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The leadership legacy of Queen Elizabeth II on the centenary of her birth
defend is collating free resources & information to help people of all ages and backgrounds understand and protect their right to free speech.
defend is collating free resources & information to help people of all ages and backgrounds understand and protect their right to free speech.
Two fun facts:
Free speech dates back more than 2,500 years to Athens and the right of a man to speak when on trial
Two fun facts:
Free speech dates back more than 2,500 years to Athens and the right of a man to speak when on trial
The UK is the grandfather or modern democracy and free speech following its Bill of Rights dating back to 1689
Organisations working to protect democratic & free-speech principles:
...has a vision of a world where everyone can enjoy the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights mechanisms. Its mission is to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of these rights. Freedom of Expression (Free Speech) is protected by Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In the UK, Article 10 of the 1998 Human Rights Act protects our right to freedom of expression:
“Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers.”
In the UK, freedom of speech is legally part of freedom of expression.
... campaigns for Internationally recognised human rights that include freedom of expression.
To the surprise of some, it recognises there has to be limits to 'free speech' as does defend UK. By seeking to protect a huge majority of the population (99%+) defend is inevitably limiting a much smaller minority seen to be hijacking and abusing it for self-interest.
Although Amnesty International's core work is targeted differently to that of the defend campaign, its analysis of both Free & Hate Speech as part of its work gives many additional useful insights for those researching 'the free speech dream'.
...has been promoting and defending freedom of information in the UK for 40 years.
"We played a leading role in persuading the government to introduce the Freedom of Information Act in 2000 and have successfully defended it from restrictions proposed by every government since.We seek to improve and defend freedom of information in support of a more vibrant and open democracy".
(credit Logos-World)
"We recognise free speech from multiple viewpoints and believe in questioning authority and supporting others to do so".
Channel 4 was mandated by the UK's elected parliament to champion unheard voices, take risks, challenge the status quo, and represent diverse perspectives across the UK. In other words, to shake broadcasting-up back in 1982, before the digital explosion took hold. It's uniquely a publicly owned, commercially funded UK Public Service Broadcaster (PSB) that operates at no cost to the taxpayer. All profits are reinvested into programmes. In 2012, Channel 4 turned 30 and David Abraham gave a speech offering fascinating insights in to the UK's role in fostering the right to speak out, even pointing to the coffee houses of the 1600s and Speakers Corner in London. His is not the only voice of course to represent established broadcasters and the critical role played alongside ITV, BBC Sky and others in 'speaking out' , but in a regulated way, originally to protect trge people from the powerful nature of broadcasting, identified from the start of radio more than a century ago.
English PEN is one of the world's oldest human rights organisations, championing the freedom to write and the freedom to read around the world. We are the founding centre of PEN International, a worldwide writers’ association with 130 centres in more than 90 countries.
With the support of our members – a community of writers, readers and activists – we protect freedom of expression whenever it is under attack. We campaign for writers facing persecution around the world and offer respite residencies for 3-5 writers per year.
The Future of Free Speech is an independent, non-partisan think tank located at Vanderbilt University.We will reaffirm freedom of expression as the bedrock of free and thriving societies through actionable research, empowering tools, and principled advocacy.
defend says: A brilliant mine of tools, information and research spanning the globe. You must pay a visit!
defend says: A brilliant mine of tools, information and research spanning the globe. You must pay a visit!
...scrutinises the structures for Government decision-making on national security, particularly the role of the National Security Council and the National Security Adviser. In February 2025 it launched a 'Defending Democracy Inquiry. Many individuals and organisations gave evidence which can be browsed 'as live' or written on the JCNSS inquiry pages
As part of its mission, the defend campaign invites ideas for other relevant organisations, individuals or publications that it can signpost as a resources of use to:
As part of its mission, the defend campaign invites ideas for other relevant organisations, individuals or publications that it can signpost as a resources of use to:
Individuals
Schools
Politicians
Journalists
Charities
Employers
Employees
Consumers
Volunteers
But first
The defend campaign launched with a manifesto to protect & promote fairer free speech for democracy in spring 2026, but its work was quietly underway before that; the need is urgent.
The campaign's first volunteer, its founder Jason Tanner, needs the help & resource of other citizen volunteers and philanthropists to join him and to strengthen its mission through donation of time, enthusiasm, skills, money or gifts-in-kind.
If you can volunteer time then please Get Involved with the defend Campaign
If you feel you can Support the defend Campaign then it greatly welcomes gifts in-kind or money.
The defend Campaign is promoting free resources & information for others and also actively seeks partners and case studies from individuals and from both private and public sector organisations, enterprises and charities. Case study contributions can be kept anonymous if preferred.
What would help the campaign to flourish further?
The campaign needs its own phone number and internet domain eventually as it currently freely 'borrows' from elsewhere.
It would be great if you can offer occasional space suitable to host events in Westminster or other parts of London and eventually the UK. We also need space for volunteers to meet and ideally some sustainable office space to help progress 'from the kitchen table' in Haringey.
In the ideal world, no volunteer should be out of pocket for their contribution of time, so support towards travel costs or materials such as printing questionnaires or other materials will always be welcomed. Failing that, a tin of biscuits or a box of tea bags will no doubt be well received by volunteers as they work. If you can donate money or resources then please do email Jason at the defend campaign direct: hello@defenduk.uk or at jason@jasontanner.uk or 07941 433598.
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