A UN expert, Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, called on states not to use state of emergency declarations during the Covid-19 crisis to impose wholesale restrictions on freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and released detailed guidelines governments and law enforcement agencies must follow to avoid human rights abuses.
“No country or government can solve this health crisis alone and I am concerned about worrying trends and limitations emerging from civil society reports around the world, including on civil society’s ability to support an effective Covid-19 response,” said Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, the UN special rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.
“Civil society organisations are key in helping states to frame inclusive policies, disseminate information, and provide social support to vulnerable communities in need,” he said.
In his “10 Guidelines”, the expert said that where new laws or regulations are adopted, any limitations on rights imposed must adhere to the principles of legality, necessity and proportionality. Free flow of information is crucial in times of crisis and laws criminalising ‘false news’, including those targeting human rights defenders, must be avoided.
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“It is inadmissible to declare blanket restrictions on human rights and fundamental freedoms,” Voule said. “Exemptions should be foreseen for civil society actors, particularly those monitoring human rights, trade unions, social services providing humanitarian assistance, and journalists covering the management of the crisis.
“State of emergency does not halt the freedoms of peaceful assembly and of association,” the human rights expert said.
Voule said his guidelines could help states reassess measures already in place to ensure compliance with their human rights obligations and to take citizens’ demands fully into account.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
Countries which have imposed restrictions on freedom of assembly and association on gatherings have shown postive results in reducing the COVID 19 infection rates and consequence deaths while some developed countries which have allowed freedom of assembly and association have been facing high number of infections and consequent deaths the cause of which could also be attributed to their poor preparation to fight the virus.
Thus the call by the UN special rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association to be continued may be ill-advised.
DESPARATE TIMES NEED DESPARATE MEASURES INCLULDING TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF RIGHT TO ASSEMBIES AND GATHERINGS.