In a significant step towards safeguarding democracy and human rights worldwide, a coalition of democratic governments and organisations has issued the Declaration on Principles to Combat Transnational Repression. Spearheaded by Freedom House, the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Alliance of Democracies, this declaration calls for immediate and coordinated action to address the growing menace of transnational repression.
Transnational repression involves states extending their authoritarian reach across borders to harm, intimidate, and silence journalists, activists, dissidents, and diaspora communities. This phenomenon poses a serious threat to global democracy and human rights, undermining the rule of law and spreading authoritarian practices beyond national boundaries.
The Declaration of Principles is a clear call for democratic nations to acknowledge the gravity of transnational repression and to commit to combatting it through a multi-faceted approach. The signatories have outlined specific actions to increase awareness, protect vulnerable groups, and hold perpetrators accountable.
Key commitments of the Declaration
- Raising awareness and training officials: The declaration emphasises the need to educate officials at both national and subnational levels, including border enforcement, immigration, and law enforcement personnel, to recognise and respond to threats of transnational repression. This includes providing the necessary training to assist victims effectively.
- Outreach to potential targets: Coordinated efforts with civil society organisations are crucial to alerting potential targets of transnational repression. The signatories commit to informing these individuals of their rights and the processes for reporting incidents.
- Establishing reporting mechanisms: Clear procedures will be set up for the public to report attacks, threats, or harassment by foreign states or actors to relevant domestic authorities.
- Enhancing legal frameworks: The declaration calls for domestic laws to be strengthened to give officials the authority and tools required to apprehend and prosecute perpetrators of transnational repression.
- Supporting human rights activists: Ensuring that human rights activists and civil society organisations have access to international forums is a priority. This will enable them to share experiences and raise awareness about the threat of transnational repression.
- Public and private accountability: The declaration urges public and private condemnation of those responsible for transnational repression. Increasing accountability through targeted sanctions and diplomatic measures is a key component of this effort.
- Reforming INTERPOL: The declaration highlights the need for transparency and due process at INTERPOL, along with reforms to prevent the misuse of INTERPOL notices by authoritarian regimes to detain regime critics.
- Evaluating international agreements: Other countries’ practices and histories of transnational repression will be considered when forming bilateral security agreements, extradition treaties, and foreign aid decisions.
- Controlling surveillance technologies: The declaration aims to curb the development and proliferation of surveillance technologies used for digital transnational repression. This includes implementing export controls, licensing restrictions, and strong domestic regulations on such technologies.
The path forward
The Declaration on Principles to Combat Transnational Repression is a landmark initiative resulting from the collaborative efforts of the Resisting Authoritarian Pressure cohort, which was established by Freedom House, the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Alliance of Democracies during the Year of Action following the first Summit for Democracy in December 2021. This cohort underscores the critical need for democratic solidarity in the face of rising authoritarianism.
By committing to these principles, the signatories reaffirm their dedication to protecting democratic values and human rights across borders. The declaration serves as a robust framework for international cooperation, aiming to ensure that perpetrators of transnational repression face justice and that vulnerable groups receive the protection they deserve.
The global community must now translate these commitments into concrete actions. Through vigilance, cooperation, and unwavering support for democratic ideals, we can combat the insidious threat of transnational repression and uphold the principles of freedom and justice worldwide.
