scholarly journals Religious vilification laws in New Zealand: Should the freedom of expression be taken as gospel?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Fran Barber

<p>With ever-increasing multiculturalism and diversity within New Zealand, this paper explores the potential for religious vilification laws to be passed in order to promote community tolerance. New Zealand’s Human Rights Act 1993 includes both civil and criminal offences for the incitement of hostility on the grounds of race. There is no commensurate provision protecting religion. This paper considers the harm that religious vilification laws seek to remedy, and whether their efficacy in preventing this harm is proportionate to the incursion upon the freedom of expression. Ultimately, it suggests that while there are real harms associated with religious hate speech, the adversarial legal system is a flawed instrument through which to deal with it.</p>

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Fran Barber

<p>With ever-increasing multiculturalism and diversity within New Zealand, this paper explores the potential for religious vilification laws to be passed in order to promote community tolerance. New Zealand’s Human Rights Act 1993 includes both civil and criminal offences for the incitement of hostility on the grounds of race. There is no commensurate provision protecting religion. This paper considers the harm that religious vilification laws seek to remedy, and whether their efficacy in preventing this harm is proportionate to the incursion upon the freedom of expression. Ultimately, it suggests that while there are real harms associated with religious hate speech, the adversarial legal system is a flawed instrument through which to deal with it.</p>


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (40) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaianny Saionara Macena de Araújo ◽  
Magno Gurgel Saraiva ◽  
Adriano Marteleto Godinho

RESUMOEste trabalho tem como objetivo desenvolver a discussão sobre a liberdade de expressão e seu conflito com o discurso de ódio no ordenamento jurídico brasileiro. Deste modo, expõe-se o entendimento e a dimensão do discurso de ódio, assim como sua resolução diante de casos concretos e a reparação civil pelos danos oriundos. Neste contexto, a Ciência Jurídica não pode ser indiferente ao conteúdo dessas normas, tampouco à sua capacidade de adequação aos problemas sociais. O exercício das liberdades civis, sob este prisma, tem muito a ser enriquecido, à medida que se expande a compreensão – antes eminentemente limitada à esfera normativa privada – e passa a tratar da proteção e garantia de direitos com uma preocupação finalística que deve cuidar evidentemente dos direitos humanos, de sua validade fundada tanto na lei, quanto na Constituição, e de sua real eficácia em favor da dignidade humana.PALAVRAS-CHAVEDireitos Humanos. Direitos Fundamentais. Discurso de ódio. Dignidade da pessoa humana. Liberdade de expressão. ABSTRACTThis paper aims to develop the discussion about freedom of expression and hate speech in the Brazilian legal system. Thus, it shows the concept and dimension of hate speech, as well as the resolution in specific cases and the civil liability for damages. In this sense, Law can’t be indifferent to the content of these rules, neither to its adequation capacity towards the social problems. The exercise of civil liberties, based on this conception, has a lot to be enriched, as far as it expands the understanding – previously limited eminently to the private normative sphere – and moves on to the protection and guarantee of rights with a concern that obviously has to take care of human rights, as well as its real effectiveness in favor of human dignity.KEYWORDSHuman rights. Fundamental rights. Hate speech. Human dignity. Freedom of speech.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 607-640
Author(s):  
Thiago Dias Oliva

Abstract With the increase in online content circulation new challenges have arisen: the dissemination of defamatory content, non-consensual intimate images, hate speech, fake news, the increase of copyright violations, among others. Due to the huge amount of work required in moderating content, internet platforms are developing artificial intelligence to automate decision-making content removal. This article discusses the reported performance of current content moderation technologies from a legal perspective, addressing the following question: what risks do these technologies pose to freedom of expression, access to information and diversity in the digital environment? The legal analysis developed by the article focuses on international human rights law standards. Despite recent improvements, content moderation technologies still fail to understand context, thereby posing risks to users’ free speech, access to information and equality. Consequently, it is concluded, these technologies should not be the sole basis for reaching decisions that directly affect user expression.


1997 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 585
Author(s):  
Claire Baylis

In this article, Claire Baylis examines the statutory models of mediation/conciliation in the Human Rights Act 1993 and the Employment Contracts Act 1991 which are used for sexual harassment complaints. She argues that the practice of mediating these complaints is inappropriate due to the incompatibility of the cha585he specific characteristics of most sexual harassment complaints. Further, an analysis of the actual dispute resolution provisions under the Acts raises other issues in the sexual harassment context. Finally, the author outlines some possible reforms to dispute resolution processes in this area.


Obiter ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Botha

In South African Human Rights Commission v Qwelane (hereinafter “Qwelane”) the constitutionality of the threshold test for the hate speech prohibition in section 10(1) of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4 of 2000 (hereinafter the “Equality Act”) was challenged. Although the court had no difficulty in finding that the publication in question fell squarely within the parameters of hate speech, the judgment is both incoherent and flawed. The court’s conjunctive interpretation of the section 10(1) requirements for hate speech also differs from the disjunctive interpretation given to the same provision in Herselman v Geleba (ECD (unreported) 2011-09-01 Case No 231/09 hereinafter “Herselman”) by the Eastern Cape High Court. The consequence is a “fragmented jurisprudence” which impacts on legal certainty, and which is especially dangerous when the legislation in question is critical to the achievement of the constitutional mandate (Daniels v Campbell NO 2004 (5) SA 331 (CC) par 104 hereinafter “Daniels”).This note demonstrates that the Qwelane court misapplied a number of key principles. These include: the court’s mandate in terms of section 39(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (hereinafter the “Constitution”); the need to strike an appropriate balance between competing rights in the constitutional framework; the importance of definitional certainty for a hate speech threshold test; the meaning to be ascribed to the terms “hate”, “hurt” and “harm” in the context of hate speech legislation; and the role of international law when interpreting legislation intended to give effect to international obligations.The consequence of these errors for hate speech regulation in South Africa is profound.


2019 ◽  
pp. 198-211
Author(s):  
Tamara Amoroso Gonçalves ◽  
Daniela Rosendo

New technologies are changing the way men and women live their lives. As a new communication technology, the Internet can be used to both harm and promote human rights. When it comes to gender relationships, social inequalities might be reflected online, regarding access and the ways technologies are used. Hate speech, porn revenge and other ways to offend women's rights online are discussed, leading to questions related to possible limitations on freedom of expression. This chapter examines legal solutions that have been proposed in Brazil regarding electronic devices and Internet regulation and considers how restrictions on freedom of expression can be addressed in a human rights perspective.


2019 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
James Marson ◽  
Katy Ferris

Each Concentrate revision guide is packed with essential information, key cases, revision tips, exam Q&As, and more. Concentrates show you what to expect in a law exam, what examiners are looking for, and how to achieve extra marks. This chapter discusses the English legal system. It provides an overview of the courts in the civil and criminal divisions, and their hierarchy. It discusses the source of law, delegated legislation, the impact of membership in the EU and the Human Rights Act 1998, and alternative forms of dispute resolution (ADR). The implications of ADR are increasingly important in civil disputes and essential between businesses where traditional court action can destroy commercial relationships.


Tort Law ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 446-481
Author(s):  
Kirsty Horsey ◽  
Erika Rackley

This chapter examines the nascent ‘tort’ of invasion of privacy. It first considers why no free-standing tort of invasion of privacy exists, before looking at breach of confidence—a legal concept straddling tort and equity and concerned with ‘secrets’ and judicially adapted to protect privacy by developing the new tort of misuse of private information. The chapter then asks whether developments in the law protecting privacy—particularly in the wake of the Human Rights Act 1998—threaten freedom of expression and therefore the general public’s ‘right’ to information, particularly about celebrities, including royalty and politicians.


Author(s):  
Bernadette Rainey

Each Concentrate revision guide is packed with essential information, key cases, revision tips, exam Q&As, and more. Concentrates show you what to expect in a law exam, what examiners are looking for, and how to achieve extra marks. This chapter focuses on freedom of religion and freedom of expression, which are classified as qualified rights, and examines Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which explains the right to hold or not hold a belief as well as the right to manifest a belief. It also considers how the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) decides if there has been manifestation of belief, interpretation of Article 10 with respect to views that shock and disturb and some forms of hate speech, and state restriction of expression. The chapter concludes with a discussion of freedom of religion and expression in the UK.


Author(s):  
Bernadette Rainey ◽  
Elizabeth Wicks ◽  
Andclare Ovey

This chapter examines the protection of the freedom of expression in the European Convention on Human Rights, discusses the provisions of Article 10, and explains that the majority of cases concerning Article 10 are brought by persons who have received some penalty for defaming or insulting other people. It analyses what constitutes an interference with free expression and considers the limitations on freedom of expression. The chapter also examines the judgments made by the Strasbourg Court on several related cases, including those that involved incitement to violence and hate speech, obscenity, and blasphemy. It also covers the development of case-law concerning social media and the internet.


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