Defending Media Freedom Worldwide

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

You need to upgrade your Flash Player

Get Involved

Become part of our pro-bono legal network

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

Donate

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

MLDI defends journalists at Rwandan Supreme Court
News Story
On January 30, the Rwandan Supreme Court will be hearing the appeal of Agnès Uwimana and Saïdati Mukakibibi, two journalists currently...
UN rules against criminal libel in Philippines
News Story
Radio journalist Alex Adonis spent two years in prison for a broadcast in which he dramatized a newspaper report that Prospero Nograles, a member of...
MLDI invites proposals for legal defence projects
News Story
As part of our work to help build a strong global legal defence network for independent media, MLDI makes grants to support organisations and...
Lack of independent media threatens democracy
News Story
Three well-known Azeri journalists, Mehman Aliyev, Emin Husseinov and Rasul Jafarov, have complained to the European Court of Human Rights that the...
European Court urged to condemn widespread repression of free speech in Azerbaijan
News Story
In 2009, two Azeri bloggers uploaded a satirical video featuring an interview with a violin-playing donkey onto YouTube. In response they were beaten...

Cases and Projects

MLDI and partners intervene in Azerbaijan bloggers case at European Court
The Media Legal Defence Initiative, Media Rights Institute Azerbaijan and Index on Censorship have intervened at the European Court of Human Rights...
MLDI helps Mass Media Defence Centre develop database on Russian media law
MLDI has provided financial support to Russia's Mass Media Defence Centre in Voronezh to develop a database of Russian media law, along with a guide...
MLDI intervenes in European Court case on the use of hidden recording devices
The Media Legal Defence Initiative has intervened in a case before the European Court of Human Rights concerning the legality of the use of hidden...
MLDI wins criminal libel case before Bermuda's Supreme Court
On 12 August 2011, the Bermuda Supreme Court declared Bermuda's criminal libel statute unconstitutional because it criminalises trivial and non-...