Freedom of expression and the right to information are essential in a functioning democracy. Unfortunately, they are both under severe threat in southern Africa. SALC’s media defence and right to information programme works with local, regional and international civil society organisations and lawyers to address violations of freedom of expression and against the media, including censorship, restrictive control and regulation of the media by the state, threats of economic and criminal sanctions against critical newspapers and journalists, criminal defamation and insult laws, threats of extra-judicial physical harm against investigative journalists and absence or under-utilization  of access to information legislation. SALC also uses the right to information to ensure access to information regarding key human rights abuses in the region.