Legislation

126 results arranged by date

President of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio addresses the "Summit of the Future" in the General Assembly Hall at United Nations Headquarters in New York City, U.S., September 22, 2024. REUTERS/David Dee Delgado

Sierra Leone’s counterterrorism bill called ‘significant threat to press freedom’

Abuja, March 31, 2025–Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio should not sign the country’s counterterrorism bill into law and must ensure any new legislation will not be used to target the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Monday. “President Julius Maada Bio should not assent to Sierra Leone’s terror bill without ensuring that sections hostile…

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CPJ, partners urge Peruvian lawmakers to reject bill that could harm press freedom

The Committee to Protect Journalists and four other international organizations in a joint statement called on the Peruvian Congress to reject a bill that could severely harm press freedom in the country. The bill proposes to increase the penalties for slander and defamation related to ongoing investigations into the alleged commission of crimes by officials and public servants, decreasing…

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Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema, who has previously promised to positivly reform Zambia’s existing cyber crime legislation, said he was open to further dialogue with civil society on the two bills. (Photo: Reuters/Shelley Christians)

CPJ urges Zambian government to withdraw cyber bills from parliament

The Committee to Protect Journalists sent a letter calling on the Zambian government to withdraw the Cyber Security Bill 2024 and Cyber Crimes Bill 2024 from the country’s National Assembly for a comprehensive review to ensure they align with constitutional protections of freedom of the press as well as regional and international standards on freedom of expression.  CPJ raised concerns that…

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A general view shows the Parliament building at the New Administrative Capital (NAC) in the east of Cairo, Egypt, March 24, 2024. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

CPJ, others call on Egypt to reform its draft Criminal Procedure Code

The Committee to Protect Journalists, along with 11 other press freedom and human rights organizations, calls on Egyptian authorities to reject the current draft of the Criminal Procedure Code so a new code be developed in line with international human rights standards. The joint statement highlights several problematic provisions in the draft—especially Articles 79, 80, and 116—that…

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Turkey parliament

CPJ, partners call on European Commission to act on Turkey’s foreign influence agent bill

The Committee to Protect Journalists on Tuesday joined 55 partner organizations in a joint letter to Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, to ask her to act on Turkey’s temporarily shelved foreign “influence agent bill,” which introduces a vaguely defined new offense called “committing a crime against the security or political interests…

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Turkish parliament

Turkey’s parliament expected to vote on ‘foreign agent’ law this week

Istanbul, October 29, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists urges members of Turkey’s parliament to vote against the foreign “influence agent law” when it comes up for a vote in the Grand National Assembly this week as expected. “Unfortunately, Turkey seems to be following the regional trend of establishing a judicial tool for demonizing and censoring independent…

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Uruguay's Senate

Broadcast bill passed by Uruguay Senate threatens press freedom

Mexico City, May 30, 2024—Uruguayan authorities should not approve a proposed broadcast law passed by the Senate and should ensure that all media legislation is discussed broadly, including with civil society organizations and journalist representatives, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On May 14, the Uruguayan Senate approved the proposed “Law of Audiovisual Content…

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Kyrgyz and US officials

Kyrgyzstan parliament approves ‘foreign agents’ law

Stockholm, March 15, 2024—Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov should reject Russian-inspired legislation that would designate externally funded media rights groups and nonprofits that run news outlets as “foreign representatives,” the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Thursday, Kyrgyzstan’s parliament approved in a third and final reading, without debate, a bill requiring nonprofits that receive foreign…

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CPJ welcomes Kyrgyzstan’s withdrawal of restrictive media bill

Stockholm, March 13, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes Wednesday’s decision by Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov to withdraw from parliament a draft law that could have been weaponized against the independent press. “Alongside Kyrgyzstan’s ongoing media crackdown, jailing of journalists, and Russian-inspired ‘foreign agents’ bill, the vague and repressive mass media bill could have been…

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Hungarian parliament

Hungary’s Russian-style national sovereignty bill threatens independent media

Berlin, December 15, 2023—Hungary’s president should decline to approve a law creating a Sovereignty Protection Authority, which local media outlets have warned could be used to stifle independent journalism supported by overseas donors, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Tuesday, December 12, Hungary’s parliament passed a bill to establish a government authority with…

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