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According to Article 16.2 of the 1993 Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic as amended in February 1996, "Every person in the Kyrgyz Republic shall enjoy the right ... to free expression and dissemination of one's thoughts, ideas, opinions." Freedom of expression continues to be protected with Article 32 of the 2021 Constitution. However, it does prohibit “propaganda of national, racial, religious hatred, gender and other social superiority.”
References:
1993 Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic as amended in February 1996: http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/research/kyrgyzrepublic-constitution.html
English Translation of the Constitution of 2021, Adopted by the Referendum of 11 April 2021, 9 (2021) https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzkg0041&id=9&men_tab=srchresults +
The 1991 Constitution of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic does not formally protect freedom of expression, but does grant the right to free speech and press in Article 31. This freedom was not stated in the original 1947 Constitution.
References:
Constitution of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 40 (1991). +
The earliest modern legal assertion of freedom of expression in Latvia can be traced to the amendments made in October 1998 to its Constitution (the Satversme), which was originally adopted in 1922 and reinstated on August 21, 1991, following Latvia's independence from Soviet control.
These 1998 amendments formally incorporated human rights protections, including freedom of expression, which were previously safeguarded under an interim Constitutional Law. Article 100 of the 1998 states: "Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes the right to freely receive, keep, produce and disseminate information and to express his or her views. Censorship is prohibited."
References:
Jānis Pleps, "The Constitution of the Republic of Latvia: History and Modern Days," (Riga: University of Latvia, 2016), URL: https://tzpi.lu.lv/files/2016/05/Satversme_Pleps_angliski.pdf
"Constitution of Latvia," Constitute Project, accessed June 11, 2024, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Latvia_2016
"Constitution of the Republic of Latvia." Saeima of the Republic of Latvia. Accessed June 5, 2024. https://www.saeima.lv/LapasEnglish/Constitution_Visa.htm#:~:text=100.,Censorship%20is%20prohibited +
The right to freedom of expression in Lebanon was initially asserted in the Lebanese Constitution adopted on May 23,1926, during the French Mandate following the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire after WWI. It continued to serve as the basis for the protection of civil liberties in the country post-independence (1943).
Article 13 of the 1926 Lebanese Constitution states: “The freedom of opinion, expression through speech and writing, the freedom of the press, the freedom of assembly, and the freedom of association, are all guaranteed within the scope of the law.”
References:
"Lebanon 1926 (rev. 2004)," Constitute Project, accessed June 7, 2024,
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Lebanon_2004 +
Freedom of expression was asserted in the 1966 Lesotho Constitution, as well as in the 2010 Lesotho Constitution.
References:
1966 Lesotho Constitution: O’LEARY, B. L. “THE CONSTITUTION OF LESOTHO: AN OUTLINE.” The Comparative and International Law Journal of Southern Africa 1, no. 2 (1968): 266–70. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23240737.
1993 Lesotho Constitution:https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Lesotho_2018. +
Article 15 of Liberia’s 1847 Constitution first protected freedom of the press, but did not speak to other elements of freedom of expression. Article 15 of the 1984 Liberia Constitution outlines the right to freedom of expression. Article 15(a) defines the scope of the right: "Every person shall have the right to freedom of expression, being fully responsible for the abuse thereof. This right shall not be curtailed, restricted or enjoined by government save during an emergency declared in accordance with this Constitution." Article 15(b) outlines the content of the right: "The right encompasses the right to hold opinions without interference and the right to knowledge. It includes freedom of speech and of the press, academic freedom to receive and impart knowledge and information and the right of libraries to make such knowledge available. It includes non interference with the use of the mail, telephone and telegraph. It likewise includes the right to remain silent."
References:
1847 Constitution of Liberia: https://crc.gov.lr/doc/CONSTITUTION%20OF%201847%20final.pdf
1984 Constitution of Liberia: "Schedule," Constitution of the Republic of Liberia
https://heinonline-org.proxygw.wrlc.org/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzlr0001&id=4&men_tab=srchresults +
The concept of freedom of expression in Libya was formally recognized in the Constitutional Proclamation of 1969 following the coup that brought Muammar Gaddafi to power. Article 13 of the proclamation states: “Freedom of opinion is guaranteed within the limits of public interest and the principles of the Revolution.”
The Constitutional Declaration of 2011, following the fall of Gaddafi, more clearly and robustly asserts the right to freedom of expression. Article 14 of this declaration states: “The State shall guarantee freedom of opinion, individual and collective expression, research, communication, press, media, printing and editing, movement, assembly, demonstration and peaceful sit-in in accordance with the statute.” The declaration also guarantees the freedom to form political parties and civil societies, regulated by law (Article 15).
References:
"Libyan Constitution 1969," ConstitutionNet, accessed June 11, 2024, https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/1969_-_libyan_constitution_english.pdf
"Libyan Constitution 2011," Constitute Project, accessed June 11, 2024, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Libya_2011. +
Freedom of expression in Liechtenstein “ in writing, in print or graphically” was specified in Article 40 of the 1921 Constitution of the Principality of Liechtenstein, granting it “within the limits of the laws and of morality.”
References:
Constitution of the Principality of Liechtenstein, 1921. British and Foreign State Papers (1932), World Constitutions Illustrated, HeinOnline: https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.cow/zzli0006&id=5&collection=cow&index= +
Freedom of speech is guaranteed to all Lithuanian citizens in Article 16 of the 1928 Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania. Article 16 continues, limiting this freedom only “when it is essential to protect morality or State order.” Post-independence from the Soviet Union, Lithuania’s 1992 Constitution expands the explanation of freedom of expression in Article 25: Individuals shall have the right to have their own convictions and freely express them. Individuals must not be hindered from seeking, obtaining, or disseminating information or ideas. Freedom to express convictions, as well as to obtain and disseminate information, may not be restricted in any way other than as established by law, when it is necessary for the safeguard of the health, honour and dignity, private life, or morals of a person, or for the protection of constitutional order. Freedom to express convictions or impart information shall be incompatible with criminal actions - the instigation of national, racial, religious, or social hatred, violence, or discrimination, the dissemination of slander, or misinformation.” However, in Article 145 this right is permitted to be temporarily limited during a state of emergency or martial law, as seen enacted in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine.
References:
Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, 1928. British and Foreign State Papers (1932), World Constitutions Illustrated, HeinOnline: https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.cow/zzlt0064&i=3
Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, 1992. Parliament (Seimas) (consulted 2011), World Constitutions Illustrated, HeinOnline: https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.cow/zzlt0061&i=1
U.S. Department of State. 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Lithuania. (2022): https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/lithuania +
Article 25 of the 1848 Constitution of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg grants freedom of expression along with freedom of the press to Luxembourgers “except for the repression of the offenses committed on the occasion of the exercise of these freedoms.” This is continued in Luxembourg’s 1868 Constitution.
References:
Constitution of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, 1848. HeinOnline (2013), World Constitutions Illustrated, HeinOnline: https://heinonline.org/HOL/COWShow?collection=cow&cow_id=244
Constitution of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, 1868. H.F. Wright (2019), World Constitutions Illustrated, HeinOnline: https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.cow/zzlu0013&i=1 +
According to the preamble of the 1959 Constitution of the Malagasy Republic, "freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of association and freedom to unionize shall be guaranteed under conditions stipulated by law"
References:
1959 Constitution of the Malagasy Republic: "Preamble," Constitution of the Malagasy Republic (1959): 1-4: https://heinonline-org.proxygw.wrlc.org/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzmg0017&id=4&men_tab=srchresults +
According to the 1964 Constitution of Malawi, Article 20(1): “Except with his own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions without interference, freedom to receive ideas and information without interference, freedom to communicate ideas and information without interference (whether the communication to be the public generally or to any person or class of persons) and freedom from interference with his correspondence.”
References:
1964 Malawi Constitution: http://citizenshiprightsafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Malawi-Constitution-1964.pdf +
The 1957 Constitution of Malaysia declares in Article 10, Section 1(a) that "every citizen has the right to freedom of speech and expression." Article 10, Section 2(a) modifies this, stating: "Parliament may by law impose ... on the rights conferred by paragraph (a) of Clause (1),such restrictions as it deems necessary or expedient in the interest of the security of the Federation or any part thereof, friendly relations with other countries, public order or morality and restrictions designed to protect the privileges of Parliament or of any Legislative Assembly or to provide against contempt of court, defamation, or incitement to any offence".
References:
1957 Malaysia Constitution: http://www.commonlii.org/my/legis/const/1957/2.html +
Articles 13 and 14 of the 1969 Constitution of the Republic of Maldives As Amended to 1975 are relevant to freedom of expression. Article 13 describes this right directly: "Every person has freedom of speech and expression of thought, orally and in writing, so long as the express provisions of Shariath and the law are not contravened." Article 14 is relevant to freedom of expression as well: "There exists freedom of acquiring knowledge and imparting it to others in
a manner that does not contravene Shariath or law."
References:
1969 Constitution of the Republic of Maldives As Amended to 1975: Peaslee Amos J.; Xydis, Dorothy Peaslee. Constitutions of Nation. The Hague, Martinus Nijhoff.: https://heinonline-org.proxygw.wrlc.org/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/ctituson0002&id=723# +
In 1959, the Sudanese Republic joined with Senegal to create the Federation of Mali but the withdrawal of Senegal shortly thereafter led to the declaration of the Sudanese Republic as the Republic of Mali (2024). In 1960, the Constitution of the Republic of Mali (“Constitutional History of Mali) was enacted which guaranteed the affirmation of rights enshrined in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights in which Article 19 guarantees the “the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers,”(United Nations, 1948).
Sources:
2024. Familysearch.org. 2024. https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Mali_History#:~:text=French%20Sudan %20joined%20with%20Senegal.
“Constitutional History of Mali.” n.d. ConstitutionNet. https://constitutionnet.org/country/africa-mali.
“Northwestern SSO.” n.d. Prd-Nusso.it.northwestern.edu. Accessed June 8, 2024. https://heinonline-org.turing.library.northwestern.edu/HOL/Page?handle=hein.cow/zzml0024&collection=cow.
United Nations. 1948. “Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/UDHR/Documents/UDHR_Translatio ns/eng.pdf. +
Following their independence from British rule in 1964, Malta enacted their first constitution as an independent republic(Malta - Countries - Office of the Historian, n.d). Chapter IV, Article 33 guarantees the “freedom of conscience, of expression and of peaceful assembly and association.”
Sources:
“Northwestern SSO.” n.d. Prd-Nusso.it.northwestern.edu. Accessed June 10, 2024. https://heinonline-org.turing.library.northwestern.edu/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzmt006 0&id=16&men_tab=srchresults.
“Malta - Countries - Office of the Historian.” n.d. History.state.gov. https://history.state.gov/countries/malta. +
Article 2, Section 1(1) of the 1979 Constitution of the Republic of the Marshall Islands guarantees freedom of speech. Article 2, Section 1(2) describes conditions for exceptions to this rule: "Nothing in this Section shall be construed to invalidate reasonable restrictions imposed by law on the time, place, or manner of conduct, provided: (a) the restrictions are necessary to preserve public peace, order, health, or security or the rights or freedoms of others; (b) there exist no less restrictive means of doing so; and (c) the restrictions do not penalize conduct on the basis of disagreement with the ideas or beliefs expressed."
References:
1979 Constitution of the Republic of the Marshall Islands: https://rmiparliament.org/cms/constitution.html?showall=1 +
Since its independence in 1960, Mauritania has operated under various constitutions. Its first constitution was written in 1961 in the nation's then official language: French(Mauritanie, Constitution de 1961, 2024). The Islamic Republic of Mauritania Constitution does not explicitly and directly guarantee the right to freedom of expression. However, in the preamble the country proclaims itself to follow the principles of democracy and the rights outlined in the 1789 Declaration of Human Rights, otherwise known as The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. The French National Assembly asserts that “The unrestrained communication of thoughts and opinions being one of the most precious rights of man, every citizen may speak, write, and publish freely, provided he is responsible for the abuse of this liberty, in cases determined by law.” The previous section also addresses relative aspects of the freedom of expression by providing that “No man ought to be molested on account of his opinions, not even on account of his religious opinions, provided his avowal of them does not disturb the public order established by law.”
Sources:
https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/declaration_of_the_rights_of_man_1789.pdf
“Mauritanie, Constitution de 1961, Digithèque MJP.” 2024. Univ-Perp.fr. 2024. https://mjp.univ-perp.fr/constit/mr1961.htm. Robert Earl Handloff. 1990. Mauritania. U.S. Government Printing Office. +
Section 3(b) of the 1968 Mauritius Independence Act, created at the independence of the state, mentinos freedom of expression along with freedom of conscience, assembly, and association. Section 12 elaborates on freedom of expression, specifying that it refers to the “freedom to hold opinions and impart ideas and information without interference.”
References:
1968 Mauritius Independence Act, 1968. World Constitutions Illustrated, HeinOnline: https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.cow/zzmu0005&i=18 +
Mexico has had several constitutions throughout its history with the first, the Constitution of Apatzingán, being in 1814. In Chapter V, Article 40 of the Constitution of Apatzingán, citizens are guaranteed the right to express themselves and manifest their opinions.
Sources: +