COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker

Keep Civic Space Healthy

This tracker monitors government responses to the pandemic that affect civic freedoms and human rights, focusing on emergency laws. For information about our methodology, click here.

For more information and analysis by region, click here.

112

countries with emergency declarations

62

countries with measures that affect expression

156

countries with measures that affect assembly

62

countries with measures that affect privacy

Country with entries

The COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker is a collaborative effort by the ICNL, ECNL, and our global network of partners, with generous research support from the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Fionnuala D. Ní Aoláin. This is an ongoing effort, and we welcome you to email us at adeblock@icnl.org and simona@ecnl.org to share additional resources.


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2 entries found matching the provided filters.
Japan

State of Emergency

The Prime Minister declares a "state of emergency" in Tokyo and six other major metropolitan areas, under Article 32 of the Act on Special Measures. The declaration does not impose restrictions on movement, but allows governors to request that individuals remain home and recommend to organizers that they cancel events. Violators are not subject to penalty unless they fail to comply with orders related to storing and shipping medical supplies.

In August 2021 the Prime Minister extended "state of emergency" in Tokyo and added seven other ares: Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Shizuoka, Kyoto, Hyogo and Fukuoka.

(See primary source or citation here)

Introduced 7 Apr 2020 Lifted on 3/21/21 ; reinstated on 4/25/21 until 5/11/21 ; reextended until 5/31/21 ; reextended on 5/28/21 until 6/20/21 ; reextended on 7/12/21 until 8/22/21; reextended on 08/17/2021 until 09/12/2021

Issue(s): Emergency

Type: order

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Japan

Restrictions on Access to Press Conferences

Although the state of emergency was lifted on the 25th of May 2020, the Japanese government maintained restrictions for journalists attending press conferences. The number of reporters authorized to attend the briefings has been limited to 29 (normally up to 100 are permitted). The government has also mandated an approximate limit of three questions per press club member and two per non-member, denied follow-up questions, and further requested that club members’ questions be submitted in advance.

(See primary source or citation here)

Introduced 29 May 2020

Issue(s): Press Freedom, Access to Information

Type: policy

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This is an ongoing effort, and we welcome you to email us at adeblock@icnl.org and simona@ecnl.org to share additional resources.