News

Greece passes bill aiming to combat abuse of defamation law against journalists IPI, SEEMO welcome changes, but reiterate call for repeal of criminal defamation

VIENNA, Jan 5, 2016 – The International Press Institute (IPI) and the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) today welcomed the passage of legislation intended to strengthen protections for the Greek media in defamation cases.

Greek lawmakers on Dec. 22 overwhelmingly approvedcritical reforms to Greece’s Press Law, popularly known as the “press killer”, that were included in a bill legalising same-sex civil partnerships.

Spanish media outlets take ‘gag law’ to European Court of Human Rights IPI repeats call for new government to repeal controversial measure

News, Spain

VIENNA, Dec 17, 2015 – Three Spanish media outlets announced this week that they would challenge Spain’s new Public Security Law, popularly known as the “gag law”, at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). La Directa (Barcelona), Diagonal (Madrid) and Ahötsa (Navarra) have filed the claim as “potential victims of human rights violations” according to the ECtHR’s admissibility criteria.

Japanese journalist found not guilty of defaming South Korea’s President IPI welcomes court’s decision but urges once again to repeal criminal defamation in the country

News

VIENNA, Dec 17, 2015 – The International Press Institute (IPI) welcomes today’s Seoul Central District Court’s verdict that acquits former Sankei Shimbun Seoul bureau chief Tatsuya Kato of defaming President Park Geun-hye. Nonetheless, IPI reminds South Korean authorities that criminalising defamation falls dramatically short of international legal standards and has a chilling effect on journalists.

Hungarian Parliament fails to advance defamation reform bill Measure intended to counter abuse of defamation laws by politicians

Hungary, News

VIENNA, Dec 9, 2015 – The International Press Institute (IPI) today expressed disappointment over the decision of the Hungarian Parliament’s Justice Committee not to advance a bill that would have repealed criminal defamation and established safeguards against the abuse of civil defamation law.

Greek civil defamation reform bill step in the right direction, IPI/SEEMO delegation says Groups caution that any reform effort incomplete without repeal of criminal defamation

Greece, News

VIENNA, Nov 16, 2015 – New draft legislation intended to combat the abuse of Greece’s civil defamation law in cases involving journalists marks a step in the right direction, but must be complemented by the repeal of criminal defamation, the International Press Institute (IPI) and the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) said today following a joint three-day visit to Athens.

Japanese journalist faces prison time for allegedly defaming South Korean president IPI criticises prosecutors’ decision as “dangerous overreaction”

News

VIENNA, 20 Oct. 2015 – A decision by South Korean prosecutors to seek jail time for a Japanese journalist accused of defaming the South Korean president risks chilling media coverage of political figures, the International Press Institute (IPI) said today.