Editing Defamation (section)

===Criticism===

While defamation torts are less controversial as they ostensibly involve plaintiffs seeking to protect their right to dignity and their reputation, criminal defamation is more controversial as it involves the state expressly seeking to restrict [[freedom of expression]]. Human rights organisations, and other organisations such as the [[Council of Europe]] and [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]], have campaigned against strict defamation laws that criminalise defamation.<ref>{{cite web |first=Ilia |last=Dohel |url=http://merlin.obs.coe.int/iris/2006/10/article1 |title=IRIS 2006–10:2/1: Ilia Dohel, Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media. Representative on Freedom of the Media: Report on Achievements in the Decriminalization of Defamation |publisher=Council of Europe |access-date=2010-09-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120065046/http://merlin.obs.coe.int/iris/2006/10/article1 |archive-date=2013-01-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=/Documents/AdoptedText/ta07/ERES1577.htm |title=PACE Resolution 1577 (2007): Towards decriminalisation of defamation |publisher=Assembly of the Council of Europe |date=2007-10-04 |access-date=2010-09-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100710235112/http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=%2FDocuments%2FAdoptedText%2Fta07%2FERES1577.htm |archive-date=2010-07-10 }}</ref> The freedom of expression advocacy group [[Article 19]] opposes criminal defamation, arguing that civil defamation laws providing defences for statements on matters of public interest are better compliant with international human rights law.<ref name=article19OHCHR/> The European Court of Human Rights has placed restrictions on criminal libel laws because of the freedom of expression provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights. One notable case was ''[[Lingens v. Austria]]'' (1986).