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December 11, 2024 – Tunisia/Brazil –
The Tunisian Journalists’ Union (SNJT), supported by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), unveiled a practical legal guide designed to aid Tunisian journalists facing judicial harassment. Funded by the Norwegian government and produced with expertise from lawyers and press-freedom advocates, the guide—available in French and Arabic—maps the steps of criminal proceedings, outlines journalists’ rights during police summons, prosecutions, and trials, and offers best-practice legal strategies for responses in emergencies or when legal counsel is inaccessible. The initiative responds to growing repression in Tunisia since 2019, particularly the broad “false news” provisions of decree-law 54, which has been used to target independent media and criminalize critical expression. Hosted on Human Rights Day (December 10), the guide marks SNJT’s effort to bolster legal resilience among journalists operating in a shrinking civic space.
Complementing this regional effort, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) maintains an extensive Legal Resources for Journalists platform. This global initiative, developed in partnership with TrustLaw and Thomson Reuters Foundation, offers practical guides on defending against criminal defamation, SLAPP lawsuits (strategic lawsuits against public participation), and other forms of legal intimidation. Among its offerings is a comprehensive U.S. legal rights guide—available in Spanish—outlining protections and legal recourse for journalists during protests or government encounters. Updated in 2024, CPJ’s global toolkit now covers multiple regions, helping reporters anticipate and respond to legal threats and promoting proactive strategies for newsroom legal safety.
Reference –
https://cpj.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/CPJ_Brazil-legal-resource-guide.pdf
