Censorship and Media Independence

Censorship can range from overt suppression of speech to attacks on members of the press to more subtle measures that inhibit the circulation of ideas. Journalists and human rights defenders are frequent targets of censorship, and the curtailment of their freedom of expression can undermine access to information, democratic governance and the enjoyment of all human rights. In addressing censorship, the Clinic is working on an amicus brief to be filed in a South Korean case arising from a criminal defamation law, as well as a project focused on the growing influence of foreign states and other entities on artistic expression in the entertainment industry.

Recent updates related to this area of focus can be found here

Featured Projects

Amicus Briefs and Expert Testimony
  • The Clinic provided support to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression (2014-2020) by preparing amicus briefs and expert testimony for the following matters related to censorship and media independence:
  • Case: People of the Philippines v. Reynaldo Santo Jr., Maria Angelita Ressa, and Rappler, Inc.,  Criminal Case No. R-MNL-19-01141-C
    Date: June 09, 2020
    Court: Philippines, Regional Trial Court, Manila Branch 46

    Amicus Brief
    Motion for leave to file brief amicus curiae

  • Case: Review process of judgment No. 327 of October 5, 2017, issued by the Second Municipal Court of Apartadó
    Date: November 14, 2019
    Court: Colombian Constitutional Court

    Amicus Brief as filed

  • Case: Emin Huseynov v. Azerbaijan, Application no. 1/16
    Date: 21 September 2018
    Court: European Court of Human Rights
    Intervention as filed
    Court Judgment

  • Case(s): Atilla Taş v. Turkey (no. 72/17); Ahmet Hüsrev Altan v. Turkey (no. 13252/17) Mehmet Hasan Altan v. Turkey (no. 13237/17) Ahmet Şık v. Turkey (no. 36493/17); Şahin Alpay v. Turkey (no. 16538/17); Mehmet Murat Sabuncu and others v. Turkey (no. 23199/17) Murat Aksoy v. Turkey (no. 80/17); Ayşe Nazli Ilicak v. Turkey (no. 1210/17); Ali Bulaç v. Turkey (no. 25939/17); Ilker Deniz Yucel v. Turkey (no. 27684/17)
    Date: Oct 20, 2017
    Court: European Court of Human Rights
    Intervention as filed

  • Case: Case of Nelson Carvajal Carvajal vs. Colombia
    Date: Aug 9, 2017
    Court: Inter-American Court of Human Rights
    Declaration as filed
    Court Judgment (Spanish)

  • Case: Federation of African Journalists et al. v. Gambia, ECW/CCJ/APP/36/15
    Date: May 18, 2016
    Court: Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
    Affidavit as filed
    Court Judgment
Thematic Reports

The Clinic provided support to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression (2014-2020) by conducting research and drafting for the following thematic reports, related to censorship and media independence: