CLOSE
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
See All News
Dow Jones Foundation Renews Media Defence Grant Award
Media Defence is pleased to announce that the Dow Jones Foundation has decided to renew their support for our legal work with a further $10,000 grant. Thanks to the Dow Jones Foundation and its continued support, we can be more equipped to respond and provide legal assistance in support of press freedom around the world.…
European Court Finds Turkey Violated Cumhuriyet Journalists’ Rights to Liberty and Security, Freedom of Expression, Detained in the Crackdown Following July 2016 Coup
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has held that Turkey violated the Article 5(1)(c) and 10 rights of ten journalists working at the prominent Turkish newspaper, Cumhuriyet. The journalists were arrested and detained in the government crackdown following the July 2016 attempted coup. Media Defence intervened as a third party in the case, along…
Partners: Hanifi Baris of TOHAV on Defending Press Freedom in Turkey
Welcome to the latest instalment of our ‘Partners’ blog series. In this series, we interview some of our partners from around the world about their crucial and fascinating work in freedom of expression. This time, our Legal and Grants Officer Emmanuel Vargas spoke to lawyer Hanifi Baris of TOHAV (Toplum ve Hukuk Araştırmaları Vakfı/Foundation for…
Media Defence Awarded Grant from UNESCO
UNESCO has awarded Media Defence a grant of $35,000 as part of the Global Media Defence Fund. The Global Media Defence Fund was launched in July 2019 in order to support the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity. The plan aims to “create a free and safe…
UN Working Group Confirms Involvement of Thailand and Viet Nam in Unlawful Rendition and Detention of Vietnamese Journalist
In an Opinion published today, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (the UNWGAD) has found Thailand and Viet Nam responsible for the unlawful rendition and detention of prominent Vietnamese investigative journalist and blogger Truong Duy Nhat. Importantly, the UNWGAD recognised that Mr Nhat’s case follows a familiar pattern of incommunicado detention, prosecution under vague laws,…
Digital Rights Advocates: Interview with Rwandan lawyer Louis Gitinywa
Welcome to the Digital Rights Advocates Blog Series, where we hear from lawyers litigating digital rights in sub-Saharan Africa. Digital rights have become indispensable for people around the world to exercise and enjoy their fundamental rights. Independent media is increasingly moving online – from established newspapers and television channels to bloggers and human rights activists…