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
Evertsson and Andersson v Sweden: Media Defence intervenes in case concerning criminal sanctions for filming the MS Estonia wreck
On 31 July 2026, Media Defence filed a third-party intervention at the European Court of Human Rights in Evertsson and
Drousiotis v Cyprus: Media Defence intervenes in spyware surveillance case at the European Court of Human Rights
On 9 July 2026, Media Defence filed a third-party intervention at the European Court of Human Rights in Drousiotis v Cyprus(Application
Strategic Litigation News
Media Defence Files 2 Amicus Briefs at the European Court of Human Rights addressing the dangers of SLAPPs
Media Defence has filed written submissions as a third-party intervener in two separate cases currently before the European Court of
Case Challenging Impunity in the Killing of Journalist Léo Veras Reaches the IACHR Six Years After His Death
UPDATE | 25 June 2026: The Committee to Protect Journalists has joined the petition to the Inter-American Commission on Human
French Court of Appeal Dismisses Surgeon’s Defamation Lawsuit Against Marsactu and Mediapart
Khadija Ismayilova Secures Win against Azerbaijan at European Court
The European Court of Human Rights has found that the criminal conviction of Khadija Ismayilova, a renowned Azeri journalist and
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