9/9/25
National laws in many of the 56 Commonwealth member countries severely impede press
freedom and unduly restrict the right to freedom of expression. That is the damning finding of a
research report published on 9 September 2025 by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
the Commonwealth Journalists Association, and the Commonwealth Lawyers
Association.
The three Commonwealth-accredited organisations, whose networks span across the globe, call
on all member states, in accordance with the mandate provided by Heads of Government at the
2024 CHOGM, to urgently repeal laws that criminalise legitimate public speech. They also call for
decisive action to protect media workers and others who perform a public watchdog role from
violence and intimidation.
See the full Report Who Controls the Narrative? Legal Restrictions on Freedom of Expression in the Commonwealth here: https://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/publication/who-controls-the-narrative-freedom-of-expression-report
In a major breakthrough, Commonwealth leaders adopted a landmark set of guidelines on
freedom of expression and the media’s role in good governance at their summit meeting in Samoa
in October 2024. That decision followed an eight-year campaign of advocacy and consultation led
by representative grass roots organisations affiliated to the Commonwealth.
“This culture of impunity must be swept away. A genuine Commonwealth engagement to protect the truth-tellers from threats and reprisals would give the organisation a vital new sense of purpose at a time when the concept of truth is under fierce attack.” William Horsley, CJA
The report Who Controls the Narrative? Legal Restrictions on Freedom of Expression in the
Commonwealth finds that criminal provisions for speech offences, including defamation and
sedition, as well as violations of national security laws, are arbitrarily applied to intimidate and
silence journalists, human rights defenders, and government critics. A key objective, the authors
argue, must be to decriminalise defamation laws in 41 Commonwealth countries – many of which
permit long prison sentences.
The report is based on a close analysis of the national legal frameworks and draws on testimonies
from over 30 senior journalists and 35 lawyers across Africa, Asia, the Americas and the
Caribbean, Europe, and the Pacific regions. The report concludes that the Commonwealth’s past
inaction has contributed to the serious and persistent challenges to the protection of freedom of
expression and the rule of law in some member countries.
“The Media Principles … provide a timely opportunity for Member States to take concrete steps – through law reform and institutional safeguards – to protect freedom of expression and align national laws with international human rights standards.” Sneh Aurora, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative Director.
The report urges the Secretariat and Member States to act resolutely, together with non-governmental organisations, to ensure observance of the 11-point Commonwealth Principles on
Freedom of Expression and the Role of the Media in Good Governance adopted by Heads of
Government in Samoa. These Media Principles call on governments to create a safe and enabling
environment for media workers, and to review and consider amending unduly restrictive domestic
laws that inhibit free speech both online and offline.
Major findings include:
● 213 journalists were killed in 19 Commonwealth countries between 2006 and 2023, and in
96% of cases the perpetrators have not been brought to justice (UNESCO figures).
● 41 Commonwealth countries maintain criminal penalties for defamation; 48 retain laws
related to sedition; and 37 have blasphemy-like legislation.
● The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) is urged to fulfil its mandate to
address systematic constraints on civil society and the media. CMAG should be reformed
and supported by a Commonwealth Envoy on Freedom of Expression.
“Too many Commonwealth countries continue to enforce colonial-era laws that criminalise speech
and silence dissent, in clear violation of their international obligations. The Media Principles
adopted by Heads of Government in Samoa provide a timely opportunity for Member States to
take concrete steps – through law reform and institutional safeguards – to protect freedom of
expression and align national laws with international human rights standards,” said Sneh Aurora,
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative Director.
For the Commonwealth Journalists Association, William Horsley declared: “The almost
complete failure of Commonwealth countries to prosecute and punish those responsible for the
killings of over 200 journalists in 20 years is shameful. This culture of impunity must be swept
away. A genuine Commonwealth engagement to protect the truth-tellers from threats and reprisals
would give the organisation a vital new sense of purpose at a time when the concept of truth is
under fierce attack.
The Freedom of Expression report has attracted international comment and support:
