The UK Finally Does the Right Thing on Repressive Laws
After a long campaign by the international press freedom forces, the British government today abolished the offenses of seditious libel (insult) and decriminalized defamation laws.
Even though these statutes were left dormant in the British books, they still had the power to infuse a chilling effect on the free flow of information and ideas.
Also, the mere existance in the British books encouraged other countries who inherited British laws or were heavily influenced by them to keep them alive and kicking as a powerful means to repress press freedom.
The Index on Censorship:
Two of the World Press Freedom Committee's fundamental goals are eliminating insult laws and decriminalizing defamation ones throughout the world. But time and again, when we advocate for these reforms, public officials in less developed countries brandish a very effective counter argument: If countries like the UK or France or Spain still have these laws in their criminal codes, why should we do away with them?
Now they one powerful reason to drop that argument and reform these laws, which are the most powerful means of censorship in the world, other than deadly threats and violence against the news media.
France and Spain, your press freedom clock is ticking.
Even though these statutes were left dormant in the British books, they still had the power to infuse a chilling effect on the free flow of information and ideas.
Also, the mere existance in the British books encouraged other countries who inherited British laws or were heavily influenced by them to keep them alive and kicking as a powerful means to repress press freedom.
The Index on Censorship:
The laws, which date from the time of the Star Chamber, made criticism of the Monarch or the Government a criminal offence, and were used to silence political dissent. Like the law of blasphemy, they fell out of use in the twentieth century - but their existence in the UK does no favours to the right to free expression worldwide.
In March this year, campaigning groups English PEN, Index on Censorship and Article 19 urged the government to abolish these offences. Amendments to the Coroners & Justice Bill were tabled in the House of Commons by Dr Evan Harris MP, and then again in the House of Lords by Lord Lester of Herne Hill, before the Government eventually accepted the case for abolition and promised to get rid of the laws themselves.
The proposed removal of these offences in the UK clears a path for campaigners to argue for their abolition overseas.
In March this year, campaigning groups English PEN, Index on Censorship and Article 19 urged the government to abolish these offences. Amendments to the Coroners & Justice Bill were tabled in the House of Commons by Dr Evan Harris MP, and then again in the House of Lords by Lord Lester of Herne Hill, before the Government eventually accepted the case for abolition and promised to get rid of the laws themselves.
The proposed removal of these offences in the UK clears a path for campaigners to argue for their abolition overseas.
Two of the World Press Freedom Committee's fundamental goals are eliminating insult laws and decriminalizing defamation ones throughout the world. But time and again, when we advocate for these reforms, public officials in less developed countries brandish a very effective counter argument: If countries like the UK or France or Spain still have these laws in their criminal codes, why should we do away with them?
Now they one powerful reason to drop that argument and reform these laws, which are the most powerful means of censorship in the world, other than deadly threats and violence against the news media.
France and Spain, your press freedom clock is ticking.
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