The report titled Who Controls the Narrative? Legal Restrictions on Freedom of Expression in the Commonwealth, finds that criminal provisions for speech offences, including defamation and sedition, as well as violations of national security laws, are arbitrarily applied to intimidate and silence journalists, human rights defenders, and government critics.
The report concludes that the Commonwealth’s past inaction has contributed to the serious and persistent challenges to the protection of freedom of expression and the rule of law in some member countries.
11/09/2025