Access to information in order to speak freely: Is this a right under the European Convention?
If access to government information is “necessary” for you to investigate and communicate about matters of “obvious public interest”, you may have a right to that information, according to the...
Iran’s Criminalization of Human Rights Defenders: The Case of Narges Mohammadi
The “harassment” of human rights defenders’ and “criminalization” of their activities in Iran has become common practice by the judicial branch of the Islamic Republic in recent years. According to...
Sincerity of Oaths of Allegiance, Freedom of Expression and the Right to Stand for Election in Hong Kong
The frustration of democratization efforts in Hong Kong has recently led to nascent calls for its self-determination or even independence from the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”). In a drastic...
Swazi Court Reiterates Prominence of Human Rights in their Home-Grown Constitution
In September 2016, the High Court in Swaziland ruled that certain provisions in the Sedition and Subversive Activities and Suppression of Terrorism Acts were unconstitutional. The Court held that the...
Right of Access to Information: An Empowering Tool for the Enjoyment of Other Human Rights in Argentina
Argentina has taken a big step towards government transparency and accountability by enacting, on September 29th 2016, its very own Law on Right of Access to Information. This long-awaited law...
Speech and Spies: Why Sri Lanka’s New Counterterrorism Law is a Terrible Idea
A year ago, Sri Lanka promised the world that it would repeal its current Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). In a historic co-sponsored resolution, it assured the UN Human Rights...
PJS v News Group Newspapers: Threesomes! Privacy! Social Media!
On 19 May 2016, the UK Supreme Court handed down judgment in PJS v News Group Newspapers Limited. This decision concerned the proposed publication of details concerning the extramarital activities...
Criminalising Dissent in Indian University Spaces: Implications of the JNU Incident on Free Speech and Sedition Laws
The Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, presents a miserable picture of an economy shattered by decades of constant turmoil, death and military vigilance. In an effort to voice the...
The Struggle for Right to Information in Sri Lanka: Is it Leaving Victims Behind?
Sri Lanka is on the brink of a historic moment. Following a long struggle spanning over a decade, a Bill on the Right to Information (RTI) was tabled in the...
Papa Don’t Preach (You May be Found Guilty of Hate Speech)
Rare is the day when the lowly District Judge sitting in the Magistrates’ Court gets the distinction of having one of his judgments reported. Kudos then to District Judge McNally...
Online Speech in Hungary before the Strasbourg Court: Freeing the Low
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in MTE and Index.hu v Hungary (“MTE/Index”) issued a decision protecting free speech in the form of user-generated online comments. In particular, the...
Endangering Democracy: Concerns Over Raising Surveillance in China
Control over cyber space and information, particularly citizens’ data, has defined modern strategies of combating terrorism through technologies. Justifications provided for extensive surveillance legislation that may impinge civil liberties have...
