Application Deadline: July 31st, 2026
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, we may close the call early if we receive a high volume of applications.
Date: October 2nd – 4th, 2026
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Sub-Saharan Africa Litigation Surgery
Media Defence, The Kennedy Human Rights Center, and Vuka invite applications from lawyers who work and live in Sub-Saharan Africa to participate in an upcoming litigation surgery, a workshop focused on advancing the protection of human rights through strategic litigation. The program will explore key issues relating to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association, and the protection of human rights defenders.
Participants will learn from specialists, strengthen their understanding of relevant legal frameworks and strategic litigation approaches, and take part in practical sessions where they present and discuss cases they are working on with peers and specialists. The litigation surgery will focus on developing effective litigation strategies, strengthening case preparation, and exploring the use of national, regional, and international mechanisms to address violations of these rights.
The litigation surgery will:
- Equip participants with the skills and knowledge to pursue strategic litigation using national and international legal frameworks and relevant human rights mechanisms.
- Strengthen participants’ capacity to respond to threats affecting freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association, and human rights defenders.
- Foster a network of lawyers working on related human rights cases and facilitate engagement with regional and international legal mechanisms and civil society initiatives.
- Support collaboration and the exchange of experiences among lawyers undertaking strategic litigation across the region.
- Provide a platform for sharing practical litigation strategies, receiving peer feedback, and developing approaches to complex legal challenges.
The litigation surgery will take place in-person, from October 2nd – 4th, 2026, in Nairobi, Kenya. This will feature expert-led sessions, case-based discussions, and peer learning activities. A maximum of 15 participants will be selected.
For successful applicants, Media Defence will provide:
- Return travel from your home country to Nairobi, Kenya.
- Accommodation for the day before and the duration of the litigation surgery.
- Expenses for travel to and from the airport in your home country and Nairobi, Kenya.
- Reimbursement for visa costs (please note that participants will be responsible for arranging and covering any visa requirements necessary for their participation).
- A per diem, the rate is to be determined, for travel days as well as the duration of the litigation surgery and conference.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants should:
- Be qualified lawyers who currently work and reside in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Demonstrate working proficiency in the English language.
- Be in private practice or affiliated with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that promotes human rights through litigation in the region, including but not limited to freedom of expression, freedom of association and assembly, and other human rights.
- Demonstrate experience, interest in, or knowledge of freedom of expression, freedom of association and assembly, digital rights, internet freedom, or related areas.
- Demonstrate knowledge of, or experience engaging with, international and regional human rights law.
- Submit a case study as part of the application involving a violation of freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association, the rights of human rights defenders, or related human rights issues. The case may be one that you are currently litigating or intend to litigate. Applicants without a pending case may instead identify a relevant law, practice, or policy they wish to challenge through litigation, but must demonstrate both the ability and willingness to pursue the matter following the litigation surgery.
- Strong applications from lawyers without prior experience in other human rights issues and a demonstrated commitment to working in this area, will also be considered.
- The following is a non-exhaustive list of potential case topics that may be submitted as part of the application:
- Defamation (criminal or civil)
- Violence against journalists, including physical attacks and online violence
- Restrictions on online or print media
- Online privacy and digital rights
- Spyware and unlawful surveillance
- National security measures affecting freedom of expression
- Restrictions on freedom of assembly and association
- Legal and regulatory measures affecting human rights defenders
We are committed to fostering equality, diversity and inclusion. Geographic and other relevant factors may be considered alongside merit-based criteria to ensure a diverse and representative cohort.
If you need support or have any accessibility requirements to complete your application, please contact us using the details below. For general inquiries, please refer to the FAQs section. If your question isn’t addressed there, feel free to get in touch directly.
How to apply
Please complete the online application or send the completed application form to training@mediadefence.org.
The deadline for applications is July 31st, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and we may close the call early if we receive a high volume of submissions.
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted shortly after the deadline.
Please note details are subject to change. For information on how Media Defence collects, uses, and protects your personal data, please refer to our privacy policy.
About Media Defence
Media Defence is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to defending and advancing freedom of expression. Through our global emergency legal assistance grant programme, we support journalists, bloggers, citizen journalists, and independent media outlets facing legal threats, harassment, or persecution. We also pursue strategic litigation to reinforce media freedom and seek justice in cases of rights violations. In addition, we run capacity building initiatives and litigation surgeries for legal practitioners, journalists, and civil society actors to promote collaboration, peer learning, and the exchange of practical skills and knowledge.
FAQs
A litigation surgery is a focused seminar where participants can learn from experts as well as participate in practical sessions to present and discuss a case they are working on to peers and experts. Sessions cover problem identification, legal framing, formulation of human rights arguments, and potential remedies. Surgeries also provide insight into strategic litigation and procedures before international human rights bodies.
Only practicing lawyers are eligible to apply. In rare cases, individuals who are not in practice or other individuals providing legal support to civil society organisations that work on the right to freedom of expression may be considered.
Only practicing lawyers are eligible to apply. In rare cases, individuals who are not in practice or other individuals providing legal support to civil society organisations that work on the right to freedom of expression may be considered.
Litigation surgeries are intended to be a space to equip lawyers with technical legal expertise on the relevant thematic issues. During these sessions, we also aim to facilitate network building, peer learning and the building of capacity to deliver litigation work on freedom of expression.
This call for is for lawyers practicing and residing in Sub-Saharan Africa, including the below listed countries. Legal advisors based in the global north who provide assistance to lawyers working in domestic courts are not eligible to apply; their local partners should apply.
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cabo Verde
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic (the)
- Chad
- Comoros (the)
- Congo (the)
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Democratic Republic of the Congo (the)
- Djibouti
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Gambia (the)
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mayotte
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger (the)
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sudan (the)
- Togo
- United Republic of Tanzania (the)
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Media Defence will cover:
- Return travel from your home country to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, or Nairobi, Kenya.
- Accommodation for the day before and the duration of the litigation surgery.
- Expenses for travel to and from the airport in your home country and Nairobi, Kenya.
- Reimbursement for visa costs (please note that participants will be responsible for arranging and covering any visa requirements necessary for their participation).
- A per diem, the rate is to be determined, for travel days as well as the duration of the litigation surgery and conference.
We are committed to ensuring an inclusive experience and will request details of any requirements with participants once selected. Please contact training@mediadefence.org with any questions related to access needs for the application.
Please contact training@mediadefence.org, Media Defence can provide a secure channel for communication to discuss any questions or concerns.
Yes. As part of our capacity-building efforts, Media Defence supports and facilitates networks of lawyers engaged in defending freedom of expression. By attending the litigation surgery, participants will have the opportunity to join and become part of the Media Defence Alumni community. We host a range of in-person and online events throughout the year and regularly engage members of our network in various initiatives.
During the surgery, Media Defence’s legal team will discuss how we can support participants’ cases and provide tailored follow-up. We will also explore opportunities for further collaboration, including ad hoc legal assistance or formal partnerships on freedom of expression cases. As a non-governmental organisation dedicated to defending journalists, bloggers, and independent media globally, Media Defence is committed to ongoing engagement with participants and their work. Further information will be shared during the litigation surgery.
