sara whyatt

Researcher on freedom of artistic expression & member of expert facility @UNESCO, currently working with Council of Europe, Freemuse and others

[Mary Lawlor @MaryLawlorhrds]

My mandate led or joined 30 communications regarding human rights defenders to @TC_BMCenevreDT since #Türkiye’s last UPR in 2020. In the past 5 years, numerous HRDs have been subjected to multiple violations, incl. arbitrary arrest, detention & imprisonment. (1/5)
⬇️ #UPR49

[Freemuse @Freemuse98]

In May 2024, the song, Glory to Hong Kong, which became the unofficial anthem for Hong Kong protestors, was banned. Composed at the height of protests calling for democratic reform and against police brutality – from mid-2019 up to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 – the song was written by ThomasDGX, a composer working under a pseudonym to protect their identity. A collective effort, with input from many Hong Kongers who contributed to its lyrics and melody, the song was taken up and sung by crowds of protestors, broadcast across social media and news services in Hong Kong and abroad.

This week Freemuse is celebrating the courage and determination of musicians around the world who face repression in the practice of their rights to freedom of expression and to participate in their cultural rights.

https://t.co/UNneOugai1

[sara whyatt @swhyatt]

3rd March= #Musicfreedomday. @Freemuse is celebrating the courage of musicians worldwide facing repression. Today it is focussing on the suppression of Kurdish music & dance in Türkiye. https://t.co/QAwsi1y8LV

[Freemuse @Freemuse98]

3rd March marks World Music Freedom Day. Over the next five days, Freemuse will be celebrating the courage and determination of musicians around the world who face repression in the practice of their rights to freedom of expression and to participate in their cultural rights. We shall be focussing on the suppression of Kurdish music and dance in Türkiye, the imprisonment of a lyricist in Egypt, censorship of famo music in Lesotho, attacks on cumbria musicians in Peru, and the crackdown on a dissident anthem in Hong Kong. These are just a few of the wide range of measures to which musicians are subjected across the world, from harassment to imprisonment, restrictions on performances to censorship of ‘sensitive’ lyrics and a multitude of other repressions.

Music freedom is a crucial fundamental right among the broader right to freedom of artistic expression in all its forms. Through music, diverse ideas, emotions, perspectives on political and social issues are shared. It also gives voice to marginalised people, and makes connections across political and cultural divides. Freemuse continues to push back against repression of creativity by promoting the rights of musicians and artists worldwide, and for an environment where creativity can flourish without fear of oppression or censorship.

Today, Monday 3 March, Freemuse remember the long and fraught struggle of Kurdish musicians in Türkiye. For decades, Kurdish artistic expression was systematically suppressed under a national policy that enforced a singular Turkish identity. Read more here:
https://t.co/kAMJTya2hA

[sara whyatt @swhyatt]

“Ignoring official censorship has become a collective act of protest and revolutionary action.“ #Iran Human rights activist, feminist and journalist speaks to @Freemuse98 about artistic resistance. https://t.co/7GwL7nnxiB

[sara whyatt @swhyatt]

@coe's strong stance on #Georgia Its govt must take "immediate steps to address the extreme political & social polarization that is harming [the]country... ensure the independence of law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, & all public institutions" 👇👇https://t.co/vZYbVe1Xhc

[Freemuse @Freemuse98]

Geneva, 18 December 2024. On the occasion of minorities day – the anniversary of the adoption in 1992 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities – Freemuse and its partners @UNHumanRights, @MinorityRights and the City of Geneva announce the launch of the fourth edition of the International Contest for Minority Artists (2025). The 2025 theme of the Contest is Belonging, Place and Loss.
The 2025 theme invites creative exploration by minority artists human rights defenders of the connections between minority rights, minority experiences, and questions of belonging, environmental justice and climate change, as well as wider aspects of minority attachment to place and existence, loss of community, language and culture.
Artists who identify as belonging to a national, ethnic, religious or linguistic minority are invited to submit high-quality electronic images of up to five works of art related to the 2025 theme of the Contest. Applications for the Contest should be submitted here: https://t.co/4GaAJMf63W

[PEN International @pen_int]

On Human Rights Day, we invite you to explore PEN International’s Campaigning Handbook and join us in creating a world where every writer can speak freely, without fear of censorship, persecution, or violence.
Click here to download: https://t.co/HerTq160e0

[PEN International @pen_int]

In the face of the escalating Israel’s war on Gaza, the voices of Palestinian writers have been deliberately silenced. From today we will share a collection of stories that will honour those killed in Gaza since 7 October 2023, ensuring their stories are told and remembered.

Explore the collection:https://t.co/NPDgKvEbbM

[The Art Newspaper @TheArtNewspaper]

Digital artist Mahasen Al-Khateeb, with over 100k Instagram followers, tragically killed in Gaza airstrike, sparking calls for posthumous recognition of her work

https://t.co/56jMrJla4l

[ARC – Artists at Risk Connection @AtRiskArtists]

Our partner @freemuse98 will present the exhibition “Arts, Minorities & Human Rights" on Wednesday, Nov 6! At the Centre des Arts of the International School of Geneva, the exhibition will be open to the public from 6 Nov to 18 Dec.
Register & learn more: https://t.co/hUZ9BPZW1U

[Freemuse @Freemuse98]

Egyptian cartoonist, Ashraf Omar, has spent over 100 days in pre-trial detention. Held under dubious charges of terrorism and having reportedly suffered beatings when arrested, Omar’s cartoons satirising Egyptian government policy failures are likely to be the cause of his detention. Freemuse joins 15 other cartoonists’ and rights organisations in calling for his immediate release. Read petition here: https://t.co/Dz770pIyym
Portrait of Ashraf Omar by Gianluca Costantini – Channeldraw

[sara whyatt @swhyatt]

Great speech by Michael O'Flaherty Council of Europe @CommissionerHR on the artist as "truth seeker, truth teller, guardian of hope, person of courage...preoccupied with upholding, respecting, demanding respect for human dignity". https://t.co/j5Dgfmc7uy

[lyngardner @lyngardner]

Theatre will be judged not just on what it speaks out about, but on when it remains silent https://t.co/oXNQ9zdlZN

[The Art Newspaper @TheArtNewspaper]

Despite nearly 1,400 political prisoners in Belarus, including artists, the government stages cultural events to support its autocratic leader

https://t.co/Ui7fb6CgnT

[The Art Newspaper @TheArtNewspaper]

Brazilian artist Rosana Paulino wins the inaugural Munch Award for artistic freedom, celebrated for her work on Brazil's history of racial violence

https://t.co/X2OnLwEJPa

[#WOMENSART @womensart1]

In memory of artist Khadija Saye, also known as Ya-Haddy Sisi Saye, Gambian-British photographer, and all her neighbours #Grenfell #womensart

[sara whyatt @swhyatt]

"No matter what happens, artists in Russia will steadfastly drift on a small floe, huddling closer together as the edges of the ice break away". Sasha Skochilenko: I just happened to be the winner of the ‘Hunger Games’: https://t.co/zWNieLkH2i

[Artnet @artnet]

Dissident Chinese artist Gao Zhen has been detained for sculptures dating from the 2000s that are critical of the Cultural Revolution. https://t.co/kCMh9a6hAU

[regine debatty @wmmna]

Far-right Mayor of Perpignan refused to present the City Prize to Gazan photo reporter Loay Ayyoub for his show "The tragedy of Gaza" at International Festival of Photojournalism @Visapourlimage https://t.co/5ZkASzaD6g