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Article 13 of the 1994 Constitution stated "Freedom of the press is recognised and guaranteed. It is exercised within the conditions fixed by law. The exercise of this liberty and equal access for all to the medias of the state are assured by an independent organ, the status of which is fixed by law."
Article 15 of the current [[Probable year:: 2016]] Constitution states that “the freedom of the press is recognized and guaranteed. It is exercised within the conditions established by the law” (Constitute Project, “Central African Republic's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 2016]]” ).
References:
Constitution of the Central African Republic, Adopted on 28 December 1994, promulgated on 14 January 1995: https://g7plus.fd.uc.pt/pdfs/CentralAfricanRepublic.pdf
“Central African Republic 2016 Constitution.” Constitute. Last modified 2016. https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Central_African_Republic_2016 +
Chad’s [[Probable year:: 1959]] first protected freedom of the press under Article 5: “the press is free, whatever its mode of expression may be. The conditions of the exercise of the freedom of the press are determined by the law”
Today, press freedom is protected under Title II, Article 28 of the [[Probable year:: 2018]] Constitution: “The freedoms of opinion and of expression, of communication, of conscience, of religion, of the press, of association, of assembly, of movement, and of demonstration are guaranteed to all” (Constitute Project, Chad's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 2018]]) .
References:
1959 Chad Constitution: "Title I: Of the State, of Sovereignty and of the Public Freedoms," Constitution of the Republic of Chad 31 March 1959 (1959): 3-4 https://heinonline-org.proxygw.wrlc.org/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zztd0003&id=3&men_tab=srchresults
2018 Chad Constitution: https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Chad_2018?lang=en +
Chile originally protected freedom of the press under Article XXIII of its [[Probable year:: 1812]] Provisional Constitutional Regulations: “The press will enjoy a legal liberty; and so that it does not generate a damaging [nociva] license concerning religion, customs and [the] honor of the citizens and of the country, regulations [reglas] will be prescribed by the Government and Senate.”
Today, Chapter III, Article 19 of Chile’s [[Probable year:: 1980]] Constitution protects press freedom: “Freedom to express opinions and to inform, without prior censorship, in any form and by any means, notwithstanding the liability for crimes and abuses committed in the exercise of these freedoms, in accordance with the law, which shall be of qualified quorum.
In no case may the law establish a state monopoly over the mass media.” (Constitute Project, “Chile's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1980]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2021]]” ).
References:
"Provisional Constitutional Regulation, 26/27 October 1812," Provisional Constitutional Regulation, 26/27 October 1812 (1812): 1-10: https://heinonline-org.proxygw.wrlc.org/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzcl0108&id=9&men_tab=srchresults
1980 Chile Constitution with revisions up to 2021: https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Chile_2021 +
One of the earliest references to press freedom came about in [[Probable year:: 1904]], when “the newspaper Dongfang Zazhi (The Eastern Miscellany) published a leading article arguing that in a country where people were allowed to express their opinions freely, its citizens were wiser than those who lived in a country where press freedom was not guaranteed.” This article echoed the sentiment of many leading Chinese intellectuals at the time (Guo 89-90, [[Probable year:: 2020]]) .
Four years later, the 1908 Memorial and Edict on Constitutional Government stated: "Officers and people who keep within the law will have freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly."
Chapter III, Article 87 of China’s [[Probable year:: 1954]] Constitution protected freedom of the press. Today, similar language is located in Chapter II, Article 35 of China’s Constitution: “Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration.” (Constitute Project, “China (People’s Republic of)'s Constitution of 1982 with Amendments through 2018”).
References:
Guo, Yi. “The Liminal Landscape.” In Freedom of the Press in China: A Conceptual History, 1831-1949, 87–116. Amsterdam University Press, 2020. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv18zhcx6.9.
1908 Memorial and Edict on Constitutional Government: English translation of the Edict of 1908 191 (2012) Memorial and Edict on Constitutional Government, August 27, 1908 https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzcn0021&id=3&men_tab=srchresults
1954 Constitution of the People's Republic of China: https://ecommons.cornell.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/f7bbb8b4-822c-467e-b51c-430e44430e4d/content
China (People’s Republic of) 1982 (rev. 2018): https://constituteproject.org/constitution/China_2018 +
The first legal reference to press freedom in Colombia arose in Title 1, Article 16 of Cundinamarca’s Departmental Constitution in 1811 (Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes).
Article 156 of the 1821 Constitution of the Republic of Colombia protected freedom of the press: "All Colombians have the right of freely recording, printing, and publishing their thoughts and opinions, without the necessity of any examination, revision, or censorship, previous to publication. Those, however, who commit any abuse of this inestimable privilege, shall incur the punishments which they have deserved, conformably to the Laws."
Today, Title II, Article 20 of Colombia’s [[Probable year:: 1991]] Constitution protects press freedom: “Every individual is guaranteed the freedom to express and diffuse his/her thoughts and opinions, to transmit and receive information that is true and impartial, and to establish mass communications media (Constitute Project, “Colombia's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1991]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2005]]” ).
References:
1811 Cundinamarca Departmental Constitution: Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes
https://www.cervantesvirtual.com/obra-visor/constitucion-de-cundinamarca-30-de-marzo-de-1811-y-promulgada-el-4-de-abril-de-1811--0/html/
1821 Constitution of the Republic of Colombia: English translation of the Spanish original text of the Constitution of 1821 718 (2009) Title VIII: General Regulations: https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.cow/zzco0007&id=21&collection=cow&index=#
1991 Colombia Constitution (rev. 2015): https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Colombia_2015 +
Press freedom protections first appeared in the Preamble of Comoros’s [[Probable year:: 1996]] Constitution: “Inspired by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights , it proclaims and guarantees…freedom of thought and opinion, of the press and of publishing, of creation and of literary, artistic and scientific production” (Digithèque MJP, “Constitutional law of October 20, [[Probable year:: 1996]]” ).
Today, Chapter II, Article 18 of the [[Probable year:: 2009]] Comoros Constitution protects press freedom: “Freedom of information, communication, and the press are guaranteed within the conditions established by law” (Constitute Project, “Comoros's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 2018]]” ). +
Costa Rica originally operated under the Spanish Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1812]], which protected freedom of the press under Article 131: The powers and duties of the Courts are…to protect the political liberty of the press” (Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes, “The Political Constitution of the Spanish Monarchy: Promulgated in Cádiz, the nineteenth day of March”).
Today, Title IV, Article 29 of the [[Probable year:: 1949]] Costa Rican Constitution protects freedom of the press: “Every one may communicate their thoughts by words or in writing and publish them without prior censorship; but they will be responsible for the abuses committed in the exercise of this right, in the cases and the mode that the law establishes” (Constitute Project, “Costa Rica's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1949]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2011]]” ). +
As a former part of Yugoslavia, freedom of the press was protected in Croatia under Article 36 of the Yugoslavian Constitution: “Freedom of the press and other forms of public information shall be guaranteed. Citizens shall have the right to express and publish their opinions in the mass media” (National Legislative Bodies, “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia”).
Today, Croatia protects freedom of the press under Article 38 of its [[Probable year:: 1991]] Constitution: “Freedom of expression shall specifically include freedom of the press and other media of communication, freedom of speech and public expression, and free establishment of all institutions of public communication” (Constitute Project, “Croatia's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1991]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2010]]” ). +
Cuba’s [[Probable year:: 1901]] Constitution, its first as an independent nation, protected press freedom under Article 25: “Every person may freely, without censorship, express his thought either by word of mouth or in writing, through the press, or in any other manner whatsoever, subject to the responsibilities specified by law, whenever thereby attacks are made upon the honor of individuals, upon social order, and upon public peace” (George A. Smathers Libraries, “Translation of the proposed constitution for Cuba”).
Today, Article 55 of the [[Probable year:: 2019]] Cuban Constitution protects press freedom: “People's freedom of press is recognized. This right is exercised according to the law and for the good of society. The fundamental means of social communication, in any of their forms, are the socialist property of all people or of political, social, and mass organizations, and may not be categorized as any other type of property. The State establishes the principles of organization and operation for all means of social communication” (Constitute Project, “Cuba's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 2019]]” ). +
Article 19 of Cyprus’s [[Probable year:: 1960]] Constitution protects press freedom: “Every person has the right to freedom of speech and expression in any form. This right includes freedom to hold opinions and receive and impart information and ideas without interference by any public authority and regardless of frontiers” (Constitute Project, “Cyprus's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1960]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2013]]” ). +
As a part of Czechoslovakia, freedom of the press was protected by Article 113 of the [[Probable year:: 1920]] Czechoslovakian Constitution: “Freedom of the Press as well as the right to assemble peaceably and without arms and to form associations is guaranteed” (Masarykova Univerzita, “The Constitutional charter of the Czechoslovak Republic”).
Today, Article 17 of the [[Probable year:: 1992]] Czech Constitution protects freedom of the press: “Everyone has the right to express his views in speech, in writing, in the press, in pictures, or in any other form, as well as freely to seek, receive, and disseminate ideas and information irrespective of the frontiers of the state” (Constitute Project, “Czech Republic's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1993]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2002]]” ). +
Article 26 of the DRC’s [[Probable year:: 1964]] Constitution first established protections for press freedom: “Freedom of the press is guaranteed to all Congolese” (Digithèque MJP, “Constitution of August 1, [[Probable year:: 1964]]” ).
Today, Title II, Article 24 of the DRC’s [[Probable year:: 2005]] Constitution protects freedom of the press: “The freedom of the press, the freedom of information and of broadcasting by radio and television, the written press or any other means of communication are guaranteed, under reserve of respect for the law, for public order, for morals and for the rights of others” (Constitute Project, “Congo (Democratic Republic of the)'s Constitution of [[Probable year:: 2005]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2011]]” ). +
Section 77 of Denmark’s [[Probable year:: 1849]] Constitutional Act states that “Any person shall be at liberty to publish his ideas in print, in writing, and in speech, subject to his being held responsible in a court of law. Censorship and other preventive measures shall never again be introduced” (Folketinget, “My Constitutional Act”). This clause is still located in Section 77 of the [[Probable year:: 1959]] iteration of the Danish Constitution, which Denmark currently adopts (Constitute Project, “Denmark's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1953]]” ). +
Under Article 15 of the [[Probable year:: 1992]] Djibouti Constitution: "Each has the right to express and to disseminate freely their opinions by word, pen, and image. These rights may be limited by prescriptions in the law and in respect for the honor of others." (Constitute Project, “Djibouti's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1992]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2010]]” ).
References:
1992 Djibouti Constitution: Constitute Project, Djibouti's Constitution of 1992 with Amendments through 2010
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Djibouti_2010?lang=en +
Article 10 of the 1978 Constitution of Dominica protects the “freedom to receive ideas and information without interference, freedom to communicate ideas and information without interferences.” This is subject to several limitations, notably including those "reasonably required for the purpose of protecting the reputations, rights and freedoms of other persons or the private lives of persons concerned in legal proceedings, preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, maintaining the authority and independence of the courts or regulating the technical administration or the technical operation of telephony, telegraphy, posts, wireless broadcasting or television."
References:
1978 Constitution of Dominica: "Chapter I: Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms," Commonwealth of Dominica Constitution Order, 1978 (1978): 2919-2934 https://heinonline-org.mutex.gmu.edu/HOL/Page?handle=hein.cow/zzdm0004&id=7&collection=cow&index= +
Article 18 of the 1821 Constitutive Act of the Provisional Government of the Independent State of the Spanish Part of Hayti stated: "The liberty of the Press shall subsist in its present state, subject to the formalities and punishments prescribed by the existing Laws, until others of a more suitable nature are promulgated."
According to Article 23 of the Dominican Republic’s [[Probable year:: 1844]] Constitution: “All Dominicans can freely print and publish their ideas, without prior censorship, subject to the law. The classification of printing crimes corresponds exclusively to the juries” [Translated from Spanish]
Today, Article 49 of the Dominican Republic’s Constitution protects press freedom: “All persons have the right to freely express their thoughts, ideas, and opinions by any medium, without having allowed for prior censorship… All information media have free access to the official and private sources of information of public interest, in accordance with the law. The professional secret and the conscience clause of the journalist are protected by the Constitution and the law” (Constitute Project, “Dominican Republic's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 2015]]” ).
References:
1821 Constitutive Act of the Provisional Government of the Independent State of the Spanish Part of Hayti: English translation of the Constitution of 1821 557 (2010) Constitutive Act of the Provisional Government of the Independent State of the Spanish Part of Hayti
https://heinonline-org.mutex.gmu.edu/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzdo0002&id=8&men_tab=srchresults
1844 Constitution of the Dominican Republic: Spanish orignal text of the Constitution of 1844 [3] (2012) Chapter II: Public
Right of Dominicans
https://heinonline-org.mutex.gmu.edu/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzdo0014&id=3&men_tab=srchresults
2015 Constitution of the Dominican Republic: https://heinonline-org.mutex.gmu.edu/HOL/Page collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzdo0014&id=3&men_tab=srchresults
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Dominican_Republic_2015
Section 41 of Timor-Leste’s [[Probable year:: 2002]] Constitution protects press freedom:
"1. Freedom of the press and other mass media is guaranteed.
2. Freedom of the press shall comprise, namely, the freedom of speech and creativity for journalists, the access to information sources, editorial freedom, protection of independence and professional confidentiality, and the right to create newspapers, publications and other means of broadcasting.
3. The monopoly on the mass media shall be prohibited.
4. The State shall guarantee the freedom and independence of the public mass media from political and economic powers.
5. The State shall guarantee the existence of a public radio and television service that is impartial in order to, inter-alia, protect and disseminate the culture and the traditional values of the Democratic Republic of East Timor and guarantee opportunities for the expression of different lines of opinion.
6. Radio and television stations shall operate only under a licence, in accordance with the law."
References:
2002. Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. http://timor-leste.gov.tl/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Constitution_RDTL_ENG.pdf. +
Article 63 of Ecuador’s [[Probable year:: 1830]] Constitution guaranteed that “Every citizen can freely express and publish their thoughts through the press, respecting public decency and morals, and always subjecting themselves to the responsibility of the law”.
Today, Article 16 of the [[Probable year:: 2008]] Ecuadorian Constitution protects press freedom: “
“All persons, individually or collectively, have the right to:
1. Free, intercultural, inclusive, diverse and participatory communication in all spheres
of social interaction, by any means or form, in their own language and with their own symbols.
2. Universal access to information and communication technologies.
3. The creation of media and access, under equal conditions, to use of radio spectrum frequencies for the management of public, private and community radio and television stations and to free bands for the use of wireless networks
4. Access and use of all forms of visual, auditory, sensory and other communication that make it possible to include persons with disabilities.
5. Become part of participation spaces as provided for by the Constitution in the field of communication.”
(Constitute Project, “Ecuador's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 2008]]” )
References:
1830 Constitution of Ecuador: English translation of the original Constitution of 1830. 15 (2017) Part VIII: Civil Rights and Guarantees https://heinonline-org.proxygw.wrlc.org/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzec0081&id=15&men_tab=srchresults
2021. “Ecuador 2008 (Rev. 2021) Constitution.” 2021. ConstitutionNet. https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Ecuador_2021?lang=en. +
Article 15 of Egypt’s [[Probable year:: 1923]] Constitution initially protected freedom of the press: “The press shall be free within the limits of the law. Censorship of newspapers shall be prohibited. Warning, suspension or cancellation of papers via administrative means shall also be prohibited unless necessary for protecting social order” (Constitutionnet, “Royal Decree No. 42 of [[Probable year:: 1923]]” ).
Today, Article 70 of the [[Probable year:: 2014]] Egyptian Constitution protects press freedom: “Freedom of press and printing, along with paper, visual, audio and digital distribution is guaranteed. Egyptians -- whether natural or legal persons, public or private -- have the right to own and issue newspapers and establish visual, audio and digital media outlets” (Constitute Project, “Egypt's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 2014]]” ).
References:
“Royal Decree No. 42 of 1923” 1923: https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/1923_-_egyptian_constitution_english_1.pdf
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Egypt_2019?lang=en +
Article 13 of the 1824 Constitution of the State of Salvador holds: "The people may not, by themselves, nor by any authority, be deprived of its Sovereignty; and may not exceed to it except in the primary elections, and exercising them according to the law. Furthermore, Salvadorans have the right of petition, and the freedom of [the] press to propose appropriate [utiles] measures, and to censure the conduct of the public functionaries in the exercise of their office [cargo] and to see to compliance with the laws."
Chapter 16, Section 73 of the 1841 Constitution of the State of Salvador reads: "Every citizen and inhabitant may freely express, write, and publish his opinion, without being subject to censorship, and with the sole condition of being answerable for the abuse of that liberty before a jury established by the law."
Today, Article 6 of El Salvador’s [[Probable year:: 1983]] Constitution contains protections for freedom of the press: “Every person may freely express and disseminate his thoughts provided they do not subvert the public order nor injure the moral, honor or private lives of others. The exercise of this right shall not be subject to previous examination, censorship or bond; but those who infringe on the laws [while] making use of this right, shall respond for the offense they commit” (Constitution Project, “El Salvador's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1983]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2014]]” ).
References:
1824 Constitution of the state of Salvador: English Translation of the Spanish Original Text of the Constitution of 1824 3 (1824) Chapter III
https://heinonline-org.proxygw.wrlc.org/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzsv0053&id=4&men_tab=srchresults
1841 Constitution of the State of Salvador: English translation of the Constitution of 1841. 207 (2010) https://heinonline-org.proxygw.wrlc.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.cow/zzsv0002&id=2&collection=cow&index=
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/El_Salvador_2014.pdf?lang=en