The “Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Criminal Code” adopted on 20 July 2023, by the National Assembly in Republika Srpska, introduces criminal penalties for defamation, disclosure of personal information, and based on race, religion, or nationality. While previous analyses focused on media impacts, the ECNL examines how these amendments affect civil society, activists, and human rights defenders. Analyzing international standards, ECNL identifies specific provisions and highlights discrepancies with civil law, potentially leading to contradictory outcomes. The criminalization of defamation raises concerns of limiting freedom of expression, contributing to a broader trend of civic space restriction. Read more here.
Source: ECNL