The Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has issued a new thematic factsheet focusing on the execution of ECtHR judgments concerning freedom of expression. As underlined by the European Court, freedom of expression is one of the primary conditions for the progress of a democratic society and for the development of each individual. It implies pluralism, tolerance and openness, without which there is no democratic society, leaving little room for restrictions on this freedom notably in two areas: political speech and matters of public interest.
Within the joint action of the European Union and the Council of Europe “Freedom of expression and freedom of the media in North Macedonia”, which is part of the joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022”, this new thematic factsheet has been translated in Macedonian language and will be disseminated among legal professionals in North Macedonia.
The factsheet sets out a number of examples of general and, where appropriate, individual measures adopted and reported by States, in the context of the execution of judgments of the European Court, to safeguard and protect freedom of expression, including safety of journalists, freedom of the press and protection of journalistic sources, media pluralism and broadcasting licences, freedom of commercial and artistic expression, dissemination of information for electoral purposes, protection of the reputation and rights of others and proportionality in the application of the law and sanctions, freedom of expression in the context of national security, public safety and anti-terrorism, and the reception of information from prisoners in penal institutions.
Thematic factsheet on freedom of expression
