Access Now - Support Centres

Access Now is an international non-profit whose aim is to defend and extend the digital rights of users at risk around the world.

By combining direct technical support, comprehensive policy engagement, global advocacy, grassroots grantmaking, and convenings, Access Now is engaged in defending human rights in the digital age. Policy furthers Access Now’s mission by developing and promoting rights-respecting practices and policies. Another activity of Access Now is aimed to advance laws and global norms to affect long-term systemic change in the area of digital rights and online security, developing insightful, rights-based, and well-researched policy guidance to governments, corporations, and civil society. Access Now also works to  provide technology solutions and real-time advice for users at risk in circumstances where communications are not open, free, or safe. Through its 24/7 Digital Security Helpline, Access Now offers technical guidance and incident response to inform and support activists, journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society actors on the ground.

In Europe It has offices in London, Brussels and Berlin.

ProtectDefenders.eu - Support Centres

Launched in 2015, ProtectDefenders.eu is the European Union Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) mechanism which supports individuals and local actors who strive to promote and defend human rights worldwide. The mechanism is implemented by a Consortium of twelve international organisations active in the field of Human Rights.

Its services comprise:

• Emergency support for HRDs at risk 
• Support to local HRD organisations
• Temporary relocation of HRDs at risk
• Training and information to HRDs at risk
• Monitoring and advocacy

HOTLINE: +353 (0) 1 21 00 489

The Rory Peck Trust - Support Centres

The Rory Peck Trust was established in 1995 in memory of freelance cameraman Rory Peck, who was killed in Moscow in 1993. Based in London, the Trust has grown into an international organisation that provides practical and financial support to independent journalists and their families worldwide.

The Trust assists freelancers in four main ways:

- Assistance grants: they are meant to help professional freelance journalists (and/or their family) who are facing a crisis directly related to their work. The amount of assistance varies according to the particular circumstances of the applicant, but may include medical and rehabilitation costs, subsistence costs, legal advice and relocation costs. More info here.

- Training fund: it enables freelance journalists to gain the essential skills and knowledge needed to work in difficult and potentially dangerous situations. Courses teach them to assess risk and spot danger, handle a crisis, support others and give vital first aid. More info here.

- Safety clinics: they are one-to-one consultations, held both online and in person, for freelance journalists, photographers and videographers. Security advisors provide personal guidance and advice on specific safety and risk assessment issues, assignment planning and digital security free of charge to freelancers at all stages of their career. More info here.

- Freelance resources: they are tailored to the safety, security and professional development needs of freelance journalists. These resources are free and accessible to all freelance journalists. More info here.

Plataforma en Defensa de la Libertad de Información (PDLI) - Stakeholders

Plataforma en Defensa de la Libertad de Información (PDLI) is a Spanish civil society group uniting journalists, lawyers, media houses, social movements and consumer advocates.

PDLI arouse out of the concern of a group of organisations and individuals in the legal field, journalism and social movements after the deterioration of freedom of expression and information in Spain, following a series of reforms and the approval of new laws, such as the Organic Law Project on the Protection of Citizen Security, the Intellectual Property Law, the Transparency Law.

Among the activities PDLI carries out, there is the monitoring and dissemination of attacks on freedom of expression against journalists and the media, as well as against activists, social movements and citizens. PDLI also support campaign in defense of media freedom and organise training programs for journalists, activists and social movements on how to safely exercise their profession.

PDLI launched mapea.cc, an online tool to collect data on legal threats to freedom of expression.

Sindikat medija Crne Gore - Trade Union of Media of Montenegro - Stakeholders

The Trade Union of Media of Montenegro (Sindikat medija Crne Gore) deals with contractual disputes between staff and employers and provides journalists legal support, but it also participates in public-awareness campaigns around specific policy or regulatory issues that impact journalists’ reporting practices and rights.

Association of BH Journalists (BH Novinari) - Stakeholders

Association of BH Journalists (BH Novinari) is a non-political and non-profit journalist association based in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Member of the Association of European Journalists (AEJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), it connects journalists, freelance journalists, students and other professionals working in the journalistic sector in order to protect the independency of their activities.

It also offers practical support.

Association of BH Journalists (BH Novinari) - Support Centres

Association of BH Journalists (BH Novinari) is a non-political and non-profit journalist association based in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. It provides free legal and advocacy support to Bosnian editors, staff or freelance journalists and other media outlets.

Contact persons at its Free Media Help Line are Borka Rudić, borka.rudic@bhnovinari.ba, + 387 33 255 602 and Una Telegrafčić, una.telegrafcic@bhnovinari.ba, + 387 33 223 818

Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation - Stakeholders

The Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation (SCF) is a foundation in memory of Serbian journalist Slavko Ćuruvija, killed in 1999. Its mission is to raise the quality of journalism in Serbia, offering support for local media, investigative journalism, as well as providing training for students of journalism. This objective is achieved by supporting independent journalists’ work in local communities through grants, programs and projects in order to strengthen their capacity to be watchdog of democracy on all levels of power, from the local one to the national one. The SCF has three areas of work : Local Media Development, Supporting Investigative Journalisms and Education Programs and Scholarship. In 2014 the Foundation launched the web portal Cenzolovka  aimed at informing the public on all issues that are relevant to the freedom of media in Serbia. Cenzolovka aims at contributing to the monitoring and public understanding of cases concerning violations of media freedom in Serbia and at involving media professionals, independent experts, government representatives and ordinary citizens at large.

Italian Coalition for Civil Liberties and Rights (CILD) - Support Centres

Founded in 2014, the Italian Coalition for Civil Liberties and Rights (Coalizione Italiana Libertà e Diritti Civili, CILD) is a network of civil society organizations that protects and expands the rights and liberties of all, through a combination of advocacy, public education and legal action.

CILD also coordinates a Centre for Legal Action that operates as a clearing-house, facilitating the interactions between law firms and non-profit associations in need of legal assistance. 

- Legal information: CILD offers information support, in some remote cases, for anyone who asks for help in the field of civil liberties. A sort of emergency legal aid, for a concrete action orientation of protection.

- Strategic Litigation: When the only communication and lobbying is not enough, CILD supports the judgment actions with strategic litigation, a specific legal action capable of activating a regulatory change, promote awareness and debate around a theme, mobilizing public opinion, to push policy makers to overcome regulations that violate the fundamental rights of individuals.

- Pro bono legal advice: CILD arranges a free legal aid service, as an interface between civil society organizations and lawyers. Requests may concern: legal opinions, statutory acts, comparative research or case law, legal and, in exceptional cases, translations, initiation of litigation.

- Access to information: CILD monitors the implementation of the Italian FOIA

E-mail: legal@cild.eu

Italian Coalition for Civil Liberties and Rights (CILD) - Stakeholders

Founded in 2014, the Italian Coalition for Civil Liberties and Rights (Coalizione Italiana Libertà e Diritti Civili, CILD) is a network of civil society organizations that protect and expand the rights and liberties of all, through a combination of advocacy, public education and legal action (further details on practical support here).

Their work focuses on racism and xenophobia, migrations, Italian penal and penitentiary systems, privacy and surveillance, transparency and access to public information.