lysa john.ng the pandemic as an excuse to restrict civic freedoms is really worrying. all the directions or the evidence is of governments not just enforcing temporary measures but finding ways to make the dilution of democratic systems more permanent. in a lot of countries, journalists are not being allowed to ask questions, citizens are being punished for speaking out on social media or questioning the methods of government. the attacks on civil rights defenders and journalists have increased exponentially. being a journalist now is one of the most dangerous professions in the world, as it was in previous years where we've tracked civic freedoms. and i will end with one more fact. in over 68 countries around the world this year, governments have postponed elections that were due to happen at national or subnational levels and that means we really urgently, as citizens, need more substantive ways of engaging with governments rather than just the exercise of our vote. this has to be a moment in