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What We Do
Emergency Defence
We fund legal defence for journalists and independent media across the world.
Strategic Litigation
We take on strategic cases to promote and improve media freedom.
Capacity Building
We build local legal capacity to defend journalists through legal training and by funding local legal centres to defend journalists.
What’s new
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Protecting Democracy Without Silencing Dissent: Media Defence submits written observations to the IACHR
On June 23, Media Defence submitted its written observations to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in response to the request for an advisory opinion presented by the Republic of Guatemala on “Democracy and its Protection under the Inter-American System of Human Rights.” Media Defence addressed the essential role of freedom of expression in the…
“Good information saves lives”: Lawyer & Journalist Nadine Kampire on Combatting Disinformation in the DRC
In the latest instalment of our Press Freedom Advocates Series - which highlights the stories of lawyers defending journalists worldwide - we speak to Nadine Kampire, a Congolese journalist and lawyer. Alongside her colleagues, Nadine co-founded Afia Amani Grands-Lacs, a media network focused on fact-checking and tackling disinformation and misinformation across the Great Lakes region.…
‘The Real Danger is if we Let Fear Win’: Hungary’s Pride Ban and the Shrinking Space for Dissent
Update: This article was written prior to the Pride march on 28 June. The event marked a historic moment, becoming the largest Budapest Pride march to date, with over 200,000 people in attendance. We’ll be following up with Hegyi soon to reflect on the aftermath and explore whether the legal strategies discussed may evolve in…
Media Defence files submissions at ECtHR in hate speech case against France
Media Defence has filed a third party intervention at the ECtHR in the case of Kabtane v France. The applicant in this case alleges a violation of his article 8 Convention rights because the author of the social media post containing alleged hate speech escaped a criminal conviction. Media Defence’s written comments address concerns about…
Webinar: (Mis)use of Data Protection Laws to Suppress Public-Interest Journalism
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT9UIGr3dks&list=PLQLf3XioEGCJDBLwI8uUkNaMpDmidp9Np[/embed] On 30 June 2025, Media Defence and the International Press Institute (IPI) co-hosted a webinar exploring the growing misuse of data protection laws to silence critical journalism. The event brought together legal experts and investigative journalists to examine how privacy legislation – originally designed to safeguard individual rights – is increasingly being deployed in…
Strategic Support for Legal Defenders of Press Freedom
Working with lawyers Part of Media Defence’s mission is to provide support to lawyers who represent journalists. We do this by providing knowledge exchange opportunities, such as litigation surgeries and in-depth exploration of specific legal issues. We also support lawyers with their cases. This can range from advising on case strategy to helping develop legal…