Legal_protection

Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA)

The Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) is a Turkish non-profit (registered as Medya ve Hukuk Çalışmaları Derneği) founded in late 2017.

The main goals of the association, as stated in its website, are:

• offering legal protection to journalists who are punished for expressing their thoughts
• promoting the public’s right to information, particularly by supporting good finance and science journalism
• promoting rights of minority groups, with a concentration on refugees and the LGBTI community.

Free Press Unlimited (FPU)

Free Press Unlimited is a foundation based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, which supports local journalists in war zones and conflict areas in over 43 countries.

The organization offers several support programmes for journalists at risk:

1. Emergency support: Journalists and media organisations in distress can apply for emergency support from Reporters Respond. Through this fund, Free Press Unlimited enables them to resume their work as quickly as possible when faced with obstruction, vandalism, or intimidations. More info here .
2. Legal support: With the Legal Defense Fund, Free Press Unlimited provides financial support to journalists and media organisations worldwide, giving support to journalists who face prosecution or imprisonment and who are unable to afford a lawyer or trial costs. More info here .
3. Safety trainings & tools: In collaboration with international partners, Free Press Unlimited supports (media) organisations and media workers with safety training. More info here .
4. Advocacy: Independent media and press freedom cannot exist if safety for journalists isn’t guaranteed. Therefore, Free Press Unlimited actively lobbies for a safe work environment for journalists. An environment which enables them to work free of fear and danger. More info here .

Civil Rights Defenders

A support centre that partners with and supports human rights defenders who work in some of the world’s most repressive regions on four continents.

Through advocacy, litigation, and public campaigns, CRD advance people’s rights globally and also act as Sweden’s watchdog civil rights group.

Among the support activities, there are security training, emergency support, expertise, organisational development, and long-term financial support.

Associazione Stampa Romana

The Associazione Stampa Romana is the Journalists Union for journalists who live in the region Lazio, in Italy.

It is affiliated with FNSI, the national Journalists Union.

It offers different forms of support, such as legal counseling, psychological support, and deals with gender-based issues, professional harassment, support to reach out to European funding.

Croatia: MFRR partners concerned about wave of abusive legal actions against Index.hr

22/09/2021

MFRR partners condemn the wave of abusive legal actions filed against Index.hr, many of which used by powerful individuals as a means of silencing critical expression

Malta: Joint statement in support of The Shift News

08/08/2022

OBCT co-signed a statement in support of the independent media outlet The Shift News, as it faces a freedom of information battle with the government of Malta

European Anti-SLAPP Conference 2022

25/08/2022

On 20 October 2022, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) and the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE) will host the first ever European Anti-SLAPP Conference. The event is organised under the patronage of the European Parliament, with the support of the Council of Europe, and funded by the Open Society Foundations

European Anti-SLAPP Conference 2022

21/10/2022

On 20 October 2022, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom and the Case Coalition hosted in Strasbourg the European Anti-SLAPP Conference, aimed at examining initiatives against SLAPPs and their impact on journalism

Against SLAPPs, the first European conference

07/11/2022

The first European conference for the fight against SLAPPs, also known as gag or reckless complaints, was held in Strasbourg on 20 October, organised by the European Center for Press and Media Freedom and the Coalition against SLAPP in Europe. The report of the event

by Sielke Kelner

Montenegro: Jovo Martinović's appeal rejected

31/03/2021

OBCT joined leading international press freedom and journalists’ organisations in condemning the continued judicial persecution of Montenegrin investigative journalist, Jovo Martinović after his appeal was rejected