Journalists and human rights defenders in South Africa and the region are facing rising threats in the form of online abuse, physical intimidation, surveillance and harassment, in the face of a global anti-rights movement, Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR), the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) and Amnesty International South Africa (AISA) said on World Press Freedom Day.
This is why LHR, Sanef, and AISA have come together to form a new project called The Capacitating Resilience, Enhancing Accountability and Transforming the Environment (CREATE) project, which aims to strengthen the protection of journalists and human rights defenders in Southern Africa.
This initiative recognises that attacks on media freedom and civic activism are not isolated and that they are part of a broader pattern aimed at silencing truth and undermining the democratic space. The CREATE project is designed to push back against that.
“The CREATE project is an opportunity to enhance protection and safeguard the integrity of journalists in Southern Africa as Human Rights Defenders, recognising that freedom of expression is crucial for open dialogue, critical thinking, societal progress, and democracy,” said Kayan Leung, Head of the Strategic Litigation Programme at LHR.
“We recognise the need for collective solidarity and a stronger network of support of human rights defenders, necessary in the growing crackdown on human rights.”
This new initiative aims to build a safe, supportive, and responsive environment where journalists can do their work without fear, and where defenders of human rights can continue to raise their voices without being punished for it.
Sanef Executive Director Reggy Moalusi said: “This is a key training initiative, coming at the right time when journalists across southern Africa are increasingly being harassed and intimidated. We seek to see a better environment where journalists are better treated and are allowed to do their work without any fear of being hunted down by those who simply hate the work they do, and they are afraid of being exposed for all the wrongdoing”.
At the core of the project is the development of a system where journalists can report threats and harassments safely and confidentially. These reports will not only help secure emergency support for those in immediate danger but will also contribute to a growing body of evidence that can be used to hold perpetrators accountable and influence legal and policy reforms.
AISA Executive Director Shenilla Mohamed said: “This is an important project which underscores the work Amnesty International South Africa, along with other organisations, has been doing on human rights defenders. Journalists, like all human rights defenders, need to be protected. Attacks on journalists ultimately restrict the right to freedom of expression in the country and have the potential to limit the right of the public to access accurate information in the public interest. A vibrant and free press is a key building block of any society”.
By collecting and analysing data on threats and trends, the CREATE project will help shape more informed responses from policymakers, media organisations, and human rights institutions. The aim is to close the gaps that currently allow perpetrators of harassment and violence to act without consequence.
To protect press freedom, the broader environment must be safe for all defenders of rights and democracy. The project strengthens referral networks and access to information so that more defenders, not just those in major cities or established media, can get help when they need it most.
Furthermore, the initiative will contribute to policy and legal advocacy, including efforts to hold tech companies accountable for failing to prevent abuse and disinformation that endangers journalists and defenders. It also aims to support strategic litigation to create stronger legal protections for freedom of expression.
On World Press Freedom Day, LHR, Sanef and Amnesty International South Africa are calling on governments across the Southern Africa region to respect the rights of journalists and human rights defenders, investigate and prosecute attacks on them, reform laws and systems that are used to intimidate and silence critical voices and protect digital spaces from surveillance and online harassment.
Background The CREATE project is made possible through funding from the European Union and reflects a shared commitment to upholding human rights, democracy, and access to information in Southern Africa.
We invite journalists, media outlets, civil society groups and individual defenders to engage with the CREATE project, share their experiences, and access the resources and support available.
For media enquiries or to learn more about the project, please contact:
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR): kayan@lhr.org.za
South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF): reggym@sanef.org.za
Amnesty International South Africa: cassandra.dorasamy@amnesty.org.z
