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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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Interview with Brazilian journalist & LGBTQ+ activist Jean Wyllys
Jean Wyllys is a Brazilian journalist who writes for Counter Punch, amongst other prominent newspapers and magazines. He is also a researcher at Open Soctiety Foundations and an LGBTQ+ activist. His research focuses on disinformation and the rise of authoritarian governments. Wyllys was forced into exile after receiving homophobic hate speech and death threats whilst…
Entrevista com o jornalista brasileiro e ativista LGBTQ+ Jean Wyllys
Jean Wyllys é um jornalista brasileiro que escreve para Counter Punch, entre outros jornais e revistas de destaque. É também investigador na Open Soctiety Foundations e ativista LGBTQ+. A sua pesquisa se concentra na desinformação e ascensão de governos autoritários. Wyllys foi forçado ao exílio após receber mensagens com discurso de ódio homofóbico e ameaças…
Media Defence partners with four media defence centres in sub-Saharan Africa
As part of Media Defence’s latest project Empowering Women in Digital Rights Advocacy, we aim to contribute to building a strong legal defence network in the region. To achieve this goal, we provide financial assistance to organisations to establish legal aid units or media defence centres. For that reason, we are particularly excited to announce…
Public statement in support of Azeri human rights lawyer Elchin Sadykov
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and Media Defence are concerned with the recent criminal procedure initiated against Azeri human rights lawyer Elchin Sadykov and his client, journalist Avaz Zeynalli. Mr Sadykov is a well-known human rights lawyer, who has represented journalists, activists and politicians over many years. On Saturday night, his home…
Freedom of expression in Turkey: Government control, social media blocking, and the persecution of Kurdish journalists
Welcome to the latest instalment of our Partners blog series. In this series, we interview our partners from around the world about their critical work in protecting freedom of expression. This time our communications assistant Julie Reintjes spoke to Veysel Ok, a prominent Kurdish lawyer specialising in free speech and press freedom. In 2018, Veysel Ok…
Call for Applications: Peer Support Programme for Women Lawyers in sub-Saharan Africa
One-to-One Peer Support, October 2022 to October 2023 Media Defence is calling for applications from women lawyers based in sub-Saharan Africa to participate in a peer support programme, which is aimed at women lawyers with demonstrated interest in digital rights, as well as in independent peer learning and peer support with fellow women lawyers. The…