Freedom of Expression in a Legal Context

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE COURSE
Course titleFreedom of Expression in a Legal Context
Chair of Criminal Law Sciences
Number of ECTS credits6
Lecturerizv.prof.dr.sc. Barbara Herceg Pakšić
Office AddressRadićeva 13 64/13
Telephone+385 31 224 564
e-mailbarbara.herceg@pravos.hr
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Course content

The aim of the course is to present freedom of expression as one of the fundamental human freedoms. In the teaching process, attention is paid to the evolution of this freedom all the way to the latest knowledge, with an emphasis on its limitations and current socially relevant issues that include legal implications, to acquaint students with the protection, standards and achievements of freedom of expression, especially from the aspect of protection of human rights. By exchanging different teaching methods - lectures, seminars, group work and studying real cases of Croatian and foreign courts, we try to encourage critical thinking in the modern context of freedom of expression. The content of the course includes the analysis of the following topics: 1. What is freedom of expression as a human right and its content. 2. International, European and national protection of freedom of expression 3. Fundamental restrictions on freedom of expression. 4. Freedom of expression v. Freedom of the media. 5. Hate speech. 6. Offenses against honor and reputation. 7. The relationship between freedom of expression and other protected human rights (for example, the right to privacy and protection of personal and family life) 8. Analysis of specific cases in the field of freedom of expression, especially from the aspect European conventions for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms

Course learning outcomes

After completing and passing the course, students should be able to: Describe freedom of expression and what it encompasses in terms of content, Describe and classify methods of protecting freedom of expression, Identify and describe restrictions on freedom of expression that are considered standard, Give examples of freedom of expression in a legal context and assess the possibilities of their protection, Recognize doubts in problematic issues of freedom of expression, especially in conflict with other human rights and freedoms, Analyze real cases and apply the adopted principles in them, Discuss, argue and represent opinions on given topics,

TEACHING METHODS
☑ Lectures
☑ Seminars and workshops
☐ Exercises
☑ Independent tasks
☐ Multimedia and internet
☑ Distance education
☐ Office hours
☐ Laboratory
☐ Field work
☑ Mentoring work
☐ Knowledge test
EXAMINATION PROCEDURE
☑ Oral exam
☑ Written exam
☑ Colloquium
Other:
ADDITIONAL FACTS
Students are required to participate in a minimum of 70% of classes. The student is free to choose the method of taking the exam: colloquia (continuous assessment); preparation and elaboration of a paper on one of the given topics or a final exam consisting of an oral and a written part
LIST OF LITERATURE FOR STUDIES AND EXAMS
Required reading
Barbara Herceg Pakšić. Tvorba novih standarda u slučajevima teških oblika govora mržnje: negiranje genocida pred Europskim sudom za ljudska prava. 2017. Zbornik Pravnog fakulteta u Zagrebu, 67 (2017), 2
Barbara Herceg Pakšić, Višnja Lachner. Hate speech as a violation of human rights: the meaning, implications and regulation in Criminal Law. 2015. New Developments in EU Labour, Equality and Human Rights Law Vinković, Mario (ur.). Osijek: University of Osijek, Faculty of Law
Leo Cvitanović, Davor Derenčinović et al.. Kazneno pravo: posebni dio. 2018. Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Maja Munivrana Vajda. Novi Kazneni zakon u svjetlu pristupanja Europskoj uniji: inkriminiranje govora mržnje i nekih drugih oblika rasizma i ksenofobije. 2013. Godišnjak Akademije pravnih znanosti Hrvatske, IV(2013), 1
. Bilješke s predavanja koje uključuju osvrt na relevantne ustavne i zakonske odredbe: Ustav Republike Hrvatske, Europska konvencija za zaštitu ljudskih prava i temeljnih sloboda, Zakon o medijima, Zakon o elektroničkim medijima, Kazneni zakon, Zakon o zaštiti neobjavljenih informacija s tržišnom vrijednosti, Zakon o elektroničkim komunikacijama. 2022.
Barbara Herceg Pakšić. Virtualna komunikacija i izazovi kaznenog prava novog doba. 2019. Izazovi digitalnog svijeta Velki, Tena ; Šolić, Krešimir (ur.). Osijek: Fakultet za odgojne i obrazovne znanosti i Sveučilište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku
Barbara Herceg Pakšić. Holding All the Aces? Hate Speech: Features and Supression in Croatia. 2021. Balkan Yearbook of European and International Law, Springe
Optional reading
Richard Carver. Sloboda izražavanja, zakon o medijima i novinarska kleveta. 2015. Media Legal Defence Institute, International Press Institute
. Sloboda izražavanja i pravo na privatnost prema Europskoj konvenciji o ljudskim pravima, priručnik o sudskoj praksi Europskog suda za ljudska prava. 2022. The Aire Centre (Advice on Individual Rights in Europe)
Maja Bukovac Puvača. Neka pitanja zaštite prava osobnosti povodom povreda u medijima. 2016. Pravna riječ, 13 (2016), 47
. Dodatni naslovi dopunske literature pratit će recentna pitanja područja slobode izražavanja na koja će predmetna nastavnica pravovremeno ukazivati.. 2022.