Freedom of Speech
言论自由

Freedom of speech is the political right to communicate one's opinions and ideas via written, verbal or any other sort of avenues. Concepts of freedom of speech can be found in early human rights documents. England's Bill of Rights granted “freedom of speech in Parliament” and is still in effect. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen specifically affirmed freedom of speech as an inalienable right. The notion that the expression of dissent or subversive views should be tolerated, not censured or punished by law, developed alongside the rise of printing and the press. John Milton and John Locke were among a succession of English thinkers at the forefront of early discussion on a right to freedom of expression.
言论自由是一项通过书面、口头或其他各种方式表达个人观点和想法的政治权利。言论自由的概念出现在早期人权文献中。英国的《权利法案》授予议会言论自由的权利，并实行至今。法国的《人权宣言》明确规定言论自由是一项不可剥夺的人权。异议和反动言论的自由发表可被容许且不受法律审查和惩罚的观点，随着出版印刷行业的兴起而形成。一批英国思想家站在早期讨论言论自由权利的前沿，其中就有约翰·弥尔顿和约翰·洛克。

Today free speech is recognized in international and regional human rights law such as The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights , The European Convention on Human Rights , The American Convention on Human Rights and The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
今天，言论自由的权利被各个国家和地区的人权法律认可，如《公民权利和政治权利国际公约》《欧洲人权公约》《美洲人权公约》和《非洲人权与民族权宪章》。

Every government restricts speech to some degree. Limitations to freedom of speech may follow the “harm principle” or the “offense principle” which means the exercise of free speech is limited if they are considered offensive to society, special interest groups or individuals for example in the case of libel, slander, pornography, or hate speech. Limitations to freedom of speech may occur through legal sanction or social disapprobation.
每个政府都对言论自由有一定程度的限制。言论自由的限制一般遵循损害或侵犯原则，即当言论被认为侵犯了社会、特殊利益团体或个人的利益时，就需要被限制，比如侮辱、诽谤、色情或者仇恨言论。法律制裁或社会非议可以达成对言论的限制。