East Africa Digital Rights & Online Freedom of Expression Litigation Workshop
3 – 6 April 2018, Nairobi, Kenya
The Media Legal Defence Initiative (MLDI) is calling for applications from lawyers based in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda to participate in a forthcoming litigation workshop on the right to online freedom of expression, digital rights and the Internet. Successful applicants will attend the litigation workshop and become active members of a digital rights legal network through which there will be opportunity for engagement regionally and internationally.
All applicants are required to submit for discussion a current or potential case involving these matters. If applicants do not have a case, they may submit a relevant law, practice or policy relating to online freedom of expression that they would like to see challenged in court.
Litigation workshop objectives
MLDI provides legal support to journalists, bloggers and independent media. In recent years, MLDI has supported a significant number of cases involving online media. These have included challenging social media blocking and Internet shutdowns, contesting cyber crimes legislation and intermediary liability, as well as calling for greater protections for online privacy and source protection.
Specifically, the objectives of the litigation workshop are:
- To equip participants with skills and knowledge to litigate using national and international laws as well as regional and international mechanisms relevant to freedom of expression online;
- To build a digital rights network and help facilitate its engagement with international legal mechanisms and global civil society initiatives; and
- To assist and develop working relationships amongst lawyers undertaking such cases.
Participants will be selected on the following criteria:
- The workshop is open to lawyers from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda;
- Applicants can either be working in private practice or be working for or be affiliated with NGOs promoting the right to freedom of expression in East Africa through litigation. Exceptionally strong applications from lawyers who have not yet undertaken freedom of expression work, but have experience litigating other human rights cases and have a strong interest in undertaking freedom of expression work will be considered as well. A maximum of 12 participants will be selected;
- The lawyers must have a demonstrated interest in and/or knowledge of the right to online freedom of expression, digital rights, internet freedom and/or related issues;
- The lawyers must have a demonstrated interest in and/or knowledge of international and regional human rights law;
- With their application, applicants are requested to submit a case study of a case that they are litigating or intend to litigate and that could be discussed during the litigation workshop. As set out above, it will suffice for participants who do not have a case that is pending to have identified a relevant law, practice or policy relating to online freedom of expression that they would like to challenge in court. However, such participants must demonstrate their ability and willingness to pursue the case after the workshop;
- The cases submitted must involve a violation of the fundamental right to freedom of expression online;
- The following non-exhaustive list of themes are a guide for the type of cases that could be submitted with the application:
- Cybercrime laws;
- Intermediary liability;
- Internet shutdowns;
- Restriction of online media;
- Online privacy;
- National security; and
- Anonymity online.
How to apply
Please complete the attached application form and submit it to Michael Moss at michael.moss@mediadefence
Deadline: Wednesday 21 February 2018.
Shortlisted applicants will be notified soon after the closing date and should be available for a Skype or telephone interview on 26, 27 or 28 February 2018.
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