News

SLAPP: positive steps announced by Věra Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission

19/06/2020

In answering to a letter sent by several MEPs, the Vice-President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency stresses the importance of an EU action about strategic lawsuits against public participation and announces several initiatives and responses, included in the European Democracy Action Plan

read more

Open letter ahead of Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union

18/06/2020

Several media freedom organisations urge German leaders to proactively lead the Member States in the Council towards effective solutions that will bring about real progress in the challenges faced by freedom of expression and journalism

read more

Europe’s recovery after the pandemic and Civil Society

17/06/2020

More than 30 civil rights organisations are asking EU institutions to safeguard the civil society sector in view of the European Recovery Plan after the pandemic

read more

Turkey: the Public Advertising Agency and bans implemented on newspapers

15/06/2020

20 international and local press freedom organisations and signatories are writing to the Public Advertising Agency (BIK) in Turkey in order to repeat the concerns about BIK’s criteria regarding the distribution of public advertisement and bans implemented on newspapers

read more

Press Cartoonists in Europe must be protected

11/06/2020

Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners call for press cartoonists to be protected to ensure they can realise their right to free expression across Europe

read more

Defamation and prison: the decision of the Italian Constitutional Court is a first step forward

10/06/2020

The organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) welcome the decision by the Italian Constitutional Court to refer a decision on whether to abolish prison sentences for criminal defamation in relation to journalists and media workers to the Italian Parliament. Qui la versione italiana

read more

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:

read more

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

read more

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

read more

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

read more