Advice on Promoting More Effective Investigations into Abuses against Journalists

The Panel published its Advisory Report: Advice on Promoting More Effective Investigations into Abuses against Journalists

Panel Members provide expert witness testimony

Several members of the High Level Panel, including Baroness Helena Kennedy KC, Catherine Amirfar, Nadim Houry, and Chile Eboe-Osuji provided expert witness testimony in multiple hearings of the People’s Tribunal for the Murder of Journalists. The Tribunal delivered its judgement in September 2022. See more here

Dutch Parliament commits 500,000 Euro to Feasibility Study

The Netherlands committed, via a motion passed in Parliament on 24 November 2022 to €500,000 of funding to establish a pilot of the International Investigative Support Mechanism, as per the High Level Panel’s recommendations. The High Level Panel was instrumental to the passing of the motion, working closely with Free Press Unlimited, a member of the MFC’s Consultative Network.

Netherlands announce funding for feasibility study

During the Second Summit for Democracy, hosted by the Dutch Government to focus on media freedom, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Wopke Hoekstra, announced the funding available to undertake a feasibility study and give effect to the High Level Panel’s recommendation. Watch here

Panel deliver Non-Paper on the Independent Investigative Standing Mechanism

The High Level Panel contributed to the terms of reference of the feasibility study, and produced a Non-Paper, mapping out how the Independent Investigative Standing Mechanism would work on a practical level, in response to the Netherlands’ commitment of funding, and delivered this to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 30 April 2023.

Deputy Chairs participate in roundtable with Dutch officials and civil society organisations on tackling impunity

Deputy Chairs of the High Level Panel, Can Yeginsu and Catherine Amirfar, participated in a roundtable discussion with Dutch officials and leading civil society organisations on the issue of tackling impunity and the feasibility study.

Bid for Feasibility Study into mechanisms to fill gaps in international law

The Netherlands launched a bid for tender to undertake a feasibility study into whether such a Mechanism is the appropriate response to the gaps in international law, and how such a Mechanism could operate in practice. This was awarded to a consortium from the Asser Institute and the Center for International Criminal Justice.

Panel hosts event to mark International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against journalists

The Netherlands and the High Level Panel collaborated on an event to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists and discuss the Netherlands’ commitment to taking forward a Feasibility study on the High Level Panel’s recommendation on establishing an International Investigative Taskforce into crimes against journalists. Watch here

Panel welcome the Feasibility Study as broadly in line with its own recommendations

Following the publication of the feasibility study in November 2024, the Panel welcomed the Study as broadly in line with its own recommendations.

The Panel provides three legal briefs to the Executive Group of the MFC

Throughout 2025, the High Level Panel has continued to engage closely with the Executive Group of the Media Freedom Coalition, particularly on its recommendation that this Independent Investigative Support Mechanism be established as a ‘fourth pillar’ of the Media Freedom Coalition, including through the provision of three legal briefs to the Executive Group detailing how the Mechanism could be established as a ‘fourth pillar’ of the MFC, at an initial low-cost model, and how a request would work in practice to the Mechanism. The High Level Panel will continue to engage with Member States to drive this effort forward.