MLDI wins Columbia University Award

New York’s Columbia University has awarded its inaugural “Global Freedom of Expression Prize” to the Media Legal Defence Initiative.

The Columbia Global Freedom of Expression Prizes recognise judicial decisions and legal representation around the world that strengthen freedom of expression by promoting international legal norms. The awards highlight that international norms for free speech and press are more critical than ever, as society confronts a host of complex international challenges.

The Award is in recognition of MLDI’s defence of Burkina Faso journalist, Lohé Issa Konaté at the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. In 2012 Mr Konaté was sentenced to a year in prison for two newspaper reports that were found to be defamatory of a local prosecutor. Following unsuccessful appeals in the domestic courts, MLDI secured a judgment at the African Court holding that Mr Konaté’s imprisonment violated his right to freedom of expression. 

Setting a strong precedent for other journalists in Mr Konaté’s situation, the Court held that prison is never an acceptable sanction for libel and that criminal sanctions should be imposed on journalists only in extreme circumstances.  Implementation of this judgment in 2015 would see several dozen African journalists freed from prison and pre-trial detention.