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Equatorial Guinea’s [[Probable year:: 1991]] Constitution contains no explicit press freedom protections (Constitute Project, “Equatorial Guinea's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1991]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2012]]” ). +
Article 19 of the [[Probable year:: 1997]] Constitution protects press freedom: “Every person shall have the freedom of speech and expression, including freedom of the press and other media” (Constitute Project, “Eritrea's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1997]]” ). +
Paragraph 13 of Estonia’s [[Probable year:: 1920]] Constitution first outlined protections on press freedom: “In Estonia there is freedom for the expression of personal ideas in words, print, letters, pictures, and sculpture. This freedom can be restricted only in the defense of the State and morals” (Wikisource, “Constitution of the Esthonian Republic ([[Probable year:: 1920]]) ”).
Today, Article 45 of Estonia’s [[Probable year:: 1992]] Constitution protects press freedom: “Everyone has the right to freely disseminate ideas, opinions, beliefs and other information by word, print, picture or other means” (Constitute Project, “Estonia's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1992]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2015]]” ). +
Article 24 of Eswatini’s [[Probable year:: 2005]] Constitution protects press freedom: “A person shall not except with the free consent of that person be hindered in the enjoyment of the freedom of expression, which includes the freedom of the press and other media” (Constitute Project, “Eswatini's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 2005]]” ). +
Freedom of the press was first protected under Article 41 of Ethiopia’s [[Probable year:: 1955]] Constitution: “Freedom of speech and of the press is guaranteed throughout the Empire in accordance with the law.”
Today, Article 29 of Ethiopia’s [[Probable year:: 1994]] Constitution protects press freedom: “Freedom of the press and other mass media and freedom of artistic creativity is guaranteed. Freedom of the press shall specifically include the following elements:
a. Prohibition of any form of censorship. b. Access to information of public interest.” (Constitute Project, “Ethiopia's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1994]]” ). +
Article IV of Micronesia’s [[Probable year:: 1978]] Constitution protects freedom of expression, assembly, association, and petition (UNESCO, “The Constitution of the Federated States of Micronesia”). +
Although it did not explicitly protect press freedom, Fiji’s [[Probable year:: 1970]] Constitution did protect, in the course of its guarantee of freedom of expression, “freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference, and freedom from interference with…correspondence” (PacLII, “Fiji Independence Order [[Probable year:: 1970]] and Constitution of Fiji”). Furthermore, the list of potential qualifications or exceptions to this right suggests that freedom of expression was conceived in the 1970 Fiji Constitution as including freedom of the press:
"Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section to the extent that the law in question makes provision -
(a) in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health;
(b) for the purpose of protecting the reputations, rights or 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...."
Today, Article 17 of Fiji’s [[Probable year:: 2013]] Constitution explicitly protects press freedom: “Every person has the right to freedom of speech, expression, thought, opinion and publication, which includes… freedom of the press, including print, electronic and other media” (Constitute Project, “Fiji's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 2013]]” ).
References:
1970 Constitution of Fiji: https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/1970_constitution.pdf
2013 Constitution of Fiji: https://www.laws.gov.fj/Home/information/constitutionoftherepublicoffiji#:~:text=The%20Constitution%20of%20the%20Republic,the%20procedures%20in%20the%20Constitution.
Section 10 of Finland’s [[Probable year:: 1919]] Constitution Act included the “right to impart, publish and receive information, opinions and other communications without prior hindrance from anyone” as part of its protections on freedom of expression (National Legislative Bodies, “Constitution Act of Finland”).
Today, Section 12 of Finland’s [[Probable year:: 1999]] Constitution protects the “right to express, disseminate and receive information, opinions and other communications without prior prevention by anyone” as part of its protections on freedom of expression (Constitute Project, “Finland's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1999]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2011]]” ). +
The importance of press freedom was originally emphasized in Article XI of the [[Probable year:: 1789]] Declaration of Rights of Man and of the Citizen: “The free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most precious of the rights of man. Every citizen may, accordingly, speak, write, and print with freedom, but shall be responsible for such abuses of this freedom as shall be defined by law” (Yale Law School, “Declaration of the Rights of Man – [[Probable year:: 1789]]” ).
This clause is now contained in Article 11 of the France’s [[Probable year:: 1958]] Constitution (Constitute Project, “France's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1958]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2008]]” ). +
Article 94 of Gabon’s [[Probable year:: 1991]] Constitution protects press freedom: “Audiovisual and written communication is free in the Gabonese Republic, restricted only by respect of the public order, liberty and dignity of its citizens” (Constitute Project, “Gabon's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1991]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2011]]” ). +
Article 23 of Georgia’s [[Probable year:: 1995]] Constitution protects press freedom: “Everyone shall be free to receive and impart information, to express and disseminate his/her opinion orally, in writing, or otherwise. Mass media shall be free. Censorship shall be inadmissible” (Constitute Project, “Georgia's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1995]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2013]]” ). +
Article 4 of the "Law Concerning the Basic Rights of the German People," from 27 December 1848, asserted freedom of the press.
Article 118 of the 11 August 1919 Constitution of the German Reich (The Weimar Constitution) guarantees freedom of the press.
Article 5 of Germany’s [[Probable year:: 1949]] Constitution protects press freedom: “Freedom of the press and freedom of reporting by means of broadcasts and films shall be guaranteed. There shall be no censorship” (Constitute Project, “Germany's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1949]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2014]]” ).
References:
"IV. Fundamental Rights of the German People voted in by the National Assembly in Frankfurt.," IV. Droits Fondementaux du Peuple Allemand votes par l'Assemblee Nationale de Francfort. (1848): 210-211: https://heinonline-org.proxygw.wrlc.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.cow/zzde0172&id=1&collection=cow&index=
The Constitution of the German Reich / August 11, 1919 / Translation of Document 2050-PS / Office of U.S. Chief of Counsel. Courtesy of Cornell University Law Library, Donovan Nuremberg Trials Collection.
https://digital.library.cornell.edu/catalog/nur01840
Germany 1949 Constitution: https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/German_Federal_Republic_2014 +
Ghana’s [[Probable year:: 1979]] Constitution protected the right “to receive and impart ideas and information. without interference, and freedom from interference with his correspondence” (Constitutionnet, “Constitution of the Third Republic of Ghana (Promulgated) Decree, [[Probable year:: 1979]]” ).
Today, Article 21 of Ghana’s [[Probable year:: 1992]] Constitution protects press freedom: “freedom of speech and expression, which shall include freedom of the press and other media” (Constitute Project, “Ghana's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1992]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 1996]]” ). +
Article 14 of Greece’s [[Probable year:: 1975]] Constitution protects press freedom: “The press is free. Censorship and all other preventive measures are prohibited…The seizure of newspapers and other publications before or after circulation is prohibited” (Constitute Project, “Greece's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1975]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2008]]” ). +
Article 10 of Grenada’s [[Probable year:: 1973]] Constitution protects the “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 be to the public generally or to any person or class of persons) and freedom from interference with his correspondence” as well as the “technical administration or the technical operation of telephony, telegraphy, posts, wireless broadcasting or television” (Constitute Project, “Grenada's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1973]], Reinstated in [[Probable year:: 1991]], with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 1992]]” ). +
Article 175 of Guatemala’s first Constitution, which it ratified as a province in the United Provinces of Central America in [[Probable year:: 1824]], protected press freedom: “The Congress, the Assemblies, or the other authorities may not restrict, in any case or by any pretext, the freedom of thought, that of the word, that of writing and that of the press” (Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes, “Title X. Guarantees of individual freedom”). [Translated from Spanish]
Today, Article 35 of Guatemala’s [[Probable year:: 1985]] Constitution protects press freedom: “The publications which contain denunciations, criticisms, or accusations [imputaciones] against functionaries or public employees for actions conducted in the performance of their duties[,] do not constitute a crime or a fault…The activity of the means of social communication is of public interest and in no case may they be expropriated. They may not be closed, attached [embargados], interfered with, confiscated, or seized [decomisados], nor may the enterprises, plants, equipment, machinery, and gear [enseres] of the means of communication be interrupted in their functioning, for faults or crimes in the expression of thought. The access to the sources of information is free and no authority may limit this right” (Constitute Project, “Guatemala's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1985]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 1993]]” ). +
Article 40 of the 1958 Constitution of Guinea guaranteed freedom of the press.
Article 7 of the [[Probable year:: 1990]] Guinean Constitution protected freedom to “express, manifest, disseminate…ideas and opinions through speech, writing and image. He is free to learn and obtain information from sources accessible to all” (WIPO, “Constitution du 23 décembre [[Probable year:: 1990]]” ) [Translated from French]
Today, Article 7 of Guinea’s [[Probable year:: 2010]] Constitution protects press freedom: “The freedom of the Press is guaranteed and protected. The creation of an organ of [the] press or of [the] media for political, economical, social, cultural, sports, recreational or scientific information is free” (Constitute Project, “Guinea's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 2010]]” ).
References:
1958 Guinea Constitution: République de Guinée, Constitution Du 10 Novembre 1958, Digithèque MJP. November 10. https://mjp.univ-perp.fr/constit/gn1958.htm.
1990 Guinea Constitution:English Translation of the French Original Text of the Fundamental Law of 1990, 4 (2021) https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.cow/zzgn0016&id=4&collection=cow&index=
2010 Guinea Constitution: https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Guinea_2010. +
Article 51 of Guinea-Bissau’s [[Probable year:: 1984]] Constitution protects the right “to inform, look for information and be informed without any hindering or discrimination” (Constitute Project, “Guinea-Bissau's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1984]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 1996]]” ). +
Article 12 of the 1966 Constitution of Guyana offers a broad definition of freedom of expression, one which includes main elements of freedom of the press, including the “freedom to receive ideas and information without interference," and the "freedom to communicate ideas and information without interference”.
References:
1966. National Assembly of the Parliament of Guyana. May 16. https://parliament.gov.gy/new2/documents/bills/21123/statutory_instrument_guyana_independence_order_1966_no_575.pdf. +
Article 27 of Haiti’s [[Probable year:: 1843]] Constitution was its first to protect press freedom: “Everyone has the right to express their opinions in any matter, to write, print and publish their thoughts” (Digithèque MJP, “Constituion du 30 décembre [[Probable year:: 1843]]” ).
Article 28-1 of Haiti’s [[Probable year:: 1987]] Constitution protects press freedom: “Journalists shall freely exercise their profession within the framework of the law. Such exercise may not be subject to any authorization or censorship, except in the case of war” (Constitute Project, “Haiti's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1987]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2012]]” ). +