Deadline: 31-Mar-23
In partnership with the International Center for Non-Profit Law, Media Defence is calling for proposals from NGOs and law centres based in countries in the Indo-Pacific region for a grant to provide legal support to journalists and strategic litigation on media freedom.
Purpose of Grant: To set up or further the work of a national media defence centre.
Media Defence is a charity, based in London, which provides legal help to journalists, citizen journalists and independent media across the world. Media Defence’s vision is a world where journalists no longer face legal challenges that threaten their ability to report freely and independently on issues of public interest, allowing citizens to be better informed, able to hold those in power to account. Media Defence’s mission is to ensure legal protection of journalists and media workers under threat for reporting on issues of public interest, in the belief that freedom of expression is essential.
As part of their work to help build a strong global legal defence network for independent media, Media Defence provides financial assistance to organisations that have or wish to establish a legal aid unit. Currently, Media Defence can only fund a small number of organisations. Their aim is to expand this network and achieve better local-level access to legal assistance for independent media outlets, journalists and bloggers who lack the financial means to access legal support at commercial rates.
Objectives
- The grant can be used to set up a media legal defence unit which provides pro bono legal support to journalists, citizen journalists and independent media and/or coordinates networks of lawyers to do the same.
- Media Defence is available to provide legal mentoring, capacity building, and other forms of non-financial organisational support.
Funding Information
- They are offering one 12-month grant of up to GBP 23,337 to organisations with backgrounds in defending and supporting the right to freedom of expression.
Geographic Scope: Indo-Pacific.
Eligibility Criteria
- To be considered, organisations must meet the following criteria:
- The grant is open to NGOs and law centres registered in the Indo-Pacific region;
- The organisation must have a background or demonstrable interest in litigation and/or provision of legal support;
- The organisation should have previous experience in the advancement and protection of freedom of expression; and
- The organisation must have sufficient administrative and financial capacity to comply with Media Defence’s reporting requirements.
For more information, visit Media Defence.
