This study examines the existence of criminal defamation and insult laws in the territory of the 57 participating States of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). In doing so, it offers a broad, comparative overview of the compliance of OSCE participating States’ legislation with international standards and best practices in the field of defamation law and freedom of expression.

The study was commissioned by the Representative on Freedom of the Media of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and conducted by IPI Director of Press Freedom Programmes Scott Griffen and IPI Executive Director Barbara Trionfi.