The Pocketbook is a key resource for anyone with an interest in promoting freedom of expression, particularly in the Central Asian republics, but also more widely, including journalists, politicians, activists, judges and media lawyers. Written in a manner that is accessible for non-experts, the Pocketbook contains a wealth of important information on standards and reference material regarding the right to freedom of expression in international law, including the recommendations of leading international bodies, experts and NGOs.
The Pocketbook, which is about 230 pages long, provides a brief but comprehensive overview of key thematic areas such as acceptable limitations on freedom of expression, regulation of the media, the rights of journalists, the law of defamation and privacy, national security and the right of access to information. It also addresses commercial issues affecting freedom of expression, and discusses how freedom of expression can be legally guaranteed and enforced through domestic and international mechanisms. While the Pocketbook is not a study of the current state of freedom of expression in the region, it does make frequent reference to the constitutions and media laws of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
The Pocketbook was officially presented at a press conference at the Almaty Press Club in Kazakhstan on March 13th. http://www.article19.org/pdfs/tools/central-asian-pocketbook.pdf and in Russian at http://www.article19.org/pdfs/tools/central-asian-pocketbook-ru.pdf.
