OPINION ON LEGISLATION ON DEFAMATION
OF ITALY

Venice Commission Opinion By Richard Clayton QC

Introduction

In its Resolution 1920 (2013) on the state of media freedom in Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe requested an opinion from the Venice Commission on “whether the Italian laws on defamation are in line with Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights” (hereinafter ECHR).

Ms Herdís Thorgeirsdóttir, Mr Richard Clayton and Mr Christoph Grabenwarter were appointed as Rapporteurs.

On 21-22 October 2013, the Rapporteurs travelled to Italy and met with representatives of the authorities as well as of journalists and editors associations and of the civil society. The Venice Commission is grateful to the Italian authorities for the excellent organisation of the visit and to all participants in the meetings held for their co-operation.

The present opinion was adopted by the Commission at its 97th Plenary Session (Venice, 6-7 December 2013).

A copy of the full opinion is here.  

9 December 2013