Category Advocacy
25 Jun

Stop use of SLAPPs: International organisations and journalist bodies express concern about legal threats against EUobserver

Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners, journalist bodies, free expression and journalist support organisations are concerned about the legal threats made against EUobserver in Luxembourg and Belgium and call to stop the use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) actions across Europe. Left unreformed, such legal threats will be sufficient to silence media workers and outlets. We stand in solidarity with EUobserver and will continue to monitor developments around the case.

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18 Jun

Open letter ahead of Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union

The German Presidency of the Council of the European Union begins at a difficult time, in which concerted efforts from across the social, economical and political spectrum are required. We urge Germany to proactively lead the Member States in the Council towards effective solutions that will bring about real progress and overcome challenges, to press and media freedom in Europe.

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17 Jun

Hungary’s two pandemics: COVID-19 and attacks on media freedom

A legal opinion commissioned by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) finds that the Hungarian Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic fails to live up to domestic or European legal standards and entrenches the country’s attacks on independent media outlets, journalists and media workers.

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15 Jun

Joint statement on Kurdish journalist Nedim Türfent

The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the International Press Institute (IPI), PEN International, Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) and other undersigned organisations mark the 1,500th day of Kurdish journalist Nedim Türfent’s imprisonment with a renewed call for his immediate and unconditional release.

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11 Jun

Press Cartoonists in Europe must be protected

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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10 Jun

MFRR partners welcome the step forward by Italian Constitutional Court to abolish prison sentences for criminal defamation

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.

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8 Jun

Ending Gag Lawsuits in Europe – Protecting Democracy and Fundamental Rights

The EU must end gag lawsuits used to silence individuals and organisations that hold those in positions of power to account.

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5 Jun

MFRR call on Italian Constitutional Court to abolish prison sentences for criminal defamation as part of wider legislative reform

On 9 June, the Constitutional Court will hold a public hearing into the legitimacy of laws that allow for jail sentences for journalists convicted of defamation. Ahead of the hearing, MediaFreedomRR partners urge for reform.

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4 Jun

Open letter to the Public Advertising Agency (BIK) in Turkey on concerns regarding public advertisement and bans implemented on newspapers

20 international and local press freedom organisations and signatories are writing to the Public Advertising Agency (BIK) in Turkey in order to repeat our concerns about BIK’s criteria regarding the distribution of public advertisement and bans implemented on newspapers.

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4 Jun

Joint call on EU Member States to adopt an ambitious Multiannual Financial Framework

Press freedom, media development, and journalists’ organisations call on Member States to adopt ambitious EU budget for independent journalism and recovery of the media sector

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