December 9th, 2009
Across the world, defamation laws are used to stifle debate and persecute individuals, writes Agnès Callamard
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December 1st, 2009
Justice Secretary Jack Straw is to establish a working group to examine England’s controversial libel laws. The group will consist of media lawyers, editors and experts. The government has also said it will respond to English Pen and Index on Censorship’s
libel report, along with recommendations by the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee within two months of the publication of the Select Committee report.The working group is expected to convene in January 2010.
November 23rd, 2009
Jack Straw’s move is welcome, but cosmetic surgery won’t be enough to end this international embarrassment, writes Jo Glanville
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November 21st, 2009
The Justice Secretary is reported to have pledged to make English defamation laws fairer. Index on Censorship reports
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November 16th, 2009
Libel lawyers Carter-Ruck have responded to English PEN and Index on Censorship’s libel reform report. By Padraig Reidy
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November 11th, 2009
English PEN and Index on Censorship’s report, Free Speech is not for sale, has attracted coverage from a broad range of media
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November 10th, 2009
As Index on Censorship and English Pen launch “Free Speech is Not For Sale”, a damning report on English libel laws,
John Kampfner highlights the pressing need for reform
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November 5th, 2009
Launch of the Libel Reform campaign and the English PEN and Index on Censorship “Free Speech Is Not For Sale” report12 – 2pm, 10th November 09. Light lunch provided.Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Road, EC1R 3GA
Index on Censorship and English PEN fear: “We’re becoming a global free speech pariah”“Our libel laws allow people accused of funding terrorism or dumping toxic waste in Africa to silence their critics whilst ‘super-injunctions’ stop the public from even knowing that such allegations exist. We need to reform our libel laws now, and that’s why we’re launching a national campaign to persuade our politicians to do so.”
Jonathan Heawood, Director of English PEN
“If we don’t act we’re at risk of becoming a global pariah. There are US States who view English libel law as so damaging to free speech they have passed laws to effectively block the decisions of English judges. Our report is an important milestone in modernising our antiquated and chilling approach to free expression.”
John Kampfner, the CEO of Index on CensorshipEnglish PEN and Index on Censorship will be publishing their report on English libel law reform, and launching the Libel Reform campaign, at the Free Word Centre on 10 November.English PEN and Index on Censorship have been looking into these issues in detail for over a year now and it has become increasingly clear that English libel law and the use of ‘super-injunctions’ are having a profoundly negative impact on freedom of expression, both in the UK and abroad. Writers such as Simon Singh, and respected current affairs programme Newsnight, have found themselves facing defamation suits, whilst human rights campaigners are often forced to edit and retract articles in the face of potential libel action.The Libel Reform campaign will bring together Index on Censorship and English PEN to mount a national campaign with a website launched on 10 November to persuade politicians from all parties of the importance of reforming these unjust laws.
Update: Read the Independent’s interview with Index on Censorship’s John Kampfner here
