Strategic Litigation
Media Defence undertakes strategic litigation to improve the legal environment in which the media work and to secure remedies following violations of their rights.
We are actively involved in a wide range of press freedom cases before international bodies, regional courts and the highest domestic courts across the world. We bring cases on behalf of journalists, citizen journalists and independent media and as third party interveners.
Our strategic litigation covers a wide range of issues faced by the media, including free speech online, the use of criminal laws to target legitimate speech, judicial harassment, source protection, arbitrary detention and torture, and violence and impunity.
In 2022, we had an 84% success rate for strategic cases at international mechanisms.
European Implementation Network
We work with the European Implementation Network (EIN) in their project focused on safeguarding freedom of expression in the Council of Europe member States. As a participant to this project, we are dedicated to promoting this fundamental right and the effective implementation of the relevant judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, as well as to advocating for reforms aimed at effectively protecting free speech.
Featured Litigation
Danileţ v. Romania: Sanction against Judge over Facebook posts held to Violate Freedom of Expression by ECtHR Grand Chamber
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights has held that a disciplinary sanction imposed on the applicant,
Azadliq Newspaper v. Azerbaijan: ECtHR finds Azerbaijan Failed in Press Freedom Case
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Azerbaijan violated the right to freedom of expression of Azadliq, a
Strategic Litigation News
Media Defence amicus filed at ECtHR in Georgia Foreign Agent Law case
Media Defence has filed a third-party intervention at the European Court of Human Rights (‘ECtHR’) in the case of Georgian
Media Defence Submits Amicus Brief in Atresmedia v. Spain before the European Court of Human Rights
On 21 August 2025, Media Defence submitted an amicus curiae brief to the European Court of Human Rights in the
Protecting Democracy Without Silencing Dissent: Media Defence submits written observations to the IACHR
On June 23, Media Defence submitted its written observations to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in response to the
Media Defence files submissions at ECtHR in hate speech case against France
Media Defence has filed a third party intervention at the ECtHR in the case of Kabtane v France. The applicant
Corte Suprema absuelve acusado de torturar de Claudia Julieta Duque y vacía de contenido los derechos de las víctimas
En una sentencia deficiente en el análisis probatorio y la conceptualización del delito de tortura psicológica, la Corte Suprema de
UN Working Group finds Viet Nam is Unlawfully Detaining Journalist Nguyễn Lân Thắng
In an Opinion published in late 2024, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) held that the detention of