Description
Public figures and politicians often use legal procedures to fight the criticism coming from the public, instead of defending themselves in the public debates. These procedures are threatening for journalists and active citizens, that results in the limitation of free speech. The campaign serves a dual goal: on the one hand to urge the amendment of the related law, on the other hand to pressure politicians not to initiate legal procedures when criticized. These goals can be reached by public pressure. As a result of the campaign the general public gets educated on the problem. This will be carried out by interactive educational information based on the litigation experience of the HCLU. Then the citizens will be offered means to contribute to the goals, namely a platform to ask their representatives to initiate the amendment of the law and to refrain from initiating legal procedures. The main target of the campaign are citizens interested in public affairs, but journalist will also benefit from it. We wish to cooperate with the media during the campaign and distribute our content on other platforms apart from the campaign webpage.
Summary of project results
It is the right of thousands of Hungarian journalists and tens of thousands of citizens active in public life to formulate criticism - but doing so is rendered more and more impossible and risky by the current regulations. In such cases, civil and criminal proceedings can be initiated at the same time. Public officials enjoy a special protection against criticism. The campaign launched by the organization PolitiKuss (approximately: shut up by politicians) draws attention to this problem. A model law was drafted according to which defamation and libel shall be decriminalized, while persons exercising public power shall not initiate civil proceedings based on criticism related to their official activity. A website was launched through which citizens could send a letter to their MPs and ask them to initiate an amendment to the law. An independent MP supported the idea and submitted the proposed legislation to the Parliament.
Summary of bilateral results