The Committee to Protect Journalists joined a global coalition of 29 civil society organizations calling on democratic governments to prioritize advocacy on behalf of journalists, human rights defenders, and political leaders who have been imprisoned for dissent.

Released on the International Day of Political Prisoners on October 30, the joint statement said democratic governments must consistently raise these cases in bilateral and multilateral forums, request specific action on prisoners’ behalf, support accountability mechanisms, and help organizations that provide legal and humanitarian assistance to them and their families.

“Political imprisonment corrodes the rule of law, silences dissent, undermines press freedom, and weakens the foundations of democracy. Authoritarian governments use it to suppress opposition, instill fear, and consolidate control,” the group said, warning that each unjust detention sent a chilling message to others who seek to speak truth to power.

Read the full statement here.