OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media publishes legal review of amendments on the right of reply to the Slovak Press Statute, urges further changes
VIENNA, 25 March 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today published the legal review of the draft amendments on the right of reply to the Statute on Periodic Press and News Agencies of Slovakia, which was sent to the Slovak authorities on 5 March.
Based on the OSCE and other international standards the review recommends keeping provisions of Article 8 that restrict the right of reply of political leaders and public figures. It also recommends preserving the right only in response to “false, incomplete or truth distortive” factual statements as it is today. The current provision reinforces the concept that public officials must be more tolerant of criticism than private persons.
The review also recommends revising other parts of Article 8 in line with previous recommendations and international human rights standards. For example, for the reply to be granted, the individual concerned should demonstrate the existence of a legitimate interest in the request. The right of reply can be refused if the contested information is part of a truthful report on public sessions of the public authorities or the courts. It can also be refused if it is not limited to a correction of the facts challenged.
The full text of the legal review is available here:
https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/414362?download=true
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.