Thread by @WomaninHavana

The right to peaceful assembly is a fundamental, empowering right (in domestic & international law) which enables active participation & citizenship outside of narrow politics.

IMO, the constraints proposed constitute unwarranted & disproportionate interference with the right.

https://twitter.com/iandunt/status/1369962592890978304

The obligation to respect and ensure peaceful assemblies places positive and negative obligations on States. States must not prohibit, restrict or block peaceful assemblies without compelling justification, nor sanction participants or organisers without legitimate cause.

On the flip side, States must facilitate peaceful assemblies and ensure the provision of a legal framework in which the right to peaceful assembly can be exercised effectively.

Although the right is not unrestricted, the burden is on the authorities to justify restrictions.

The link to the Police, Crime, Sentencing & Courts Bill is here. Robert Buckland has concluded that the Bill is compatible with the ECHR.

On a first reading of this Bill, there are substantial questions to be asked as to how and why.

publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill…

Time constrains, I’ll try to do a further thread soon.

I’ve spoken this week on restrictions on the right to protest in Turkey & India.

Peaceful political protest is an integral right to the effective, inclusive functioning of democracy. We damage it at our collective peril.