Ward: A Missed Opportunity for the Supreme Court of Canada to Denounce Bullying of Children with Disabilities and to Promote Substantive Equality
On October 29, 2021, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) rendered a 5-4 judgement that strengthens protection for freedom of expression while eroding the right of persons with disabilities to...
A Narrowed Ambit of Freedom of Speech and Debate in Hong Kong’s Legislature
Despite recent changes in Hong Kong’s political environment following the introduction of a “patriots only” rule for candidates running for Legislative Council (the city’s legislature) (‘LegCo’) elections, legal developments concerning...
Free Speech Crisis in University
In this episode, Gauri Pillai, Managing Editor of the Oxford Human Rights Hub, speaks to Professor Adrienne Stone, Director of the Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies at Melbourne Law School...
The Offence of Sedition in India and its Future
In what became a widely reported incident, on 15 July 2021, while hearing a petition challenging Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code on sedition, the Chief Justice of India...
South Africa’s Constitutional Court Sets Precedent for the Prohibition of Hate Speech
It is widely recognised that at the heart of the South African Constitution lies an expansive promise of equality, freedom, human dignity, and the fulfilment of fundamental human rights. However,...
Preventive Detention for Bursting Myths: The Draconian National Security Act in India
A Supreme Court bench of India comprising Honourable Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and M.R. Shah directed the release of political activist Leichombam Erendro, who was detained for a Facebook post following...
Association Accept and Others v. Romania: The European Court of Human Rights Takes a Fresh Look at Homophobic Speech and Biased Criminal-Law Enforcement
That hate-speech victims (who have sued unsuccessfully in a CoE member state) should obtain redress in Strasbourg is hardly surprising nowadays and ought not to constitute ‘news’. Yet their cases...
South African Constitutional Court sentences former President Zuma to 15 months’ in prison for contempt of court
On 29 June 2021, the Constitutional Court of South Africa ran out of patience with former President Zuma’s very public recalcitrance, finding the former President guilty of contempt of court...
Arbitrary Blocking of Websites Violates Freedom of Expression, Rules ECtHR
In June 2020, the European Court of Human Rights delivered a series of four judgements against the arbitrary blocking of websites by the Roskomnadzor, which is the Russian federal body...
Reconceptualising ‘Reputation’ post #MeToo
In October 2018, India’s #MeToo wave witnessed an explosion of online testimonies against sexual predators, by women from all walks of professional life. Salient among them was an accusation of...
What Price Comedy? Freedom of Expression and Dignity Clash at Canada’s Supreme Court
The boy with a subwoofer on his head. When I complained that he sang badly, I was told “He’s dying. Let him live his dream.” It’s been five years…and he’s...
Minority Vilification: Redress for Community Members
On 16 February 2021, the European Court of Human Rights delivered landmark judgments against Bulgaria regarding ethnic minority berating: Behar and Gutman; Budinova and Chaprazov. The Court found violations of...