News

Ending SLAPPs, Gag Lawsuits in Europe, to Protect Democracy and Fundamental Rights

08/06/2020

More than 100 press freedom and human rights organizations have signed a statement asking EU institutions to tackle the problem of strategic lawsuits against public participation, an issue that limits freedom of expression and hits freedom of speech with a dangerous chilling effect. Here the letter:

Jail and defamation: an international call to the Italian Constitutional Court

05/06/2020

Waiting for the hearing of the Consitutional Court scheduled for June 9th, the partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response call to the Court to cancel prison as a punishment for defamation. Qui la versione italiana

UK: too many violations and bans to media outlets

29/05/2020

The Media Freedom Rapid Response is calling the UK government to lift the bans against openDemocracy, the Sunday Times and any other outlet prevented from asking questions at the daily news briefings

Threats against journalists in Northern Ireland must stop

21/05/2020

OBCT joins Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners, press freedom and freedom of expression organisations, journalists’ organisations, journalists and media workers in condemning threats against journalists in Northern Ireland

Letter to the European Commission: legal abuse of lawsuits is a threat to journalists

20/05/2020

SLAPPs, strategic lawsuits against public participation, are a danger for media freedom and together with other media freedom and human rights ngos we signed a letter to the European Commission urging European institutions to find different solutions at different levels. Here the letter to Ms Pia Lindholm, Deputy Head of Unit for Civil Justice, Directorate-General Justice and Consumers of the European Commission

Joint Emergency Appeal for Journalism and Media Support

15/05/2020

To mark World Press Freedom Day 2020, we signed the appeal promoted by the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD )

Media workers to be protected when covering demonstrations and protests

11/05/2020

Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners are concerned about the increased violence against media professionals at protests and demonstrations across EU Member States and Candidate Countries in the last months and call for increased protection

Call for Europe’s leaders to protect free flow of information to tackle COVID-19

26/03/2020

ECPMF joins with press freedom partners in call to EU leaders

Media freedom organisations and MEPs back new anti-SLAPP law

06/03/2018

Six members of the European Parliament have called on the European Commission (EC) to swiftly initiate legislation to protect investigative journalism in Europe

Slovenia’s EU Presidency must not obstruct efforts to improve media freedom in Europe

Prime Minister Janez Janša and his government have repeatedly shown disregard for media freedom. Organisations defending press freedom and journalists call on the Slovenian government to commit to refraining from attempts to undermine initiatives aimed at improving the situation of press freedom in EU member and candidate countries during the EU Presidency. We ask the other EU member states to remain vigilant