News

Turkey must end the harassment of journalist Can Dündar and lift the block of his online radio

22/06/2020

We join PEN International and other 37 civil society organisations in deploring the decision to block Özgürüz, the online radio station headed by Can Dündar, a Turkish journalist living in exile in Germany, whom OBCT interviewed during a festival in Italy. Here the text of the call

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IPI: Latest Media Freedom Violations in Europe, a summary for June

22/06/2020

As lockdowns lift and Covid-related violations drop, spike in arrests and physical attacks on journalists covering protests in European states. Within its activity in the Media Freedom Rapid Response, the International Press Institute is giving an overview of violations of freedom of expression and threats to media workers

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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:

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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

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