Supporting legal reforms

The Media Freedom Coalition promotes the adoption and reform of policies and legislation that enable media freedom and support journalists under threat.

This is in line with the founding principles of the MFC and the need for member countries to act both at home and abroad. MFC member states are actively encouraged and supported to review their own legislation and look for ways to improve their domestic media freedom environment and better protect journalists. 

The Media Freedom Coalition is guided in this work by the recommendations of the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom. The High Level Panel is an independent and diverse group of lawyers and judges that provides expert advice to MFC member states. Read more about the High Level Panel here.

Media freedom is affected by a wide range of laws and policies, at domestic and international level, in areas such as human rights, media law, freedom of expression, defamation, and the ease of doing business. MFC member countries can request technical legal assistance from the High Level Panel for any legal matter related to media freedom.

The High Level Panel has also produced a series of enforcement reports for the Media Freedom Coalition that focus on improving international mechanisms to enforce international human rights norms. 

The reports cover, among other areas, the use of targeted sanctions to protect journalists, strengthening consular support to journalists at risk, providing safe refuge to journalists at risk and promoting more effective investigations into abuses against journalists. 

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Advocacy
The Media Freedom Coalition uses its platform to promote and advocate on a range of issues both publicly and privately.
Diplomatic Networks
Embassies of MFC member states can monitor media freedom where they are based and take actions to protect and advance media freedom.
Events
The MFC works with its member countries and stakeholders to organise various events and conferences to advance media freedom.
Global Media Defence Fund
The GMDF supports not-for-profit organisations from across the globe working to bolster journalists’ legal protection and/or enhance media freedom.