When a journalist or activist is persecuted, a law that threatens free speech is introduced, or threats to free expression silence public debate, IFEX and its members raise the call to action. Through creative public education campaigns, media strategies, lobbying, trial monitoring, missions, joint statements, letter-writing, social media and other effective advocacy methods, IFEX and its members work to defend and promote free expression. IFEX also rapidly responds to situations where members themselves are under threat.

Here's how IFEX provides support:

Advice and coordination
The IFEX Campaigns and Advocacy Programme assists IFEX members in developing effective advocacy strategies by providing advice as well as technical and financial support. IFEX supports and facilitates collaborative member campaigns, both urgent and longer-term, including alliances such as IFEX-ALC, and coordinates campaigning information that circulates through the IFEX network. When members set out to organise free expression campaigns, the IFEX Campaigns and Advocacy Programme is ready to assist.

International visibility
Individual IFEX-member campaigns, multi-member collaborations and IFEX-led initiatives all benefit from IFEX's ability to increase the international visibility of campaigns and generate more awareness and pressure for change. IFEX uses many tools to spotlight these efforts: our website and online publications, calls for action and social media efforts, advertising campaigns and more. By working together, IFEX assists members in leveraging and publicising their campaigns and advocacy work beyond local borders.

Sharing tools, showcasing best practices
The IFEX Campaigns and Advocacy Programme has created a comprehensive IFEX Campaigns Toolkit, providing members with the practical tools and resources they need to run a successful campaign from start to finish. IFEX also showcases the achievements of its members and IFEX's own best efforts so that others can learn from those best practices. These stories are shared in our online publications and during training sessions.

For more information on the IFEX Campaigns and Advocacy Programme, please contact campaigns (@) ifex (.) org.