“On 16th of November, we will be silent. Will You?”

On 16th of November, the world will be temporarily silent. Why? For reasons of solidarity and protest. Solidarity with those whose voices are silenced. Protest against the decrease in possibilities to make your voice heard (either as an active citizen or organization), to assemble or to demonstrate peacefully. How? Worldwide, web sites of civic movements and NGOs ‘go black’. In this way, we are silent. This initiative is part of the worldwide SPEAK! Campaign. This campaign asks attention for the shrinking space of civil society organizations and for the importance of freedom of speech.

Do you also want to let your voice be heard?

Be quiet on 16th of November!

Activists, journalists, bloggers, civic movements and NGOs thus make it clear the present situation needs to stop! We need an end to increasing lawlessness, threats, and murders on people who stand up for their civic rights, those who let their voices be heard.

Call on your partner organizations to participate too You could do this by actively asking them to participate on 16th of November. The quieter we are, the louder our protest will be. In addition, our ministry of Foreign Affairs has called upon the Dutch embassies to also contribute to the international SPEAK!-campaign, amongst others by facilitating dialogue. International partner of Dutch NGOs who would like to do something can approach the Dutch embassies (more information at the end of this mail).

After the silence, we speak out

The SPEAK!-campaign is from Friday 16th of November till Sunday 18th of November. On Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th of November, events will be organized all around the world. We then consider the fact that we can make our voices be heard.

Why now?

Over the past years, freedoms are being limited. In more than half of all countries worldwide, laws have been introduced that limit freedom of speech and the right to organize peaceful demonstrations. Activists and organizations are blackened, intimidated and increasingly often confronted with violence. In 2017, 312 defenders of human rights were murdered, simply because they let their voices be heard. In 2016 the number was 281. These are the official numbers, at least. The voices of these people were literally silenced. What seems self-evident to many of us, is more without reach than ever for many activists, journalists and judges worldwide.”