Global Freedom of Expression |

How do women experience the exercise of their right to freedom of expression? Some answers from Court rulings

This paper examines how courts around the world have addressed restrictions and attacks affecting women’s exercise of freedom of expression. Drawing on 51 decisions across multiple jurisdictions, it identifies key patterns, legal approaches, and persistent protection gaps.
Authors: Alejandra Negrete Morayta and Estefanía Mullally.

An initiative of Columbia University under the Office of the President

Our main initiative is the Global Case Law Database, which is an open access resource for a broad audience of stakeholders working on freedom of expression. It is supported by a network of international experts. It surveys jurisprudence around the world, critically reviews exemplary cases, engages in comparative analysis, and aims to identify national, regional and global trends. Versions of the database are also available in Spanish, French, Russian, Arabic, and Portuguese. To show how the database works, we developed videos in English (below), Spanish, French, Russian, Arabic, and Portuguese featuring high-profile members of the judiciary or an expert on freedom of expression explaining how the database is an important tool that will help users improve their understanding of legal developments globally.

How do women experience the exercise of their right to freedom of expression? Some answers from Court rulings

An initiative of Columbia University under the Office of the President

New Database Additions

Defamation / Reputation

Azadlıq Newspaper v. Azerbaijan

Access to Public Information, Content Regulation / Censorship

Little v. Llano County

Political Expression

Nieves v. Bartlett

Access to Public Information, Political Expression, Privacy, Data Protection and Retention

Association for Democratic Reforms v. Union of India

Artistic Expression, Political Expression

Kohls v. Bonta

Digital Rights, Hate Speech, Privacy, Data Protection and Retention

Ilareva v. Bulgaria

Freedom of Association and Assembly / Protests

CELS v. National Ministry of Security

Political Expression

Salov v. Ukraine

Freedom of Association and Assembly / Protests

Russ v. Germany

Defamation / Reputation

Case of Mária Somogyi v. Hungary

Access to Public Information, Content Regulation / Censorship, Gender Expression

In Re Protection of Minors and Freedom of Expression

Defamation / Reputation, Press Freedom

Tafzi v. Spain

Access to Public Information

Ascencio v. Mexico

National Security, Political Expression, Press Freedom

HKSAR v. Lai Chee Ying (Jimmy Lai)

Defamation / Reputation, Political Expression, Press Freedom

Ureña v. Chaves

Defamation / Reputation, Political Expression

ANDI v. Petro

Periodismo bajo vigilancia en América Latina / Journalism Under Surveillance in Latin America

Special Collection: Freedom of Expression Case Law

Digital Teaching Portal: Teaching Freedom of Expression without Frontiers

Updates

Book Launch: Legal and Ethical Issues of Chilling Effect

New Special Collection Paper: How do women experience the exercise of their right to freedom of expression? Some answers from Court rulings

“الملخص التنفيذي: “رسامو الكاريكاتير عبر الإنترنت: استبيان عالمي لحرية التعبير

« Sous pression » : Rapport sur la situation des dessinateurs de presse menacés dans le monde 2023-2025

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