Monitoring the Right to Free Assembly in Western Balkan and Eastern Partnership Countries

The right to free assembly is an indispensable element of democracy and a healthy civil society. Recent years have seen a new era of mass protests, but also a significant increase in practical restrictions on the right in Western Balkan and Eastern Partnership countries. This year’s ECNL monitoring reports build on previous efforts to monitor local laws, observe protests, report challenges and engage in the legal reform process to protect and promote this fundamental right, and explores issues that are of relevance for all the participating countries. Accordingly, beyond the legal framework, the reports also look at the role of civil administration, policing, criminalization of protesters, as well as the overarching issue of accountability manifesting in all of these aspects. Read more here.

Source: ECNL

The right to free assembly is an indispensable element of democracy and a healthy civil society. Recent years have seen a new era of mass protests, but also a significant increase in practical restrictions on the right in Western Balkan and Eastern Partnership countries. This year’s ECNL monitoring reports build on previous efforts to monitor local laws, observe protests, report challenges and engage in the legal reform process to protect and promote this fundamental right, and explores issues that are of relevance for all the participating countries. Accordingly, beyond the legal framework, the reports also look at the role of civil administration, policing, criminalization of protesters, as well as the overarching issue of accountability manifesting in all of these aspects. Read more here.

Source: ECNL