ODIHR expert panel assesses restrictions on peaceful assembly in OSCE States

The authorities of many OSCE participating States still tend to regard assemblies as a threat to public order and safety, rather than the exercise of a fundamental right, an expert panel concluded at the end of a two-day meeting in Warsaw on 27 June 2013.

The Panel of Experts on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) noted in their annual gathering a number of current challenges to the freedom of peaceful assembly, including disproportionate sanctions for violations of the law before and during assemblies; the preventive detention of participants; overly intrusive police surveillance mechanisms; and excessive measures to disperse assemblies.

“As long as assemblies are mostly peaceful, police and other state authorities are obliged to protect and facilitate them,” said Serghei Ostaf, a member of the Panel. “The dispersal of an assembly shall always be a measure of last resort.”

The Expert Panel was formed in 2005 as an advisory body. It supports ODIHR in helping participating States, upon request, to ensure that their legislation and practice related to the freedom of peaceful assembly are in line with OSCE commitments and international standards.