The misuse of financial laws to pressure, silence and intimidate journalists and media outlets: issue brief

Table of Contents

• The misuse of financial laws to pressure silence and intimidate journalists and media outlets 1
• 1. Introduction 2
• UN agencies and experts 2
• 2. Preliminary data findings 3
• 3. Applicable international standards 5
• 3.1. Standards in international and regional human rights instruments on Freedom of Expression 5
• Arti niversal Declaration of Human Rights UDHR including arbitrary detention 5
• The American Convention on Human rights 5
• 3.1.1. Right to access funding 5
• 3.2. Standards related to misuse of financial crimes from anti-corruption and counter-terrorism bodies 6
• 3.2.1. Standards on counter-terrorism financing and combating money laundering 6
• In June 2015 FATF established international best practices 6
• UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders in October 2023 6
• 3.2.2. UN High Level Panel for Financial Accountability Transparency and Integrity FACTI 6
• 2021 Report of the High-Level Panel on International Financial Accountability Transparency and Integrity for Achieving the 2030 Agenda 6
• 3.2.3. United Nations Convention against Corruption UNCAC 6
• United Nations Convention against Corruption UNCAC 6
• 3.2.4. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNDOC Kyoto Declaration 7
• Kyoto Declaration on Advancing Crime Prevention Criminal Justice and the Rule of Law 7
• 3.3. Soft Law Jurisprudence and Advocacy Milestones 7
• 3.3.1. Human Rights Council on journalists covering corruption 7
• 3.3.2. Misuse of the law and judicial system to silence journalists 7
• 2023 joint declaration on Media Freedom and Democracy 7
• 4. The Impact of the misuse of financial laws on freedom of expressionmedia freedom 8
• 4.1 Censorship and self-censorship 8
• Reputational damage 8
• . Accusations of money-laundering tax evasion or extortion are also an effective strategy to sow doubt over the honesty of the journalists and to isolate them from receiving public support 8
• Economic impact 8
• Damage to media pluralism and diversity 9
• Exile or forced displacement 9
• 5. Trends and challenges 10
• 5.1. Global mapping of financial laws misused to target journalists 10
• 5.1.1. Overview of the application of financial laws 10
• 5.1.2. Growing legal restrictions on access to funding 10
• 5.1.3. Regional trends 11
• 5.2. Trends in the use of financial crimes to target journalists and media 12
• 5.2.1 Package of charges and smear campaigns 12
• 5.2.2. Journalists reporting on corruption face higher risks 12
• 5.2.3. Absent where other legal tools and strategies are easier to employ 12
• 5.2.4. Targeting lawyers 12
• 5.3. Challenges linked to cases of financial crimes 12
• 5.3.1 12
• 5.3.2. High costs 13
• 5.3.3. Psychological impact 13
• 6. Gender and diversity related considerations 14
• 7. Recommendations 15
• States 15
• Intergovernmental organizations 15
• CSOs 16
• Strategic Litigation and legal support for journalists 17
• Tax regulators and authorities 17
• 8. Conclusion 18