Consacrée de longue date, la liberté d’expression « sans considération de frontières » prend tout son sens avec le développement et la propagation massive d’Internet. Aussi bénéfique soit-il, ce dernier présente de nombreux risques pour les mineurs. Ceux de ces risques qui existaient déjà sur les médias traditionnels sont très largement amplifiés dans le cyberespace. Parallèlement, les Technologies de l’Information et de la Communication ont entraîné de nouvelles pratiques qui présentent des risques inédits pour les mineurs. Sans imposer un quelconque « cyber paternalisme », les Etats refusent toutefois qu’Internet soit un espace de « non-droit », laissé aux mains des tenants d’un absolu « cyber libertarianisme ». Tentant de concilier au mieux respect de la liberté d’expression et protection des mineurs sur Internet, les Etats sont néanmoins contraints de reconnaître que, dans le cyberespace, la mise en oeuvre de cette conciliation est particulièrement délicate. / Long-standing renowned, freedom of speech « regardless of frontiers » takes on its full meaning with the development and the massification of the Internet. As beneficial as it might be, the latter presents many risks for children. Among these risks, those which already occured on traditional meadias are emphasised in cyberspace. Simultaneously, Information and Communication Technologies induced new habits that created unprecedented dangers for minors. Though not imposing « cyberpaternalism », States don’t want the Internet to be a lawless space governed by « cyberlibertarians ». Trying to balance freedom of speech and protection of minors on the Internet, States have to admit that in cyberspace such a conciliation is very thorny.

The present interview seeks for giving answers to some questions referred to the freedom of speech and some of the emerging challenges of these days. The interviewed give us her informed opinion referred to the reach, the limits and the content for freedom of speech in some particular situations where this freedom is put into challenge, mainly in context of demand of tolerance and cultural diversity. / La presente entrevista busca dar respuesta a algunas interrogantes referidas a la libertad de expresión y los desafíos que se le presentan en la actualidad. La entrevistada nos da su autorizada opinión referida a los alcances, los límites y el contenido del derecho a la libertad de expresión en situaciones particulares donde dicho derecho se ve puesto a prueba, principalmente en un contexto de exigencia de tolerancia y respeto a la diversidad cultural.

This thesis unites law and social science so as to give a comprehensive account of the phenomenon of racial hate speech in South Africa as an obstacle to transformation. Hate speech is presented as a form of violent language and an affront to the constitutional rights of freedom of speech, equality and dignity. To establish the nature of hate speech, the fluid quality of language is explored so as to show how language can be manipulated, on the one hand, as a means to harm, and employed, on the other hand, as a tool to heal and reconcile. This double gesture is illustrated through the South African linguistic experience of past hate and segregation and the current transformation agenda. It is through this prism that hate speech regulation is discussed as an uneasy fit in a country where freedom of expression is constitutionally protected and where language plays an important role in bringing about reconciliation, and yet words are still being employed to divide and dehumanise. This reality necessitates a clearly articulated stance on the regulation of language. The thesis accordingly interrogates the current legal standards in relation to hate speech with reference to international law that binds South Africa and the constitutional standard set for the regulation of language and the prohibition of hate speech. Thereafter, the current and proposed legislative prohibitions on hate speech, the residual common law provisions governing expression and the regulation of language in the media are outlined and analysed. These legal frameworks are explored in terms of their content and their application in various fora so as to ascertain what the South African approach to hate speech prohibition is, whether it is consistent and, ultimately if it is indeed suitable to the South African experience and the realities of language. This thesis concludes that contemporary hate speech measures lack a coherent understanding of what hate speech entails and a general inconsistency in approach as well as application is found in the treatment of hate speech complaints in South Africa. This is explained through the fallibility of language as a medium to regulate expression and solutions are offered to not only taper current and proposed hate speech provisions but to also consider alternative forms of resolving hate speech complaints

Esta pesquisa, inserida no âmbito da Análise do Discurso de linha francesa, tem por objetivo analisar o enunciado liberdade de expressão, considerando sua aparição em discussões divergentes sobre os meios de comunicação e sobre o acesso a esses veículos, questão que pode ser observada em muitos canais midiáticos como, por exemplo, televisão, jornais e ciberespaço. Para realizar nosso movimento de análise, fizemos, inicialmente, um percurso histórico sobre a concepção de liberdade e sua importância para os sujeitos em diferentes momentos, fato que nos ajudou a compreender as condições existentes em cada período que condicionaram a rede de significações relacionada a essa temática. Por meio do estudo, compreendemos o surgimento e a constituição de sentidos para liberdade de expressão e liberdade de imprensa, assim como a disputa pelos sentidos de tais princípios no âmbito dos veículos de comunicação. Trabalhamos também com a história dos meios de comunicação no Brasil para problematizar a questão da liberdade de expressão em nosso país. Ao situarmos a discussão em dias atuais, percebemos um deslocamento das fronteiras do meio impresso para o ciberespaço, fenômeno que resultou em implicações outras a serem analisadas. Diante de tal conjuntura, estabelecemos como foco principal de nosso trabalho compreender o funcionamento do enunciado liberdade de expressão em weblogs progressistas, tendo em vista que os sentidos produzidos nesses lugares têm estabelecido um posicionamento antagônico em relação aos discursos dos veículos de comunicação tradicionais. Esse fato faz com que os blogs sejam considerados lugares de resistência contra os sentidos dominantes em circulação. Assim, apesar de priorizar os weblogs, tornou-se necessário também analisar o ponto de vista apresentado pelos representantes da grande mídia para entender melhor a disputa travada. Nesse terreno de embates, percebemos que o enunciado liberdade de expressão desencadeia sentidos divergentes, tendo em vista sua enunciação em diferentes formações discursivas, o que significa que seu funcionamento está diretamente relacionado ao exterior contraditório, resultando na série de conflitos associados ao domínio sobre o setor de comunicação. No percurso, percebemos ainda que o direito à liberdade de expressão em veículos de comunicação de grande circulação está associado ao domínio sobre o território, ou seja, sobre o espaço ocupado e produzido pelos sujeitos. Na contemporaneidade, o território é transnacional e seu funcionamento ocorre por relações verticais que estabelecem um controle sobre a parcela política da produção mundial. Tal prática é realizada e mantida, dentre outras formas, por meio de um controle sobre a produção discursiva de informações em circulação, principalmente, em canais midiáticos. Embora essa problemática perdure, o ciberespaço possibilitou a existência de um processo de resistência a partir da criação de linhas de fuga que fizeram surgir novos sentidos. Trata-se de um movimento que altera o que está instituído sobre liberdade de expressão. Abordar esse movimento e o surgimento ou emersão de dizeres que desestabilizam a ordem pré-estabelecida remete-nos ao conceito de arquivo, que é regido por relações de força que determinam o que será produzido e posto em circulação. Pode-se dizer que o arquivo sobre liberdade de expressão sempre foi controlado pelos meios de comunicação tradicionais, responsáveis por fixar determinados sentidos, mas os weblogs progressistas têm contribuído para a modificação do arquivo existente, ao possibilitar a visibilidade de discursos outros. / Current research featuring French Discourse Analysis investigates the enunciation freedom of speech, a term used in divergent discussions on the social media and their access. The term occurs on several media channels such as television, newspapers and cyberspace. A historical analysis of the term freedom and its importance for agents at different moments is provided and reveals the situation that conditioned the network of meaning in each period related to the theme. The rise and constitution of meanings in the terms freedom of speech and freedom of the press are analyzed, coupled to the discussion of the meanings of these principles within the communication vectors. The history of social communications in Brazil was also discussed to problematize current issue on freedom of speech. A displacement of borders from the printed media to cyberspace has occurred which brought about further implications to be analyzed. Current analysis focuses on the functioning of the enunciation freedom of speech in progressive weblogs since the meaning established on these sites features an antagonistic stance with regard to the discourses of traditional communication vectors. Blogs are now considered resistance sites against predominant meanings. Although weblogs are given priority, the point of view provided by the representatives of streamline media should be discussed to understand better the theme. Within this conflicting stance, the enunciation freedom of speech triggers divergent meanings due to different discursive formations. This boils down to the fact that its function is directly related to the contradictory exterior which results in a series of conflicts associated to the dominion on the communication segment. The right to freedom of speech in streamline media is associated with dominion to territory or space occupied and produced by the subjects. is associated with dominion to territory or space occupied and produced by the subjects. Territory is currently transnational and its functioning occurs by vertical relationships that establish control on the political segment of world production. Among other forms, practice is materialized and maintained by control on the discursive production of information, especially in media channels. Even though such an issue is long-lasting, cyberspace makes possible a resistance process through the establishment of escape lines that provide new meanings. It is a movement that changes the established freedom of speech. Dealing with the movement and with the emergence of enunciations that destabilize the pre-established order provides the concept of archive ruled by power relationships that determine what will be produced and what will be circulated. The freedom of speech archive has always been controlled by tradition communication media which fix meanings. However, progressive weblogs contribute towards the modification of current archive when they make possible the visibility of other discourses.

Esta pesquisa, inserida no âmbito da Análise do Discurso de linha francesa, tem por objetivo analisar o enunciado liberdade de expressão, considerando sua aparição em discussões divergentes sobre os meios de comunicação e sobre o acesso a esses veículos, questão que pode ser observada em muitos canais midiáticos como, por exemplo, televisão, jornais e ciberespaço. Para realizar nosso movimento de análise, fizemos, inicialmente, um percurso histórico sobre a concepção de liberdade e sua importância para os sujeitos em diferentes momentos, fato que nos ajudou a compreender as condições existentes em cada período que condicionaram a rede de significações relacionada a essa temática. Por meio do estudo, compreendemos o surgimento e a constituição de sentidos para liberdade de expressão e liberdade de imprensa, assim como a disputa pelos sentidos de tais princípios no âmbito dos veículos de comunicação. Trabalhamos também com a história dos meios de comunicação no Brasil para problematizar a questão da liberdade de expressão em nosso país. Ao situarmos a discussão em dias atuais, percebemos um deslocamento das fronteiras do meio impresso para o ciberespaço, fenômeno que resultou em implicações outras a serem analisadas. Diante de tal conjuntura, estabelecemos como foco principal de nosso trabalho compreender o funcionamento do enunciado liberdade de expressão em weblogs progressistas, tendo em vista que os sentidos produzidos nesses lugares têm estabelecido um posicionamento antagônico em relação aos discursos dos veículos de comunicação tradicionais. Esse fato faz com que os blogs sejam considerados lugares de resistência contra os sentidos dominantes em circulação. Assim, apesar de priorizar os weblogs, tornou-se necessário também analisar o ponto de vista apresentado pelos representantes da grande mídia para entender melhor a disputa travada. Nesse terreno de embates, percebemos que o enunciado liberdade de expressão desencadeia sentidos divergentes, tendo em vista sua enunciação em diferentes formações discursivas, o que significa que seu funcionamento está diretamente relacionado ao exterior contraditório, resultando na série de conflitos associados ao domínio sobre o setor de comunicação. No percurso, percebemos ainda que o direito à liberdade de expressão em veículos de comunicação de grande circulação está associado ao domínio sobre o território, ou seja, sobre o espaço ocupado e produzido pelos sujeitos. Na contemporaneidade, o território é transnacional e seu funcionamento ocorre por relações verticais que estabelecem um controle sobre a parcela política da produção mundial. Tal prática é realizada e mantida, dentre outras formas, por meio de um controle sobre a produção discursiva de informações em circulação, principalmente, em canais midiáticos. Embora essa problemática perdure, o ciberespaço possibilitou a existência de um processo de resistência a partir da criação de linhas de fuga que fizeram surgir novos sentidos. Trata-se de um movimento que altera o que está instituído sobre liberdade de expressão. Abordar esse movimento e o surgimento ou emersão de dizeres que desestabilizam a ordem pré-estabelecida remete-nos ao conceito de arquivo, que é regido por relações de força que determinam o que será produzido e posto em circulação. Pode-se dizer que o arquivo sobre liberdade de expressão sempre foi controlado pelos meios de comunicação tradicionais, responsáveis por fixar determinados sentidos, mas os weblogs progressistas têm contribuído para a modificação do arquivo existente, ao possibilitar a visibilidade de discursos outros. / Current research featuring French Discourse Analysis investigates the enunciation freedom of speech, a term used in divergent discussions on the social media and their access. The term occurs on several media channels such as television, newspapers and cyberspace. A historical analysis of the term freedom and its importance for agents at different moments is provided and reveals the situation that conditioned the network of meaning in each period related to the theme. The rise and constitution of meanings in the terms freedom of speech and freedom of the press are analyzed, coupled to the discussion of the meanings of these principles within the communication vectors. The history of social communications in Brazil was also discussed to problematize current issue on freedom of speech. A displacement of borders from the printed media to cyberspace has occurred which brought about further implications to be analyzed. Current analysis focuses on the functioning of the enunciation freedom of speech in progressive weblogs since the meaning established on these sites features an antagonistic stance with regard to the discourses of traditional communication vectors. Blogs are now considered resistance sites against predominant meanings. Although weblogs are given priority, the point of view provided by the representatives of streamline media should be discussed to understand better the theme. Within this conflicting stance, the enunciation freedom of speech triggers divergent meanings due to different discursive formations. This boils down to the fact that its function is directly related to the contradictory exterior which results in a series of conflicts associated to the dominion on the communication segment. The right to freedom of speech in streamline media is associated with dominion to territory or space occupied and produced by the subjects. is associated with dominion to territory or space occupied and produced by the subjects. Territory is currently transnational and its functioning occurs by vertical relationships that establish control on the political segment of world production. Among other forms, practice is materialized and maintained by control on the discursive production of information, especially in media channels. Even though such an issue is long-lasting, cyberspace makes possible a resistance process through the establishment of escape lines that provide new meanings. It is a movement that changes the established freedom of speech. Dealing with the movement and with the emergence of enunciations that destabilize the pre-established order provides the concept of archive ruled by power relationships that determine what will be produced and what will be circulated. The freedom of speech archive has always been controlled by tradition communication media which fix meanings. However, progressive weblogs contribute towards the modification of current archive when they make possible the visibility of other discourses.

Esta pesquisa, inserida no âmbito da Análise do Discurso de linha francesa, tem por objetivo analisar o enunciado liberdade de expressão, considerando sua aparição em discussões divergentes sobre os meios de comunicação e sobre o acesso a esses veículos, questão que pode ser observada em muitos canais midiáticos como, por exemplo, televisão, jornais e ciberespaço. Para realizar nosso movimento de análise, fizemos, inicialmente, um percurso histórico sobre a concepção de liberdade e sua importância para os sujeitos em diferentes momentos, fato que nos ajudou a compreender as condições existentes em cada período que condicionaram a rede de significações relacionada a essa temática. Por meio do estudo, compreendemos o surgimento e a constituição de sentidos para liberdade de expressão e liberdade de imprensa, assim como a disputa pelos sentidos de tais princípios no âmbito dos veículos de comunicação. Trabalhamos também com a história dos meios de comunicação no Brasil para problematizar a questão da liberdade de expressão em nosso país. Ao situarmos a discussão em dias atuais, percebemos um deslocamento das fronteiras do meio impresso para o ciberespaço, fenômeno que resultou em implicações outras a serem analisadas. Diante de tal conjuntura, estabelecemos como foco principal de nosso trabalho compreender o funcionamento do enunciado liberdade de expressão em weblogs progressistas, tendo em vista que os sentidos produzidos nesses lugares têm estabelecido um posicionamento antagônico em relação aos discursos dos veículos de comunicação tradicionais. Esse fato faz com que os blogs sejam considerados lugares de resistência contra os sentidos dominantes em circulação. Assim, apesar de priorizar os weblogs, tornou-se necessário também analisar o ponto de vista apresentado pelos representantes da grande mídia para entender melhor a disputa travada. Nesse terreno de embates, percebemos que o enunciado liberdade de expressão desencadeia sentidos divergentes, tendo em vista sua enunciação em diferentes formações discursivas, o que significa que seu funcionamento está diretamente relacionado ao exterior contraditório, resultando na série de conflitos associados ao domínio sobre o setor de comunicação. No percurso, percebemos ainda que o direito à liberdade de expressão em veículos de comunicação de grande circulação está associado ao domínio sobre o território, ou seja, sobre o espaço ocupado e produzido pelos sujeitos. Na contemporaneidade, o território é transnacional e seu funcionamento ocorre por relações verticais que estabelecem um controle sobre a parcela política da produção mundial. Tal prática é realizada e mantida, dentre outras formas, por meio de um controle sobre a produção discursiva de informações em circulação, principalmente, em canais midiáticos. Embora essa problemática perdure, o ciberespaço possibilitou a existência de um processo de resistência a partir da criação de linhas de fuga que fizeram surgir novos sentidos. Trata-se de um movimento que altera o que está instituído sobre liberdade de expressão. Abordar esse movimento e o surgimento ou emersão de dizeres que desestabilizam a ordem pré-estabelecida remete-nos ao conceito de arquivo, que é regido por relações de força que determinam o que será produzido e posto em circulação. Pode-se dizer que o arquivo sobre liberdade de expressão sempre foi controlado pelos meios de comunicação tradicionais, responsáveis por fixar determinados sentidos, mas os weblogs progressistas têm contribuído para a modificação do arquivo existente, ao possibilitar a visibilidade de discursos outros. / Current research featuring French Discourse Analysis investigates the enunciation freedom of speech, a term used in divergent discussions on the social media and their access. The term occurs on several media channels such as television, newspapers and cyberspace. A historical analysis of the term freedom and its importance for agents at different moments is provided and reveals the situation that conditioned the network of meaning in each period related to the theme. The rise and constitution of meanings in the terms freedom of speech and freedom of the press are analyzed, coupled to the discussion of the meanings of these principles within the communication vectors. The history of social communications in Brazil was also discussed to problematize current issue on freedom of speech. A displacement of borders from the printed media to cyberspace has occurred which brought about further implications to be analyzed. Current analysis focuses on the functioning of the enunciation freedom of speech in progressive weblogs since the meaning established on these sites features an antagonistic stance with regard to the discourses of traditional communication vectors. Blogs are now considered resistance sites against predominant meanings. Although weblogs are given priority, the point of view provided by the representatives of streamline media should be discussed to understand better the theme. Within this conflicting stance, the enunciation freedom of speech triggers divergent meanings due to different discursive formations. This boils down to the fact that its function is directly related to the contradictory exterior which results in a series of conflicts associated to the dominion on the communication segment. The right to freedom of speech in streamline media is associated with dominion to territory or space occupied and produced by the subjects. is associated with dominion to territory or space occupied and produced by the subjects. Territory is currently transnational and its functioning occurs by vertical relationships that establish control on the political segment of world production. Among other forms, practice is materialized and maintained by control on the discursive production of information, especially in media channels. Even though such an issue is long-lasting, cyberspace makes possible a resistance process through the establishment of escape lines that provide new meanings. It is a movement that changes the established freedom of speech. Dealing with the movement and with the emergence of enunciations that destabilize the pre-established order provides the concept of archive ruled by power relationships that determine what will be produced and what will be circulated. The freedom of speech archive has always been controlled by tradition communication media which fix meanings. However, progressive weblogs contribute towards the modification of current archive when they make possible the visibility of other discourses.

Objetivo: A pesquisa avalia as transformações nas instâncias de controle da liberdade de expressão após a redemocratização brasileira e o veto constitucional à censura, em 1988. Esse reposicionamento do controle estatal reforça a persistente preponderância da proteção a interesses privados, fora do escrutínio público, que resiste à regulação pública. Com o bloqueio das propostas no legislativo (em simbiose com produtores midiáticos), restou o apelo ao judiciário nos casos que demandam controle comunicativo em conflitos inerentes às novas liberdades conquistadas com a abertura. Assim, um debate político é reduzido e canalizado ao embate legal, o que deixa o público privado da sua influência sobre a delimitação da liberdade de expressão devido ao caráter hermético das discussões judiciárias - em um processo em que o público se posiciona não como agente, mas como plateia dos debates feitos em seu nome. Métodos: Parte-se de uma análise das entidades de regulação da comunicação, avaliando-se como sua recente formação (ou abandono) foi afetada pelo processo de abertura democrática. A pesquisa avalia como o judiciário ocupou o espaço de controle comunicativo, analisando casos que tratam de proibição de expressões públicas. A análise foca como são delimitados os sentidos do termo tabu \"censura\" nos acórdãos dos julgamentos do Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF). Resultados: A proposta de classificação sistêmica dos debates no STF aponta preponderância de argumentos liberais contrários ao controle do Estado, mas uma ponderação mais conservadora na colisão de direitos entre indivíduos. A análise evidencia disputas sobre o contraste ou continuidade de práticas autoritárias do passado nos novos tempos democráticos, além de dissenso sobre os significados e limites do que se entende como censura e sua problemática harmonização ou dissonância com uma estrutura legal que, explicitamente, veta esse cerceamento, mas mantém brechas legais que permitem esse controle. / This research evaluates how censorship mechanisms have changed after the end of Brazil\'s military dictatorship and the constitutional prohibition of censorship, in 1988. State control has shifted to a new role that stimulates the persistent dominance of private interests over public scrutiny, resisting government regulation. A symbiosis between media owners and congress representatives frequently blocks new law proposals. The judiciary, however, is still an option to appeals demanding communicative control concerning conflicts regarding new liberties that are now available because of the return of democracy. Court appeals reduce a political debate to a legal dispute, which deprives the public from its influence on how to determine the limits to free speech due to the hermetic characteristics of judicial rulings - in a way that the public is not a player, but an audience during the debates made on its behalf. Methods: This research analyzes entities that regulate communication practices, evaluating how their recent formation (or abortion) relates to democratic reforms after the dictatorship. This work evaluates how the judiciary occupied the space of communicative control, analyzing cases that deal with public expression and its repression. The analysis focus on how the rulings of Brazilian Supreme Court (\"Supremo Tribunal Federal\" - STF) delimit the meaning of \"censorship\", a democratic taboo. Results: The proposed systemic classification of debates in STF points to a dominance of liberal arguments against State control, but a more conservative ponderation in individual rights collisions. The analysis reveals a dispute on the contrast or continuity of past authoritarian practices in new democratic times. There is dissent on the meanings and limits concerning what is understood as censorship and its problematic harmonization or dissonance in a legal structure that explicitly forbids this prohibition, while, at the same time, legal loopholes that allow this kind of control still remain.

This paper is a case study on Bradley E. Manning, famous for leaking classified intelligence to media, or in the charge sheet’s words: “knowingly give intelligence to the enemy, through indirect means.” My opinion is that this sort of dilemma is a question of values, how you view the world and, most important of all, human rights and the philosophy of rights. Therefore I decided to sort out the arguments regarding the issue of freedom of speech versus the state’s need for protection. To do this I performed a pro et contra analysis from John Stuart Mill’s On Liberty and Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan, this building my theory on which I lean my other work upon. Furthermore, I performed a case study on Manning where I compared the charges and the defense with the arguments of Mill and Hobbes. Ergo: I applied my theory on an existing conflict between freedom of speech and the state’s need for protection to see which arguments that are used in the charge against Manning and if one could derive this from the argumentation analysis consistent of Mill and Hobbes.   Words: 11474

Hate speech in South Africa creates a tension between the right to freedom of expression and the rights to human dignity and equality. The challenge is to achieve a balance between these competing rights in the context of the divisive past and the transformative constitutional ideal, in which reconciliation and respect for group difference are promoted. Freedom of expression, an individual right, must be construed in light of its underlying values, but regard must also be given to communitarian interests. The constitutional standard draws the initial line. The advocacy of hatred on four grounds and which constitutes incitement to cause harm is not constitutionally protected speech. Such speech undermines nation building, causes acrimony, and is not tolerated in the egalitarian society envisaged by the Constitution. The thesis formulates a principled legislative hate speech framework for South Africa at both human rights and criminal levels within the parameters of the constitutional mandate, as guided by the standard for hate speech restrictions in international law, and the Canadian regulatory model. An essential premise is that regulation requires a multi-faceted balancing enquiry. A holistic approach is proposed where factors such as respect for the dignity of the victims, autonomy for speakers, listeners and the wider community; the causal link between hate speech and hatred in a community; and the desire to achieve a diverse and harmonious society; amongst others, are considered. Failure to regulate hate speech constructively endorses hatemongers and promotes damaging speech at the expense of vulnerable groups. Regulation ensures that law sets the normative benchmark, affirms the protection of vulnerable groups within the social fabric and upholds social cohesion, inclusiveness and the equal citizenship of all individuals in society. The thesis contains a proposal for the enactment of legislation creating a self-standing hate speech crime for the advocacy of extreme hatred, shaped in accordance with international requirements and comparative foreign law, and structured in light of the distinction between hate crime and hate speech. The existing legal framework is unable to provide consistent and fitting redress for the severe harm caused by such speech, namely the fostering of an environment in which the stigmatisation of groups is promoted, their exclusion from society justified and intervention is needed to remedy the escalated levels of hatred and violence between different groups in society. PEPUDA, a remedial statute aimed at promoting transformation and substantive equality, is valuable, but its speech prohibitions are broad and imprecise. Consequently, their effectiveness is compromised and their constitutionality questioned. The thesis proposes recommendations for amendments to sections 7(a), 10(1) and 12 of PEPUDA. The aim is to ensure compliance with the international standard and to foster the optimal regulation of hate speech and other forms of damaging speech, including derogatory racial epithets, which undermine human dignity and equality and threaten national unity. It is intended for the two systems to complement one another and to create a legal framework aimed at addressing hate speech constructively and in context, promoting tolerance, respect for difference, reconciliation and transformation.

The right to freedom of expression is with no doubt one of the most important rights in all democratic societies. The southern African sub-region is however lacking when it comes to the protection of this right. There are either highly repressive laws which result in the right being practiced but to a limited extent. In other cases the media is owned by the elite in society which results in the majority not being represented in the independent media and at the same time, the public media is often abused by the governing elite. The scene is therefore that both the public media and private media are representative of the elite. The research seeks to explore the protection of human rights, particularly the right to freedom of expression in politically volatile environments. The research focuses on Zimbabwe but comparative analysis has also been drawn with other jurisdictions moreso South Africa. It is important to note that Zimbabwe has ratified both the International Covenant on Civil Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ rights both of which protect the right to freedom of expression. It is however not enough that states ratify international and regional instruments without domesticating the instruments at the national level. The domestication of the international and regional instruments is meant to ensure that individuals enjoy these rights. Freedom of expression is highly volatile in Zimbabwe. The legislature has been accused of taking away the right which has been granted to citizens by the Constitution through its highly repressive laws. The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), the Public Order and Security Act (POSA), and the Official Secrets Act are some of the laws which have been put under spotlight in Zimbabwe. There is therefore a conflict between the legislature, the press and individuals in Zimbabwe. In Zimbabwe like many democratic states, there is separation of powers between the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary. The legislature is the decision making structure that enacts policies in their capacity as representatives of the people; the judiciary is the mediating body that adjudicates decisions between the organs of state as well as between those organs and individuals and the executive enforces decisions. The findings of the research are that despite the ratification of international and regional instruments dealing with the right to freedom of expression and the protection of the right to freedom of expression in the constitution, there still exist repressive laws in Zimbabwe which to a great extent limit the right to freedom of expression. These laws in light of the prevailing environment in Zimbabwe are often used to deprive citizens and journalists of information and their right to freedom of expression. The judiciary finds itself in a difficult position as the executive does not comply with its rulings. The independence of the judiciary, in light of the environment is also compromised by the threats to the judges, the appointment process and ‘gifts’ given to the judges for example, farms. The research analyses the history and theories of freedom of freedom of expression in Zimbabwe, the laws regulating the right and the case law dealing with this right. Finally there is a comparison between Zimbabwe and South Africa and conclusions and recommendations are made based on the discussion in the dissertation. Among the recommendations is that civil society should be involved in educating individuals especially journalists about the right to freedom of expression. Further, the judiciary should also take a more proactive approach in the protection of the right.