The Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD) is a non-profit organisation based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The CLD works worldwide to promote, protect, and develop those human rights that underpin democracy, including the right to information (RTI), freedom of expression, freedom of the press, freedom of association, and freedom of assembly. The CLD regularly drafts and consults on legislation, conducts field research, publishes assessments and guidelines, assists with litigation, and provides training.

The CLD is a not-for-profit organization funded primarily by governments and international institutions. The bulk of the CLD’s work is done in collaboration with one or more local organizations and peer global institutions. Past collaborators include the International Federation of Journalists, ARTICLE 19, Access Info Europe, Africa Freedom of Information Centre, the Media Rights Agenda, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, and Amnesty International.

A prime example of the CLD’s mandate in action is its ongoing work in Myanmar. Prior to 2021, the CLD supported the country’s democratic transition, including by fostering the development of a robust and independent media sector and drafting new laws governing broadcasting, digital speech and the press. When the military Junta conducted a coup in January of 2021, the CLD pivoted, analyzing executive orders crushing media independence, access to information, freedom of expression and human rights more broadly.

The CLD regularly makes submissions to the United Nations, including to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, on contemporary global issues. These submissions are substantive documents, drawing on the CLD’s past and ongoing work. Past examples submissions to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression consider the Right to Information (2021) and Disinformation (2020).