Pioneering lawyer and pro-democracy campaigner Hina Jilani has taken up the position of Co-Chair of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) Council. Her tenure, effective from 1 January 2025, will run until 31 December 2026. She succeeds Anne Ramberg Dr Jur hc...
Released on Jan 22, 2025
Baroness Helena Kennedy LT KC (Chair), Ms. Catherine Amirfar and Professor Can Yeginsu (Deputy Chairs), and Mr. Nadim Houry (Member) of The High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom have released a joint statement in relation to its recommendation of an International Investigative Task Force...
Released on Nov 22, 2024
Baroness Helena Kennedy LT KC has been appointed to serve as the new Chair of the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom. She succeeds The Rt Hon the Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury after his five-year tenure as the expert body’s inaugural Chair.
Released on Oct 30, 2024
Throughout the week of World Press Freedom Day, held on 3 May 2023, the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom participated in several activities to highlight the grave challenges facing the press globally and to showcase its recommendations to the Media Freedom Coalition.
Released on May 19, 2023
On World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2022, the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom participated in a number of activities to highlight the grave challenges facing the press globally and to showcase its recommendations to the Media Freedom Coalition. The High Level Panel stands in solidarity with the independent press, including the journalists risking their lives to bring facts and the truth to the public forum.
Released on May 4, 2022
The Rt Hon Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, Chair of the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom, has appointed three new members to serve on the High Level Panel.
Released on Apr 21, 2022
Two years on from its establishment, it is clear that the work of The High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom is beginning to have an impact on state practice in the Media Freedom Coalition (MFC).
Released on Feb 17, 2022
Released on Dec 2, 2021
To mark the 8th International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists on 2 November 2021, the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom calls on all states, including members of the Media Freedom Coalition, and the international community to strengthen efforts in holding perpetrators of crimes against journalists accountable and for the establishment of an international investigative task force.
Released on Nov 2, 2021
Released on Oct 12, 2021
Hoy la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos escuchará el caso Emilio Palacio Urrutia y Otros vs. la República del Ecuador. El caso se refiere a la legalidad de la legislación penal sobre el delito de difamación y las sanciones aplicadas a El Universo, uno de los periódicos más consolidados y de mayor circulación de Ecuador, a su columnista y sus tres directores.
Released on Jun 14, 2021
Today the Inter-American Court of Human Rights begins to hear Emilio Palacio Urrutia and Others v. The Republic of Ecuador. The case concerns the lawfulness of criminal defamation statutes as applied to El Universo, one of Ecuador’s most well-established and widely circulated newspapers, its columnist, and its three directors.
Released on Jun 14, 2021
The rule of law is arguably the most basic requirement of any civilised society, and an independent judiciary, to which access is available to all citizens, is an essential ingredient of the rule of law. Freedom of expression is also fundamental in a democratic society, in which the courts and the media have vital and complementary institutional roles.
Released on May 3, 2021
A new advisory report published today by the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom chaired by Lord Neuberger and Amal Clooney finds that journalists face unprecedented risks to their safety and makes a number of key recommendations to States, including the introduction of an emergency visa for journalists at risk.
Released on Nov 23, 2020
On 6 July 2020, Amal Clooney, a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers and Deputy Chair of the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom, released a joint statement with Panel Chair, Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, in response to the implementation of the United Kingdom’s global human rights sanctions regime.
Released on Jul 8, 2020
To mark the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom are issuing a statement on the challenges posed to media freedom in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Released on May 1, 2020
Baroness Helena Kennedy QC is Director of the IBAHRI, a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers and a member of the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom, an independent body that was convened at the request of the UK and Canadian governments.
Baroness Kennedy spoke to Ruth Green, IBA Multimedia Journalist, about the IBAHRI's role as Secretariat for the project and the importance of protecting media freedom alongside other fundamental freedoms.
Released on Feb 17, 2020
Hina Jilani is a lawyer and human rights defender based in Pakistan. She is also a member of the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom, an independent body that was convened at the request of the UK and Canadian governments.
Ruth Green, IBA Multimedia Journalist, spoke to Hina Jilani about her involvement in the panel, blasphemy law and the criminalisation of hate speech, targeted attacks on human right lawyers, the Lawyers' Movement of 2007, and more.
Released on Feb 17, 2020
A report published today by the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom recommends that governments, including signatories to the Global Pledge on Media Freedom, adopt targeted sanctions regimes to ensure that journalists, media professionals and others engaged in journalistic activities can carry out their work without harassment, intimidation, false imprisonment or violent attack.
Released on Feb 13, 2020
Launch of the Second Report by the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom