How can human rights be defended when a country is being torn apart by war, democracy is threatened by repression and the information space is filled with disinformation? The people best placed to answer these questions are those who encounter them every day. Cilvēktiesības.info is therefore launching a new series of articles and interviews featuring the experience and perspectives of human rights experts from Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and Armenia.

First-hand experience from human rights defenders

International crises are often presented through short news summaries. These are essential for following events, but they do not always show how political change affects human rights defenders, journalists, non-governmental organisations and society as a whole.

The main voices in the new series will be representatives of partner organisations. Young authors and reporters from Cilvēktiesības.info will interview experts from leading human rights organisations in the region, while analytical contributions prepared by the partners will explain current developments and approaches to protecting democracy, the rule of law and human dignity.

Four partner organisations, four perspectives

The series features four Baltic Human Rights Society partner organisations:

• Ukraine – the Center for Civil Liberties, a recipient of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, which documents war crimes and advocates accountability for those responsible.
• Georgia – the Foundation for the Support of Legal Education (FSLE), which promotes legal education and supports civil society activists under conditions of repression.
• Moldova – the Human Rights Embassy, which strengthens human rights protection and the rule of law as Moldova advances towards European Union membership.
• Armenia – the Europe in Law Association, which promotes democracy, the rule of law and European values.

The articles and interviews will examine the role and security of civil society in Ukraine, the work of human rights defenders and non-governmental organisations under growing pressure in Georgia, Moldova’s efforts to strengthen democracy and resilience to disinformation, and developments affecting human rights and political participation in Armenia.

Why these stories matter for Latvia

The experience of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and Armenia is not only a story about those countries. It is a reminder of how fragile democracy, human rights and media freedom can be, while also showing how these values can be defended under difficult conditions.

Developments in the partner countries offer valuable insight into issues that also matter for Latvia: resilience to disinformation, the role of independent media, civic space, trust in democratic institutions and international solidarity. Direct expert perspectives help move beyond simplified narratives and connect global developments with people’s everyday lives and informed local action.

Continuing an established discussion

Many of the themes covered by the series are already familiar to readers of Cilvēktiesības.info. The platform has published articles on international avenues for holding perpetrators of war crimes in Ukraine accountable, Ukraine’s path from candidate status to full European Union membership, disinformation during armed conflict, restrictions on freedom of expression in Russia, and the role of international courts in efforts to address the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The new series will add up-to-date analysis and first-hand experience from partner organisations.

Young people shape the conversation

Young professionals are actively involved in producing the series as authors, researchers and interviewers under the guidance of experienced editors. They research the context, prepare questions, conduct interviews with partner representatives and develop the material for audiences in Latvia.

This approach develops research, critical thinking and communication skills while connecting young people in Latvia directly with civil society representatives in countries where challenges to democracy and human rights form part of everyday reality.

Follow the new publications

The articles and interviews will be published on Cilvēktiesības.info and shared through the social media channels of Cilvēktiesības.info and BHRS. All materials will remain freely accessible after the project ends.

The series forms part of the project “Cilvēktiesības.info – Youth Civic Participation for Strengthening Global Human Rights Awareness in Latvia”, co-funded by the European Union’s DEAR programme under the “Connect for Global Change” initiative, through the “LAPAS savieno” activity administered in Latvia by the Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation (LAPAS).

This publication has been co-funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Baltic Human Rights Society and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.