Call for Applications: Cross-Regional Peer Support Programme for Women Lawyers

Formulário de inscrição – Chamada para candidaturas

Formulario de solicitud – Convocatoria de solicitudes

Formulaire de demande – Appel à candidatures

One-to-One Peer Support, October 2024 to July 2025

Media Defence invites women lawyers from our network to apply for our Peer Support Programme, to develop independent peer learning and support with fellow women lawyers. This programme is specifically tailored for women lawyers with a demonstrated interest in digital rights and freedom of expression online. It will be the second iteration of our peer support initiative, and will be the first cross-regional programme, allowing lawyers from different regions to exchange their knowledge and experience on freedom of expression. Media Defence aims to provide a platform for newly trained women lawyers to build their expertise and confidence, and to receive support on various issues relevant to women lawyers. At the same time, the peer support programme will allow more experienced women lawyers to contribute to developing a strong professional network and to increase their confidence by offering guidance to their peers.

The peer support programme will be designed as a one-to-one programme – two lawyers will be matched taking into account their interests and backgrounds. Successful applicants will be matched and commit to meeting with their partner once a month online over a course of 10 months from October 2024 to July 2025. Participants will remain active members of our Media Defence network, which will provide further opportunities for engagement regionally and internationally to develop a sustainable network of women lawyers.

Disclaimer

Participants will meet independently and the peer support sessions will not be monitored or supervised by Media Defence. Media Defence endeavours to ensure that participants are matched in a way that benefits both parties. However, due to the nature of the programme Media Defence cannot be responsible for the interactions and content of the one-to-one sessions. Nevertheless, all participants will be invited to online events and check-ins offered by Media Defence during which different topics around digital rights will be discussed.

Peer Support Objectives

Media Defence provides legal support to journalists, bloggers and independent media and aims to contribute to building and promoting a strong network of lawyers. In this context, the peer support programme offers a platform to women lawyers across regions to discuss relevant topics independently and to build connections.

The objectives of this peer support programme are:

• To provide a platform for women lawyers to discuss the specific legal and personal challenges they face, such as professional development, networking and career development, as well as their experiences in litigating relevant cases;
• To build a digital rights network of women lawyers;
• To support and develop working relationships amongst women lawyers who are interested in digital rights and freedom of expression online

Media Defence will aim to contribute to building a strong network by hosting additional online events where all participants come together and have discussions as a group of women lawyers. However, Media Defence is not responsible for the content of the one-to-one sessions. We will provide participants with monthly prompts and leading questions which can be discussed.

Criteria for Eligibility

Participants will be selected having regard to the following criteria:

• The peer support programme is open to women lawyers who have previously attended one of Media Defence’s litigation surgeries;
• There is no geographical or language limitation to the programme;
• Applicants must have a demonstrated interest in and/or knowledge of freedom of expression, digital rights, internet freedom and/or related issues;
• The women lawyers can either be working in private practice or be working for or be affiliated with NGOs promoting the right to freedom of expression through litigation. Exceptionally strong applications from lawyers who have not yet undertaken freedom of expression work, but have experience litigating other human rights cases and have a strong interest in undertaking freedom of expression work will be considered as well;
• Potential for future collaboration with Media Defence; and,
• Commitment to the continued engagement with the network of digital rights lawyers in the region.

A maximum of 18 participants will be selected. Media Defence is committed to equality and diversity. Due to gender disparity in previous events and programmes, this programme is exclusively for women lawyers.

How to apply

Please complete the application form available here and submit it to training@mediadefence.org. The deadline for applications is 14th October 2024.

Shortlisted applicants will be notified soon after the closing date.

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