Ensuring and monitoring the right to freedom of peaceful assembly during pandemic the focus of ODIHR event
Challenges and good practices in ensuring the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, including at times of pandemic, were discussed at an event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 28 September 2022 on the margins of the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference.
“Crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic should not be used by governments as a pretext to unduly restrict fundamental freedoms,” said Clément Voule, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. “It’s more important than ever for states to respect and facilitate the right to freedom of assembly in difficult times, as it provides an important avenue for people to participate and share their concerns and views on effective responses to the crisis. With the inclusion of civil society and communities’ voices, we can achieve a human rights-oriented and sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Among the 40 participants were representatives of OSCE participating States’ delegations, civil society organizations and academia. Following the presentation of ODIHR’s new report on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, speakers and participants reflected on the developments over the last two years, noting the restrictions on assembly rights, as well as proportionality of the state response. Speakers also identified positive practices where states found innovative ways to facilitate the right to assembly peacefully, despite the challenging circumstances.
ODIHR report findings highlighted at the event include bans on public assemblies, limitations on the number of participants and use of COVID-19 measures to restrict some assemblies such as those carrying anti-government messages. Also discussed was the unjustified and excessive use of force, arrests and prosecution against organizers and peaceful participants of gatherings held during the pandemic in some OSCE participating States.
Participants also learned more about ODIHR’s peaceful assembly monitoring work and reflected on their monitoring experiences across the OSCE region during the height of the pandemic.