Groups: UK response to surveillance revelations threatens human rights November 5, 2013 The International Press Institute (IPI) yesterday joined a coalition of 70 organisations to warn British Prime Minister David Cameron that his “government’s response to the revelations of mass surveillance of digital communications is eroding fundamental human rights in the country”. The groups, hailing from 40 countries, told Cameron in a letter published yesterday in The […] Read more »
Russia’s leading human rights lawyer joins list of prominent speakers Karinna Moskalenko, Russian human rights lawyer and international advisory board member of the UK-based Media Legal Defence Initiative, is the latest addition to an already strong line-up of speakers and panellists slated to take part in the annual IPI World Congress 2013 in Amman, Jordan. Moskalenko has taken numerous cases to the European Court of […] Read more »
SEEMO names winners of 2012 Human Rights Award December 4, 2012 The South and East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), has named Turkish cameraman Cüneyt Ünal and his missing colleague, Jordanian reporter of Palestinian origin Bashar Fahmi Kaddumi, the winners of the 2012 SEEMO Human Rights Award. The award is scheduled to be presented during a ceremony on Dec. […] Read more »
Release Bahraini human rights activists now, say international groups August 17, 2012 IPI joined members of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) and other human rights groups in condemning the three year prison term handed down to human rights defender Nabeel Rajab on Thursday, and calling for the release of all activists jailed for exercising their right to free expression. Nabeel heads the Bahrain Centre for […] Read more »
Experts discuss role of free press in promoting human rights, democracy and development July 4, 2012 Media play a vital role in promoting human rights, democracy and development. A free press holds those in power to account. Especially in conflict situations, media bear powerful responsibility for informing the public and raising awareness in a fair and balanced way at the national and international levels. But the media can also be misused […] Read more »
SEEMO invites submission of entries for Human Rights Photo Award March 19, 2012 As part of the BETA Photograph of the Year competition, the Vienna-based South and East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), calls for the submission of entries for its 2012 SEEMO Human Rights Photo Award. All professional photojournalists working and taking photographs in South East and Central Europe are […] Read more »
SEEMO welcomes police action against attackers of journalists in Montenegro, and European Court of Human Rights decision December 2, 2011 The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), welcomes the prompt police action against three men who physically attacked a TV crew from TV Vijesti. The incident occurred on 18 November 2011 in Niksic, a town 55 kilometers from the Montenegrin capital Podgorica. The TV crew was […] Read more »
Veton Surroi wins 2011 SEEMO Human Rights Award November 21, 2011 Kosovo journalist, publisher, politician and human rights activist Veton Surroi has won the 2011 SEEMO Human Rights Award. The SEEMO board praised Surroi’s non-violent methods and consistent “commitment to human rights” in all of his professional activities. The 2011 SEEMO Human Rights award will be presented to Veton Surroi on 24 November 2011 at 18.30 […] Read more »
European Court of Human Rights postpones hearing on Italian TV station May 31, 2011 Mina Nacheva The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has postponed a hearing on a complaint by an Italian TV broadcaster which argued that the Italian government had breached its rights by not allowing the station to take to the airwaves. The Court announced on 12 May that a public hearing in Centro Europa 7 S.R.L. v. […] Read more »
Iranian human rights lawyer and journalist continues hunger strike December 27, 2010 Alicia Versteegh Nasrin Sotoudeh is a leading human rights lawyer and journalist respected for her defense of the rights of women and children in Iran. She defended political activists and protesters arrested following the disputed presidential elections in June 2009. Sotoudeh was detained on September 4 2010 and charged with “propaganda against the state,” and “acting against […] Read more »
SEEMO/IPI Press Release: SEEMO Human Rights Award 2010 To Christo Komarnitski from Bulgaria December 9, 2010 SEEMO Staff The South and East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East and Central Europe and an affiliate of the International Press institute (IPI), is pleased to announce that after careful deliberation the SEEMO Jury – composed of SEEMO Board members – has awarded the “SEEMO Human […] Read more »
European court of human rights raps Spain over editor conviction June 2, 2010 Elisabeth Garrett The European Court of Human Rights on Wednesday ruled that Spain’s sentencing of a Spanish editor over an article in his newspaper linking Morocco’s now-deceased King Hassan II to drug-dealers was a violation of Article 10 of the European Convention, which protects the rights of freedom of expression and of the press. The case dates […] Read more »
European court of human rights orders release of imprisoned Azeri journalist April 23, 2010 Nayana Jayarajan The International Press Institute (IPI) welcomes a decision by the European Court of Human Rights ordering the immediate release of Eynulla Fatullayev, an Azeri journalist who was sentenced in 2007 to eight-and-a-half years in prison for defamation and “fomenting terrorism” through his articles. The Court yesterday voted six to one that Azerbaijan had violated Fatullayev’s […] Read more »
Tunisian authorities ban human rights organisation from holding press conference March 24, 2010 Louise Hallman International human rights organisation, Human Rights Watch, was prohibited by government officials from holding a press conference in Tunisia on Wednesday, 24 March. The organisation was due to launch its report “A Larger Prison: Repression of Former Political Prisoners in Tunisia.” In a statement sent to the Tunisia Monitoring Group – a coalition of 20 […] Read more »
European Court of Human Rights orders Turkey to pay compensation to journalists January 28, 2010 Barbara Trionfi, Press Freedom Advisor The European Court of Human Rights has ordered Turkey to pay a total of over 40,000 Euros to 20 Turkish journalists as compensation for having violated their rights. In two separate cases, the Court ruled on 26 January that Turkey had violated freedom of speech laws when it suspended five newspapers and sentenced a magazine […] Read more »
SEEMO Human Rights Award 2009 to Pavol Demes from Slovakia December 8, 2009 The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East and Central Europe and an affiliate of the International Press institute (IPI), is pleased to announce that after careful deliberation the SEEMO Board has awarded the ”SEEMO Human Rights Award 2009” to Pavol Demes, an internationally […] Read more »
PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE: United States President touches upon human rights concerns during official visit to China November 17, 2009 United States President Barack Obama today said discussions with China about human rights will resume early next year, following international calls for the president to address specific concerns on the issues of press freedom and human rights violations. At a press conference today with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Obama, Hu said both sides had […] Read more »
IPI joins other press freedom and human rights groups in condemning harsh crackdown on press freedom in Morocco October 23, 2009 23 October 2009 – We, the undersigned organisations defending freedom of expression, call on the Moroccan government to stop the current crackdown against press freedom, which has become the most serious since King Mohamed VI was crowned in 1999. Repression of free expression rights has been escalating for the last three months. After publishing a […] Read more »
IPI delegation raises issues of impunity and self-censorship with human rights ombudsman, holds discussions with media outlets in first leg of Russia advocacy mission October 2, 2009 Colin Peters The International Press Institute (IPI), a media freedom organisation with an almost 60-year history of defending liberty of the press, on Wednesday began a five day advocacy mission to Russia, one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists. The mission began with an investigation into the events surrounding the brutal attack on a Khimki-based […] Read more »
Finnish journalist to take case to European Court of Human Rights September 7, 2009 Finnish photojournalist Markus Pentikäinen, convicted in 2007 for ignoring a police order to stop reporting at the scene of a 2006 demonstration in Helsinki, is to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights after a Finnish Supreme Court decision of 1 September gave him “no leave to appeal,” according to weekly current […] Read more »
Russian editor-in-chief fears killers of human rights activist and journalist won’t face justice July 16, 2009 A Russian editor-in-chief has expressed concern that the killers of a prominent human rights activist and journalist brutally slain on 15 July will never face justice. “Unfortunately the Russian authorities, although using hard wording to condemn such crimes, do almost nothing to find their organisers, bring the cases to court and punish the killers,” Galina […] Read more »
IPI deeply concerned over defamation charges filed against Syrian journalist and human rights activist April 2, 2008 The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in over 120 countries, is deeply concerned about the Syrian government’s decision to file defamation charges against Mazen Darwich, prominent Syrian journalist and director of the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM). According to information before IPI, […] Read more »
IPI shares concern over lowering of human rights standards for admission of new member states to the Council of Europe June 26, 1997 The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors and media executives from newspapers, magazines, broadcasting organisations and news agencies in over 100 countries, expressed its support today for the position taken by Peter Leuprecht, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, who has resigned over the lowering of human rights standards for […] Read more »
Policy Primer: Why countering abusive lawsuits in Africa matters for the environment Human rights defenders and journalists reporting on environmental issues in Africa are among the most common targets for Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). A new primer from the International Press Institute (IPI) explains how these lawsuits are used against environmental journalists and defenders in Africa to silence critical reporting, and what states should do […] Read more »
Press release New project to monitor media capture across all 27 EU states October 15, 2026 The International Press Institute (IPI), the Media and Journalism Research Center (MJRC), ActiveWatch, and the Investigative Center of Ján Kuciak (ICJK) announce the launch of a new project to defend press freedom in the European Union against media capture. Journalism across the bloc faces sustained pressures from political forces, vested economic interests, and powerful tech […] Read more » Taggedmedia capture press freedom
Advocacy South Africa: IPI urges government to act on African Commission’s press freedom findings October 14, 2026 The International Press Institute (IPI) calls on South African authorities to act on the concerns that the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) identified during its promotion mission to South Africa from September 28 to October 2, 2026. IPI urges the government to conduct thorough and independent investigations into cases of abusive litigation […] Read more » Taggedpress freedom SLAPP
Advocacy Russia: 20 years on, still no justice for Anna Politkovskaya October 7, 2026 Twenty years after Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya was shot dead in her Moscow apartment building, the International Press Institute (IPI) repeats its demand for accountability. IPI also renews its call to strengthen international mechanisms for investigating crimes against journalists when states fail to meet that obligation. Politkovskaya was shot four times, including once in the […] Read more » Taggedimpunity press freedom
Advocacy Egypt: Authorities arrest entire Matsadaash newsroom, charge them with terrorism October 6, 2026 The International Press Institute (IPI) condemns the arrest of six Egyptian journalists who make up the entire editorial team of the investigative outlet Matsadaash, and the terrorism charges brought against them. IPI calls for their immediate release and urges Egyptian authorities to stop using national security laws against the press. Authorities arrested the six journalists, […] Read more » Taggeddetained journalists imprisoned journalists
Advocacy Albania: IPI and partners welcome draft anti-SLAPP legislative package October 6, 2026 The International Press Institute (IPI) has joined media freedom partners in writing to Albania’s Minister of Justice, Toni Gogu, welcoming a draft bill against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) and urging the ministry to add additional safeguards so that the proposed law meets the highest European standards. IPI and its partners have long pushed […] Read more » TaggedAlbania press freedom SLAPP
Advocacy Ukraine: One year after Antoni Lallican was killed in the field, MFRR partners demand justice October 2, 2026 One year after a targeted Russian drone strike killed French freelance photojournalist Antoni Lallican in Ukraine, IPI and Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners mark the anniversary by renewing their call for effective cooperation between French and Ukrainian investigations to ensure that justice is secured. The MFRR also extends its condolences to Lallican’s family and […] Read more » Taggedattacks on journalists MFRR Ukraine
Advocacy Saudi Arabia: Eight years after Khashoggi’s murder, IPI renews call for justice October 2, 2026 Eight years after Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi was violently murdered by Saudi operatives in Istanbul, the International Press Institute (IPI) repeats its demand for accountability. IPI also renews its call on the international community to prioritise strengthening international mechanisms for investigating crimes against journalists — an essential step in tackling impunity when states fail […] Read more » Taggedimpunity journalist killed
IPI Report: Mapping gaps in access to climate, environmental information in six African countries A new report by the International Press Institute (IPI) finds that journalists covering climate and the environment across six African countries cannot reliably obtain the records they need to hold governments and companies to account. IPI calls on those governments to publish relevant records, enforce response deadlines, and protect the journalists who seek them. Journalists […] Read more »
Advocacy Africa: IPI report maps gaps in access to climate, environmental information in six countries September 27, 2026 On the International Day for Universal Access to Information, a new report by the International Press Institute (IPI) finds that journalists covering climate and the environment across six African countries cannot reliably obtain the records they need to hold governments and companies to account. IPI calls on those governments to publish relevant records, enforce response […] Read more » TaggedAfrica climate journalism
