 and March 2011, IPGA delegations travelled to Strasbourg to engage the Council of Europe (COE) Committee of Ministers on the Azerbaijani authorities’ failure to execute the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of then-imprisoned journalist Eynulla Fatullayev.
  • In April 2011, an IPGA delegation travelled to Strasbourg to raise concerns with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in light of the Azerbaijani authorities’ crackdown on a series of pro-democracy protests in the country.
  • Also in April 2011, IPGA members staged parallel demonstrations in front of the Azerbaijani embassies in London and Paris, calling for the release of then-imprisoned journalist Eynulla Fatullayev. He was released just over a month later after more than four years in prison.
  • In January 2012, an IPGA delegation travelled to Strasbourg to press for the release of those imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom of expression in light of the PACE Committee on Human Rights and Legal Affairs’ hearing on the situation of political prisoners in Azerbaijan.
  • In March 2012, the IPGA published the joint report Running Scared: Azerbaijan’s Silenced Voices, highlighting worrisome freedom of expression trends in the run-up to the Eurovision Song Contest.
  • In April 2012, an IPGA delegation travelled to Strasbourg to raise concerns with PACE regarding the alarming freedom of expression situation in Azerbaijan in the run-up to the Eurovision Song Contest.
  • In May 2012, IPGA members participated in the European Broadcasting Union’s workshop on media freedom in Azerbaijan in Geneva.