Media Defence launches its 2016 annual report

2016 saw a sharp decline in press freedom around the world – so MLDI stepped up its work to defend journalists, bloggers and independent media.

Over the year, MLDI provided emergency defence to journalists in need, supported local organisations across the world to defend media freedom, engaged in strategic litigation and trained lawyers on freedom of expression. Download our 2016 report here to learn more about the 196 cases we supported, the 10 partners we funded and the 33 strategic cases we worked on.

MLDI launched their 2016 annual report on Wednesday 28 June in London, joined by friends and supporters, and featuring a panel of distinguished media freedom defenders from around the world and was chaired by CEO of MLDI, Lucy Freeman. The panellists were:

• Premesh Chandry, co-founder and CEO of Malaysiakini.com, an online media outlet which MLDI has supported with a number of cases launched against them. Premesh was named Malaysia’s Media Personality of the Year in 2012, and was a TED Fellow in 2010
• Emmanuel Vargas, Master student at the University of Amsterdam and Lawyer specialising in journalism in Colombia. He works at the Foundation for Press Freedom in Colombia (FLIP), one of MLDI’s partner organisations
• Andrew Finkel, an eminent journalist based in Turkey since 1989 and founder of Platform 24, a Turkish-registered NGO (2013) established to strengthen the integrity of independent media in Turkey.
• Padraig Hughes, Legal Director at MLDI. Padraig leads MLDI’s legal strategies and day-to-day legal defence work, working closely with MLDI partners and lawyers across the world.

MLDI would like to thank the panellists for their inspiring and enlightening contributions, the guests for their continued support and all those who contributed to making the event a success. In addition MLDI would like to thank WeWork Southbank for letting us use their wonderful venue, Café Route for providing such delicious food and Discount Sticker Printing for their branded stickers and bags!

MLDI’s works is made possible by our supporters. If you would like to support MLDI in 2017 and beyond, please donate through our virgin money giving page here.