MFRR: EU action needed to tackle spyware abuses after Pegasus revelations - Article

As the European Parliament today debates the Pegasus spyware scandal, the undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) call for an immediate investigation into the alleged use of the spyware against journalists by Hungarian authorities and urge the strong implementation of new EU rules on the export of cyber-surveillance technology around the world

Vita Activa - Stakeholders

Vita Activa works as a helpline and a solutions laboratory for women journalists, activists and women’s rights defenders who are facing online violence and want to change the ways they face and combat perpetrators and attacks. Responders trained in psychological first aid, conflict resolution and strategic thinking work with women journalists who have faced harassment to build solutions tailored to their cases.

Vita Activa also provides practical support for women and LGBTIQ+ journalists, activists and gender, land and labor rights, and freedom of expression defenders.

Human Rights Centre - Stakeholders

The Human Rights Centre at the Faculty of Law and Criminology at Ghent University is an academic centre specialized in human rights law.

With a dynamic international team, counting many young researchers, the Centre has broad research and teaching expertise, covering international, regional, national and comparative law of human rights.

Human Rights Centre members work on a range of thematic issues, including legal pluralism, freedom of expression, gender, indigenous peoples’ rights, and the European Court of Human Rights. Members also actively engage with human rights practice by supervising clinical projects and submitting third-party interventions to the European Court of Human Rights.

Training Resource Hub by Media Defence - Training

Media Defence’s Training Resource Hub contains training materials and resources on freedom of expression

Netherlands: MFRR concerned by a Molotov cocktail attack on the home of a journalist - Article

Several Molotov cocktails were thrown through the window of Willem Groeneveld, founder and editor-in-chief of the Groningen city blog Sikkom, last night. MFRR partners express concern over the increase in attacks against Dutch journalists

A whistleblower at the United Nations: an open letter to protect her - Article

OBCT co-signed the letter by Transparency International Macedonia to United Nations Secretary-General Guterres: we demand protection for the whistleblower Emma Reilly who received the communication that her protected whistleblower status had been removed

Poland: open letter to Members of Parliament in defence of media freedom - Article

OBCT joined a coalition of press freedom and journalism organizations in urgently calling on members of the Sejm, the lower house of Poland’s legislature, to oppose a draft bill that would dramatically accelerate media capture in Poland. Here the text of the letter:

Daphne Caruana Galizia: Landmark Public Inquiry recommendations must be implemented - Article

We the undersigned organisations welcome the conclusions and recommendations of the milestone Public Inquiry into the assassination of Malta’s leading investigative journalist, Daphne Caruana Galizia. Now is the moment for the Maltese authorities to consider and accept the Board’s detailed recommendations and to publish a plan of action on how they will be implemented in a non-partisan manner without delay and ensure better protection of journalists going forward

EU Rule of Law report: Little bark, no bite - Article

The Rule of Law Report can be a valuable tool that empowers civil society. However, for it to become a critical tool that can contribute to the promotion and safeguarding of EU values, MFRR partners believe several fundamental changes are needed

Turkey: Concern over proposals to introduce new regulation of “fake” and “foreign-funded” news - Article

OBCT co-signed a statement condemning the proposal to introduce a new regulation of "fake" and "foreign-funded" news in Turkey. If approved, these measures will further undermine media freedom and pluralism in the country