NGO Free Expression Myanmar has just published a report entitled, “Defamation? International standards and Myanmar’s legal framework” that questions the country’s approach to defamation.

As Free Expression Myanmar puts it, Myanmar falls short of international standards. As they point out, it is not the first country to start a transition to democracy. It follows many others, most of which have found that reforming defamation laws was a critical first step to democracy. Without reform, public debate, which democracies rely on, cannot be open and free.

Countries in transition to democracy need a goal to aim for, which is international standards, claims the NGO.

International standards on defamation are the balancing act between the right to freedom of expression and the right to a reputation. The balance has been examined in detail by a variety of international bodies and tested extensively by international courts for many years. As a result, international standards on defamation are comprehensive.

This report has described each of the most authoritative international standards on defamation. “Unfortunately, Myanmar’s legal framework and its implementation fall far short of these international standards,” the NGO says, alleging the country’s laws and courts do not support even the most basic standards required for even the newest aspiring democracy.

However, as Free Expression Myanmar notes, Myanmar is at the beginning of its transition – which is an excellent opportunity for the government to lay out its plans for the coming years.