“Thanks to the support, we can provide credible information to areas in Ukraine lacking electricity and internet”
Improving Capacity for Independent Media in a War Zone
Radio Era is a part of the New Voice of Ukraine media group founded in 2014, that besides a radio station includes a weekly magazine and news websites, producing content on a wide range of topics like politics, economy, tech, business, lifestyle. Since the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Radio Era has been providing access to information in areas that otherwise could not be reached due to the lack of internet connection and electricity. Particularly, they have provided information access close to the frontlines and occupied territories and regions on the border area, where Russian propaganda is more widespread and verified information is less accessible.
Radio Era’s broadcast and transmission sites are located close to the frontlines and occupied territories and often get damaged by the rocket fire and shelling. Their staff has been responsible for repairing such damage and securing uninterrupted broadcasting, thus finding themselves at risk when travelling to those sites close to places of active fighting.
The Emergency Fund therefore provided Radio Era with a grant to pay for secure transportation and accommodation costs for their staff who needed to travel to transmission sites in order to repair them and secure uninterrupted broadcasting. The support also helped them install new transmitters and purchase other technical equipment to ensure stable operation, enabling them to continue their work.
“The uninterrupted work of our transmitters near frontline areas enables us to provide credible and unbiased information to people with poor access to communications due to the lack of electricity and internet. Thanks to the support we were able to ensure that the radio technicians were able to work as quickly and efficiently as possible by providing them with transport and accommodation when they needed to make a trip to repair or carry out technical maintenance on radio transmitters.”
– Staff member at Radio Era, Ukraine
Emergency Fund Trends in Eurasia in 2023
Defending human rights is a dangerous job in several parts of the world. When a threatening situation escalates, Civil Rights Defenders’ Emergency Fund provides rapid assistance to improve the defender’s security as quickly as possible. During 2023, the fund provided support to 242 human rights defenders and members of their families in 9 different countries in Eurasia, through a total of 56 grants.
- Rising Authoritarianism: Over the past years, many Eurasian countries have become increasingly authoritarian, where regimes abuse existing legislation and introduce new repressive laws to target human rights defenders and independent voices. This has been particularly the case in the Central Asian Republics, prompting Emergency Fund support for several human rights defenders in 2023 who were either forced to flee their country or chose to resist via legal means in court. Countries like Azerbaijan saw relentless crackdowns, resulting in more human rights defenders seeking safety abroad. Activists involved in feminist and LGBTI+ movements often suffered the pain of these crackdowns, as local authorities exploit public “conservative values” to suppress civil society. The Emergency Fund provided support to many individuals and organisations affected in 2023, but these concerning trends are expected to persist and increase into 2024.
- Human Rights Defenders in Exile: Human rights defenders across Eurasia are increasingly forced into exile due to relentless repression and conflict, emphasising the need for mental and emotional well-being support and long-term sustainability. The Emergency Fund has been instrumental in providing support to these individuals, particularly providing psychosocial support so they can have the means to adapt and rebuild their lives.
- Impact of War on Human Rights Defenders: Human rights defenders in Eurasia face the impact of war on their work, notably due to ongoing conflicts like full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Azerbaijan’s military offence in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Emergency Fund has been supporting human rights defenders, particularly independent journalists and media organisations in Ukraine, with various forms of support including psychosocial support, and security improvements for those working at the frontlines.
