CI News: "Maldives decriminalise defamation"

[Frederick Noronha]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: CI News <cinews...@unesco.org>
Date: 2009/11/27
Subject: CI News: "Maldives decriminalise defamation"
To: Frederick Noronha <fr...@bytesforall.org>
Maldives decriminalise defamation

Cover page of the Assessment
© UNESCO

26-11-2009 (Paris)

The parliament of the Republic of Maldives has decriminalised the
defamation laws through amendment of the Penal Code abolishing five
articles providing for criminal defamation.

The Bill passed in parliament was part of the government’s wider
platform to enhance respect for freedom of expression.

The decriminalisation of defamation was also one of the
recommendations of an assessment of media development in the country
that was carried out jointly by UNESCO and ARTICLE 19, a human rights
organization defending freedom of expression. The assessment was based
on UNESCO’s Media Development Indicators endorsed by the
Intergovernmental Council of the International Programme for the
Development of Communication (IPDC). It was launched in Maldives’
capital Mahé on 28 October 2009.

Many democracies around the world have decriminalised defamation to
foster freedom of expression and the right to information,
particularly in broadcasting.

Communication and Information Sector
1, rue Miollis, 75732 Paris Cedex 15, France
+ 33.1.4568 4243


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