Global InformationCentre for Law and Democracy information
 | |
| Nickname | CLD |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2010 |
| Founder | Toby Mendel, Executive Director |
| Type | Not-for-profit organization |
| Headquarters | Halifax, Nova Scotia |
| Website | www |
The Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD) is a non-profit organisation based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The CLD works worldwide to promote, protect, and develop those human rights that underpin democracy, including the right to information (RTI), freedom of expression, freedom of the press, freedom of association, and freedom of assembly. The CLD regularly drafts and consults on legislation, conducts field research, publishes assessments and guidelines, assists with litigation, and provides training.[1]
The CLD is a not-for-profit organization funded primarily by governments and international institutions. The bulk of the CLD's work is done in collaboration with one or more local organizations and peer global institutions. Past collaborators include Columbia Global Freedom of Expression, the International Federation of Journalists, UNESCO, International Media Support, Eurasian Digital Media Foundation, the Judicial Institute of Jordan, Red de Transparencia, Espacios Abiertos, Transparency International, Transparency Maroc, The Institute for Research, Advocacy, and Development, the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms, the Maharat Foundation, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, the FOJO Media Institute, Media Defence, the Myanmar Media Lawyers Network, the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, the Centre for Internet and Society, the Centro de Estudios en Libertad de Expresión y Acceso a la Información, OpenNet Korea, the Canadian Internet Policy & Public Interest Clinic, the Nepal International Media Partnership.[2]
An example of CLD projects is its ongoing work in Myanmar. Prior to 2021, the CLD supported the country's democratic transition, including by fostering the development of a robust and independent media sector and drafting new laws governing broadcasting, digital speech and the press. When the military Junta conducted a coup in January 2021, the CLD pivoted, analyzing executive orders crushing media independence, access to information, freedom of expression and human rights more broadly.
The CLD regularly makes submissions to the United Nations, including to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, on contemporary global issues. These submissions are substantive documents, drawing on the CLD's past and ongoing work. Past examples of submissions to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression consider disinformation (2020)[3] and freedom of expression in armed conflicts (2022),[4] and a 2021 submission to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights considered the right to information.[5]
- ^ "What we Do". Centre for Law and Democracy. 2015.
- ^ "Media". Centre for Law and Democracy. 2012-08-07. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ^ "Submission on an Annual Thematic Report on Disinformation" (PDF). Centre for Law and Democracy.
- ^ "Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression on Challenges to Freedom of Expression in Times of Armed Conflict" (PDF). Centre for Law and Democracy.
- ^ "Submission on Normative Frameworks for the Right to Information" (PDF). Centre for Law and Democracy.