Defending Media Freedom Worldwide

The Media Legal Defence Initiative exists to help journalists and media outlets defend their rights.

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To deliver our work we rely on the goodwill of many, many lawyers, most of whom give their time 'pro bono'.

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The Media Legal Defence Initiative receives frequent requests for legal assistance and would like to be able to provide support. With sufficient funding, we are ready and willing to respond.

Updates

World Press Freedom Day: spotlight on Ethiopia
News Story
On May 3, World Press Freedom Day, MLDI will present a landmark complaint to UNESCO asking it to take action in a way it has never done before.
Indonesian Constitutional Court urged to strike out law banning publication of any classified documents
News Story
MLDI and its regional partner, Media Defence - Southeast Asia, have asked the Indonesian Constitutional Court to allow journalists to publish leaked...
“Nul point” verdict sought for Eurovision Song Contest host
News Story
Every year millions of people around the world watch the Eurovision Song Context, one of the biggest annual international media events. But many may...
MLDI continues to explore options for jailed Rwandan journalists
News Story
On 5 April, Rwanda's Supreme Court upheld the convictions for defamation and endangering national security of journalists Agnes Uwimana Nkusi and...
Vietnamese government urged to release bloggers
News Story
Five Vietnamese bloggers - Dang Xuan Dieu, Ho Duc Hoa, Nguyen Van Duyet, Nong Hung Anh and Paulus Le Van Son - have been arbitrarily detained for...

Cases and Projects

Indonesian Constitutional Court urged to allow journalists to publish leaks
The Media Legal Defence Initiative and its regional partner, Media Defence – Southeast Asia, today submitted a brief to the Indonesian...
Bid to end abuse of criminal libel laws
Among the threats to media freedom around the world is misuse of the ordinary laws of the countries in which the media operate. Chief among these is...
MLDI urges European Court to reject "false news" laws
On 15 March 2012, the Media Legal Defence Initiative filed a submission with the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Dareskizb Ltd v...
European Court rules pro speech in privacy cases
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights has decided two landmark cases concerning the relationship between the right to freedom of...