Argentina closer to decriminalizing defamation
The Chamber of Deputies, supported by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, voted to eliminate prison terms for libel and slander offenses, meeting a long-standing demand from journalism groups, La Nación reports. The law still needs to pass the Senate.
Last year, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) ordered the state to reform the laws, saying that having these offenses in the Criminal Code threatened freedom of expression.
The law would eliminate prison terms of up to three years and reduce associated fines which apply specifically to journalists, Télam explains.
Brazil and Uruguay partially decriminalized defamation this year, the International Press Service adds.
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