M.O.N. Legal
M.O.N. Legal, in partnership with the Media Legal Defence Initiative (MLDI), is calling on Abuja-based lawyers to apply to participate in a litigation surgery workshop on digital rights and freedoms of expression which will hold in Abuja. The event is a practical litigation workshop on the right to freedom of expression, digital rights and the internet.
Successful applicants will be given the opportunity to attend the litigation surgery in July and on completion of the training, attendees will also become active members of a digital rights legal network through which there will be opportunities for engagement regionally and internationally.
Interested applicants are required to submit a current or potential case involving freedom of expression, digital rights and the internet, for discussion at the legal workshop. If applicants do not have a case, they may submit a relevant law, practice or policy relating to digital rights or freedom of expression that they would like to challenge in court.
The objectives of this specialized litigation surgery training include: To equip participants with the practical 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.
To be eligible, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Must work and reside in Abuja;
- 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 West Africa through litigation.
- Applicants must be proficient in English;
- They 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 either currently litigating or that they intend to litigate, which may be discussed during the litigation surgery. 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 surgery;
- 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
- Surveillance
- National security
- Anonymity online.
M.O.N. Legal is committed to advancing equality and diversity and will therefore consider gender and age in its selection of participants.
Applicants are advised to fill the application form and submit it to info@monlegalfirm.com before the deadline, midnight of July 4, 2021.
Shortlisted applicants will be notified soon after the closing date.
Please note that the use, processing and storage of your data will comply with internationally acceptable standards.
