Protection Order Against South African Journalist Thomo Nkgadima Set Aside: The Campaign for Free Expression Warns of Rising Misuse of Harassment Laws
Media Defence and the Campaign for Free Expression (CFE), welcome the decision of the Praktiseer Magistrates’ Court in Limpopo to set aside the protection order previously granted against freelance journalist Thomo Nkgadima. The ruling affirms that South Africa’s Protection from Harassment Act cannot be weaponised to obstruct legitimate newsgathering, nor used as a tool by […]
Press Freedom Advocates: Tornavoz’s Charlene Nagae on Journalism, Lawsuits and Solidarity in Brazil
In this edition of Press Freedom Advocates, Media Defence’s Communications Officer, Anoushka Schellekens, speaks with Charlene Miwa Nagae, Co-founder of Tornavoz, about the landscape, the threats, and how legal support and strategic litigation are key to ensuring this promising new wave of journalism can endure.
‘The Real Danger is if we Let Fear Win’: Hungary’s Pride Ban and the Shrinking Space for Dissent
Update: The article below the line was written before the Pride march on 28 June. The first few paragraphs have been added as an update following the march. In March this year, the Hungarian government rubber-stamped a law effectively outlawing the organising and attendance of assemblies with LGBTQAI+-focus – including the annual Pride March in […]
Stronger Together: Working with Funded Partners in 2024
Established in 2009 our Funded Partner programme supports local legal centres worldwide that focus on the defence of journalists. We believe building partnerships with national media defence centres is vital. These partnerships facilitate culturally sensitive and sustainable protection for journalists facing legal threats. Our Partners in 2024 In Europe, we supported organisations working on pressing […]
Colombia’s Constitutional Court overturns the blocking by a government agency against a journalist on X
This article was kindly written for Media Defence by Laura Urrego, Project Coordinator at El Veinte. On 16 August 2023, journalist José Manuel Vega de la Cruz noticed that he had been blocked by the X account (formerly Twitter) of the Governor’s office of Cesar’s region in Colombia. Questioned by the Foundation for Press Freedom […]
Over 7,000 Threats to Journalists in Less than Two Decades: Focus on Italy with Ossigeno per l’Informazione
We recently interviewed our longstanding partner, Ossigeno per l’Informazione (Ossigeno) to discuss the current situation for press freedom in Italy. As the only organisation in the country consistently monitoring threats and intimidation against journalists and civil rights defenders, Ossigeno plays a pivotal role in addressing the systemic challenges that hinder free expression. Through detailed documentation, […]
Yet another tool of repression: Turkey’s looming “foreign agent” law targets civil society and free expression
Article written by Veysel Ok, leading lawyer for freedom of speech and media and co-Director of our partner MLSA. Veysel is currently a fellow at Media Defence. In a move poised to reshape Turkey’s civic landscape, the parliament’s justice committee has approved a draft law that intensifies penalties for those suspected of “espionage” or operating […]
Year in Review: Our Partnership with Digital Rights Nepal
Media Defence funds partner organisations as part of our global efforts to strengthen legal protection of journalists. This aims to enable them to build their capacity to defend freedom of expression and legal representation for lawyers in their country. To date, Media Defence has 21 partners around the world. We know a partnership is about […]
Judicial Harassment In Latin America: The Phenomenon Of Silencing Without Killing
This article was kindly written for us by our partner Propuesta Cívica, in Mexico. Leer en español “I sued the journalist, but I didn’t kill them…” – Marta Ruiz To live in or be familiar with Latin America is to be aware of political and social realities that challenge the exercise of rights against institutional […]
Acoso judicial o el fenómeno de silenciar sin matar
This article is written by our partner Propuesta Cívica based in Mexico. Read the article in English “Demandé al periodista, pero no lo maté…” – Marta Ruiz Vivir o habitar en América Latina es, entre otras cosas, tener conocimiento de realidades políticas y sociales que desafían el ejercicio de derechos frente a poderes institucionalizados o […]
From Consensus to Censorship: How Wartime Measures in Ukraine Are Eroding Press Freedom
As we near 30 months since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, we spoke with our Ukrainian partner, Human Rights Platform (HRP). Media lawyer, Oleksandra Stepanova, discussed growing concerns over the erosion of press freedoms and increasing state media control. She tells us how wartime restrictions, once largely understood as necessary, […]
Spotlight on Hungary: Fighting Back against Pegasus, a Tool of Transnational Oppression
Media freedom in Hungary has significantly declined since the Fidesz party led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán came to power. The government exerts substantial control over the media landscape. The national public media company, MTVA has been effectively turned into a government-controlled broadcaster, while the 2018 establishment of the Central European Press and Media Foundation […]