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Last week Baku hosted the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) – a global UN-initiated forum debating the future of internet freedom. At the time there were nine journalists and three human rights defenders held in jail in Azerbaijan. Five of these cases are linked to online criticism of authorities.

Index on Censorship and ARTICLE 19 are concerned about recent attacks on freedom of expression in Greece, where, at the time of the economic crisis, the authorities are attempting to limit criticism of the government. It is not an appropriate response for a democratic European government to limit press freedom in order to protect political power, the NGOs say.

Index on Censorship, Committee to Protect Journalists and ARTICLE 19 joined more than 40 international media organisations demanding urgent action by governments, the United Nations and industry to stop violence against journalists and end impunity in attacks on the press.

To mark the 40th birthday, Index on Censorship is partnering with Poet in the City for a special celebration of Index’s remarkable literary heritage and the continuing role of poetry in free expression.

In December 2012 the World Conference on International Communications will be taking place in Dubai with a view to reconsider the International Telecommunications Regulations (ITRs) for the first time since 1988 under the aegis of the International Telecommunications Union. One of the key questions that will be examined at the Conference is whether or not the Internet should fall within the scope of the ITRs.

Last week sixty international NGOs have published an open letter to Prime Minister David Cameron urging him to deliver on promises and to take action to change the libel law. The Libel Reform Campaign is calling on the House of Lords to make substantive amendments to the bill, in particular a new public interest defence and amendments to the “responsible journalism” defence.

ARTICLE 19 and Index on Censorship are concerned about the arrest of Zaur Gurbanli, an activist with the N!DA Civic Movement and the Positive Change Youth Movement.

On Monday 8th October at The British Library the PEN Pinter Prize will be awarded to Carol Ann Duffy with introductions from Gillian Slovo and Melvin Bragg.

Join the Small Media Initiative for its second conference, Rethinking Small Media on 6-7 October.