Civic space is the underpinning for open government, allowing people to - among other things - speak freely and advocate for change without fear of government reprisal or violence. Yet, it is eroding globally. According to CIVICUS–a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening civil society–only 3.1 percent of the world’s population now live in countries with open civic space.

Investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova has spent her career shedding light on corrupt practices in her home country of Azerbaijan. In this episode, Khadija shares how her reporting on government corruption led to blackmail, intrusive surveillance, and unjust imprisonment. We also learn about what we can do to create a space for journalists to hold power to account without fear of retaliation.

--

For any questions, please email communications@opengovpartnership.org

Twitter: @opengovpartFacebook: @opengovernmentpartnershipLinkedIn: @opengovernmentpartnershipInstagram: @opengovpartnership