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​​Comments on legislation and policy

In this page, the UN Special Rapporteur shares all comments provided by the mandate to States on national laws, regulations and policies. The mandate regularly provides comments on the adequacy of normative and policy developments with international standards for the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

See below a list of letters concerning national norms sent since 2011 by the UN special rapporteur and the responses from Government to these communications. 

Recent communications

Republic of Korea

  • 7 November 2018 – Decision of the Supreme Court on conscientious objection – OL KOR 4/2018

United Republic of Tanzania

  • 26 October 2018 – Draft amendments to the Statistics Act - OL TZA 4/2018

Mozambique

Australia

  • 11 September 2018 - Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Bill 2018 – OL AUS 5/2018

Egypt

  • 9 August 2018- Amendments to the Press and Media Law – EGY 13/2018

Nepal

  • 11 July 2018 -  National Integrity and Ethics Policy 2074 (Policy) – NPL 1/2018

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Malaysia

  • 5 July 2018 – Communications and Multimedia Act and the Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission Act – MYS 2/2018

Russian Federation

European Union

  • 13 June 2018: draft directive on copyright in the digital single market OTH 41/2018

Honduras

  • 7 June 2018- iniciativa legal sobre ciberseguridad y medidas de protección ante los actos de odio y discriminación en internet y redes sociales HND 6/2018

France

Mauritania

  • 14 May 2018 – Article 306 of the Penal Code mandating death penalty for blasphemy – MRT 1/2018


All communications sent since 2011 divided by country

Apple

  • 4 August 2017: Removal of VPN applications from Apple Store in China - OTH 16/2017

Azerbaijan

  • 10/12/2012 – Amendments to Law on Freedom of Assembly, the Administrative Offences Code and the Criminal Code. -  AZE 5/2012
    Government reply: 16/08/2013

Argentina

  • 26 April 2018: proyecto de ley por el que se regula la responsabilidad de los intermediarios de Internet -
    OL ARG 1/2018

Australia

  • 15 February 2018: Submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security’s call for submission on National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill 2017 –  AUS 2/2018
  • 12/02/2016- Amendments to criminal code « Prevention of Lawful Activity Bill » in the state of Western Australia – AUS 1/2016
    Government reply: 13/04/2016

Bahrain

Bangladesh

  • 29/10/2013 - Amended Information and Communication Technology Act - BGD 11/2013
    Government reply: 31/10/2013
  • 02/07/2014 - Latest version of the draft Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Act 2014 - BGD 3/2014
    Government reply: 08/07/2014

Bolivia

  • 30/10/2014 - Reglamento parcial 1987 de la Ley 351 de Otorgación de Personalidades Jurídicas - BOL 3/2014
    Government reply: 02/01/2015

Brazil

Brunei Darussalam

  • 20/04/2016 – Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement  - BRN 1/2016

Burundi

  • 18/02/2013 - Draft law modifying Law No. 1/025 (Regulating the press)-  BDI 1/2013

Cambodia

  • 3 April 2018 – “Draft minimum wage law” – KHM 3/2018

Cameroun

  • 08/01/2014- Law 962 on Counter-terrorism –CMR 2/2014

Canada

  • 17 April 2018 - Comments on the telecommunications and entertainment industry coalition’s application to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission pursuant to sections 24, 24.1, 36 and 70(1)(a) of the Telecommunications Act 1993 to "disable on-line access to piracy sites" – CAN 1/2018 
  • 20/04/2016 – Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – CAN 1/2016
    Government reply: 02/05/2016  and 14/06/2016

Chile

  • 02/11/2012 - Proyecto de Ley que Fortalece el Resguardo del Orden Público - CHL 5/2012
    Government reply: 07/01/2013
  • 20/04/2016- Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – CHL 2/2016

China

  • 04/08/2015- Draft law on Cyber-Security  – CHN 7/2015

Committee on NGOs of the Economic and Social Council

  • 5 April 2017 - Working methods to grant consultative status to non-governmental organizations- OL OTH 5/2017

Democratic Republic of Congo 

  • 15 November 2017 – Draft bill on the regulation of NGOs – COD 2/2017

Ecuador

  • 19/07/2012 - Proyecto de Ley Orgánica de Comunicación - ECU 1/2012
    Government reply: 03/09/2012
  • 14 octubre 2016: Ley Orgánica de Comunicación de su país, y los efectos adversos a la libertad de expresión y de opinión que resultan de su puesta en práctica - OL ECU (6.2016)

Egypt

  • 12/02/2013 - Two draft laws on associations and on assembly -  EGY 4/2013
  • 14/01/2014 - Draft of the new Constitution as approved by the Egyptian Constituent Assembly -  EGY 1/2014
    Government reply: 29/01/2014 and 09/09/2014
  • 19/08/2015 - Law on censorship of artistic works and on artistic expression –EGY 9/2015
    Government reply: 31/05/2016

France

  • 28/12/2015 - Law no.2015/1556 on surveillance of international electronic communication, and law on state of emergency –FRA 7/2015
    Government reply: 26/02/2016

Gambia

  • 16/07/2013- Amendments on the Information and Communication Act - GMB 1/2013

Germany

Guatemala

  • 22 March 2018: Iniciativa de Ley 5266 para reformar el Código Penal de Guatemala - GTM 3/2018
  • 10/03/2014 -Iniciativa de Ley para la Circulación por Carreteras Libres de Cualquier Tipo de Obstáculos - GTM 1/2014
    Government reply: 08/05/2014

Hungary

  • 8 March 2018: Draft legislative package on organizations supporting migration - OL HUN 1/2018 

Indonesia

  • 31/08/2012 - Bill on Societal Organizations - IDN 11/2012

Israel

  • 03/03/16 – Draft legislation “Transparency Law” –ISR 1/2016

Italy

  • 20 March 2018:  "red button" operational protocol for the « Fight Against the Diffusion of Fake News through the Web », announced on 18 January 2018 - ITA 1/2018
    Government reply – May 2018

Japan

  • 20/04/2016 – Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – JPN 2/2016

Kazakhstan

Kenya

  • 26 July 2017 - Guidelines for Prevention of Dissemination of Undesirable Bulk Political SMS and Social Media Content via Electronic Communications Networks - OL KEN 10/2017

  • 15/11/2013 –Bill amending two Acts: the Public Benefits Organizations Act and the National Youth Council Act– KEN 8/2013
  • 18/12/2014- Draft Security Laws Bill –KEN 7/2014 

Kyrgyz Republic

  • 30/09/2013 – Draft law on “Non-commercial organizations fulfilling the role of foreign agents” – KGZ 2/2013
    Government reply: 22/11/2013 
  • 06/05/2014 – Draft Bill “On the formation of a positive attitude toward non-traditional forms of sexual relations” – KGZ 1/2014
  • 23/09/2014 – Amendments to the laws governing non-profit organizations – KGZ 5/2014

Lao People’s Democratic Republic

  • 07/11/2014- Decree No. 327 on Internet-Based Information Control/Management – LAO 1/2014
  • 29/05/2015- Draft decree on Associations and Foundations –LAO 1/2015
  • 06/05/2016- Decree on Press Activities of Foreign Media, International Organizations and Diplomatic Missions – LAO 2/2016

Latvia

  • 15/04/2016 – Draft legislation amending criminal law provisions on national security – LVA 1/2016
    Government reply: 09/06/2016

Libya

  • 09/01/2013 – Law no. 65/2012 regulating peaceful protests – LBY 3/2012    

Malaysia

  • 20/04/2016 – Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – MYS 5/2016

Maldives

  • 26/05/2016 – Draft law on “Protection of Reputation and Good Name and Freedom of Expression Bill” –MDV 1/2016

Mauritania

  • 07/08/2015- Adoption of law on associations –MRT 3/2015

Mexico

  • 18/08/2014- Decreto N ° 159 que modifica e introduce nuevas disposiciones a la Ley Orgánica de la Procuraduría General de Justicia – MEX 15/2014

Government reply: 21/10/2014

  • 20/04/2016- Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – MEX 3/2016

Montenegro

  • 02/03/2015- Fast-tracked adoption of revised Public Assembly Act –MNE 1/2015
    Government Reply: 29/04/2015

Myanmar

  • 18/03/2013- Decree on the Right to Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession – MMR 1/2013

Nepal

Nigeria

  • 18/07/2014 and 10/02/2016- Draft Act to Regulate the Acceptance and Utilization of Financial/Material Contribution of Donor Agencies to Voluntary Organizations and for Matters Connected Therewith – NGO 4/2014 and NGA 1/2016

Oman

  • 26 March 2018 - Royal Decree No. 7/2018 amending the Penal Code – OMN 1/2018

Pakistan

  • 08/07/2016 – “Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act” - PAK 8/2016
  • 07/03/2014- Foreign Contributions Bill – PAK 3/2014

Palestine 

Paraguay  

Peru

  • 30/07/2015- Adoption of Resolutions no.085-2015 and no.097-2015 modifying directives regulating associations – PER 2/2015 
  • 20/04/2016- TPP – PER 2/2016

Poland

  • 23 April 2018 – Comments on the the law ‘On specific solutions related to the organization of sessions of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in the Republic of Poland’ - OL POL 3/2018
  • 13 February 2018 - Act of 26 January 2018 amending inter alia, the Act on the Institute of National Remembrance - Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation - POL 2/2018
    Government reply: 18 April 2018

Republic of Moldova

  • 29/07/2013- Law n°117 completing the Contravention Code – MDA 4/2013
    Government reply: 08/11/2013

Russian Federation

  • 13/06/2013- Law on Introducing Amendments to Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation ( Regulating Activities of Non-commercial Organizations which Carry Functions of Foreign Agents) -  RUS 3/2013
  • 16/06/2012 – Law introducing amendments to : the Code on Administrative Violations, and Federal Law on Assemblies, Meetings, Demonstrations, Processions and Picketing -  RUS 4/2012
  • 11/07/2012 – Draft law on Introducing Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Regarding the Regulation of Activities of Non-commercial Organizations Performing the Functions of Foreign Agents – RUS 5/2012
    Government reply: 23/07/2012
  • 12/12/2012 – Draft federal law No. 44554-6 introducing amendments to the Code on Administrative Offences -  RUS 8/2012
    Government reply: 24/01/2013
  • 18/12/2013 – Law on Introducing Amendments to Legislative Acts (in part regulating Activities of Non-Commercial Organizations which Carry Functions of Foreign Agents) -  RUS 13/2013
    Government reply: 19/02/2014
  • 20/06/2014 – Law on Non-commercial Organizations which Carry Functions of Foreign Agents -  RUS 5/2014 Government reply: 25/08/2014

Sierra Leone

  • 22 February 2018: New policy on NGO regulation –  SLE 1/2018

South Sudan

  • 04/12/2013 – Non-Governmental Organization Bill – SSD 1/2013  
  • 23/10/2014- Non-Governmental Organizations Bill -  SSD 1/2014
  • 29/07/2015- Entry into-force of Non-Governmental Organizations Bill – SSD 1/2015

Spain

  • 30/12/2013 – Ley Orgánica sobre Protección de la Seguridad Ciudadana – ESP 7/2013
    Government reply: 03/04/2014
  • 17/02/2015- Reform of penal code to include counter-terrorism provisions - ESP 3/2015
    Government reply: 19/03/2015

Sudan

  • 15/08/2013- Amendments to the Legislation on the Armed Forces -  SDN 6/2013

Tajikistan

  • 03/12/2014-  Amendments to Law on Public Associations - TJK 6/2014  
  • 03/05/2016- Law on Public Associations – TJK 2/2016
    Government reply: 23/06/2016

Thailand

  • 12/11/2014 – Draft Public Assembly Act - THA 12/2014

The Netherlands

Tunisia

  • 24/07/2015- Draft law no.2015-22 on counter-terrorism  – TUN 1/2015

Uganda

  • 15/06/2012 – Public Order Management Bill -  UGA 4/2012
  • 21/02/2013 – Draft on (anti) homosexuality legislation- UGA 6/2012
  • 17/12/2013- Public Order Management Act-UGA 1/2013
  • 04/02/2014 – Revised version of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill -  UGA 1/2014
    Government reply: 21/02/2014

Ukraine

  • 09/06/2015- Adoption of Parliament Resolution requesting derogation from certain rights protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights – UKR 1/2015
  • 16/11/2015- Decree banning journalists and bloggers from reporting in the country on grounds of “threats to national security” – UKR 6/2015

United Arab Emirates

  • 04/12/2012 – Federal Legal Decree No. 5/2012, amending the 2006 Cybercrime Law -  ARE 8/2012
  • 07/11/2013 – Implementation of the new law on Cyber Crime -  ARE 5/2013

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United States of America

  • 18 May 2018 - Department of State proposal to require travellers’ social media information - OL USA 9/2018
  • 20/04/2016 – Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement –USA 4/2016

Venezuela

  • 14/06/2016 - “Decreto No. 2.323 publicado en la Gaceta Oficial No. 6.227 el 13 de Mayo de 2016” - OL VEN 7/2016

  • 20/02/2015- Ministerial Resolution 008610 regulating freedom of association – VEN 1/2015
    Government reply : 22/04/2015 and 20/05/2015

Viet Nam

  • 01/10/2013 - Decree on the Management, Provision, Use of Internet Services and Information Content Online (known as “Decree 72”) - VNM 7/2013
    Government reply: 10/01/2014
  • 20/04/2016 – Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement- VNM 2/2016

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