The government confirmed Wednesday that it will defend its controversial Cybercrime Bill at a hearing before the Washington-based Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in November.Attorney General Dale Marshall revealed that the hearing, scheduled for November 11, follows a challenge filed by a group of Barbadian citizens calling themselves the Loyal Opposition, who argue that the bill threatens freedom of expression.Marshall acknowledged receipt of official notice from the IACHR – an autonomous entity of the Organisation of American States (OAS) with a primary mission to promote and protect human rights across the Americas – and said that while the hearing would proceed, any recommendations made by the commission would not be legally binding on Barbados.“I do confirm that a hearing is scheduled before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for November 11. We became aware of the documents being filed at the commission, on September 30 when the Washington office received the communication. It then came down to Barbados, and we actually received notice in my office on October 1,” Marshall told Barbados TODAY.
