Inter-American Legal Framework on the Right to Freedom of Expression: Updated Edition

The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights released a new edition of the Inter-American Legal Framework on the Right to Freedom of Expression. Consolidating freedom of expression standards established by the bodies of the Inter-American system, this 139-page document builds on the earlier version, published in 2009 by the Office of Special Rapporteur Catalina Botero, CGFoE’s former consulting director. The updated version recognizes new categories of specially protected expression, like “speech on environmental issues and speech denouncing gender violence,” reflects the evolution of case law “on the incompatibility of criminal legislation to protect the honor of public officials over critical comments,” and adds strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) to categories of analysis, among many other additions. For now, the document is available in Spanish only.