The right to freedom of expression is enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which sets out in broad terms the human rights that each of us has. It was later protected legally by a raft of international and regional treaties. Defending freedom of expression has always been a core part of Amnesty International’s work and is vital in holding the powerful to account.

Join us in Vancouver on February 12th to discuss the critical issues surrounding freedom of expression as well as journalistic and press freedom in the context of the ongoing genocide on the population of Gaza. With at least 204 journalists and media workers having lost their lives in Palestine since October 7, 2023, the assault on press freedom underscores an atmosphere where dissent and critical voices are increasingly repressed.

As we gather to explore the silencing of journalists, we will also highlight the broader implications for freedom of speech and expression, and the way that these tactics undermine the public’s right to accessing accurate information.

The suppression of speech about Palestine has permeated various levels of society, leading to an environment where academics, students, and activists face significant repercussions for their views. Within various organizations and spaces in Canada, those who have used their voices (as students, academics, employees) to talk about the issue and to protest the international community’s inaction have also faced repression, intimidation and censorship; others have been pressured into self-censorship, with their work and activism being silenced for fear of professional consequences.

This event will provide a platform to hear experts discuss the wider ramifications for free speech in academia and civil society. As we analyze the current political and media landscape, this conversation will underscore why defending press freedom and free speech is vital for preserving democratic values and ensuring accountability.

The call for solidarity in defending freedom of expression has never been more pressing. We encourage participants to engage in this dialogue, not only to understand the challenges facing journalists and advocates of human rights, but also to explore collective strategies for promoting and protecting free expression in all its forms, to preserve our right to democratic expression.

We are proud to present the following speakers:

Dr. Colter Louwerse is an academic researcher focused on the diplomatic history of the Palestine Question. His Ph.D. dissertation under Ilan Pappe, The Struggle for Palestinian Rights: The Palestinian Campaign for Self-Determination and Statehood at the United Nations, 1967-1989, shed new evidentiary light on the relationship between Palestinian popular struggle, diplomacy, and development of proposals for “resolving” the Israeli-Palestinian conflict under international auspices.

Dr. Samir Gandesha is a prominent Canadian public intellectual and Director of the Institute for the Humanities at Simon Fraser University. He is the author and editor of numerous books, most recently Spectres of Fascism: Historical, Theoretical and International Perspectives. He writes regularly for openDemocracy, Canadian Dimension, Espace Art Actuel, Truthout, Vancouver Sun, the Globe and Mail, and Los Angeles Review of Books.

Our moderator is Jeeda Musleh, a Palestinian Canadian who grew up in Bethlehem, Palestine. She lived through the first and second intifada, working in Palestine as a music curriculum developer. This enabled her to witness how music helped elementary school kids, as well as their teachers across the West Bank, to process the never ending, never processed, trauma they experienced. Jeeda is one of the organizers of Free Palestine Tricities, and the coordinator of the Apartheid Free Communities BC Caucus. She is working on a book chronicling life under Israeli occupation.

This is a free event hosted by Amnesty International Vancouver Palestine Action Team in collaboration with Free Palestine Tri-Cities BC. Please register as spaces are limited.

Thank you to the following organizations for endorsing our event:

Independent Jewish Voices – Vancouver

Academia for Palestine

Cloverdale - Langley for Palestine

SurDelRock4Palestine

Richmond for Palestine

Free Palestine BC

Al-Awda Vancouver

Bike4Palestine

Parking Information - Please do not park at YWCA Hotel as spots are limited and reserved for room guests. There is public parking available next to the hotel. The parking rates are listed below:

https://www.vancouverparking.preciseparklink.com/sandman-hotel-vancouver-downtown

Contact the host of Silenced Voices – Freedom of expression in Canada amid the Gaza Genocide

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