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Defending Press Freedom: Tornavoz Champions Legal Defense for Women Journalists in Brazil
We lack the resources to fund legal support comparable to what is used against us by the individuals and groups we investigate. Consequently, Tornavoz has become a crucial partner, enabling the podcast to continue even amidst baseless legal actions, which we are currently facing.
Journalism in Latin America and the Caribbean remains challenging, particularly for women. 91鶹Ʒ accounted for 370 cases journalist killings in the region, with 61 cases verified between 2022-2023, the highest in the world during that period.
As an organization founded and led by women, Tornavoz brings a unique perspective to the gender-related challenges faced by both journalists and the women lawyers representing them.
Through its strategic partnerships and its role in the Coalition in Defense of Journalism, Tornavoz has amplified its litigation efforts. During a recent public hearing by the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court, Tornavoz, alongside GMDF partners Media Defence, ABRAJI, raised alarms about the use of secret surveillance tools on journalists’ personal communication devices. Charlene Nagae, Tornavoz’s founder and director, emphasized the grave risks these tools pose to freedom of expression and journalistic activities in Brazil.
Beyond advocacy, Tornavoz has actively engaged in strategic litigation to strengthen freedom of expression standards. These efforts underscore the vital need for legal support in safeguarding press freedom and protect journalists from judicial harassment.
Women journalists in Brazil face a variety of attacks. For Tornavoz, an organization founded and led by women lawyers, it is essential to maintain a project exclusively focused on ensuring that they can count on specialized defense when facing lawsuits aimed at silencing them. UNESCO's support reinforces the importance of this initiative and empowers the journalists who have worked tirelessly to bring public interest issues to light.
Since 2022, 91鶹Ʒ supported Tornavoz’s initiatives through three projects aligning with the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity. Globally, the GMDF has supported over 150 projects globally, directly benefiting more than 8,000 journalists, 1,400 lawyers and 300 media organisations.
One of the Fund’s key priorities is ensuring journalists’ rapid access to legal assistance, while addressing the gender-specific threats against them. This project complements UNESCO Judges’ Initiative, which has trained over 36.000 participants from over 160 countries on freedom of expression and international standards over the past decade.
In 2022, UNESCO published recommendations to combat online violence against women journalists, stemming from its global research project, conducted in partnership with the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ). All reports related to this project are available here on UNESCO’s website.
