Quote
"Aware of the dissuasive effect of legislation on defamation, the Assembly calls on member States to review such legislation in accordance with Resolution 1577 (2007) “Towards decriminalisation of defamation”. Such review should deal with criminal law penalties as well as civil procedures for defamation which could financially threaten, in a disproportionate way, journalists and media."
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CoE (Parliamentary Assembly): Resolution 2035(2015) on Protection of the Safety of Journalists and of Media Freedom in Europe, para. 11Summaries
- Defamation laws should only be used to protect individuals, never to prevent criticism of the government or institutions.
- When considering claims of defamation, political figures and public officials should be subject to greater public scrutiny and criticism than other citizens.
- There should be a range of remedies available in the case of defamation, respecting the requirement that all remedies be proportional.