The right to freedom of assembly and association

Everyone has the right to freedom of assembly and association. According to the international human rights mechanisms, this right can be violated in a variety of ways, including:

• preventing peaceful public demonstrations (unless it can be shown that there would be a serious danger to public safety and order if the demonstration took place);

• restricting possibilities to join voluntary associations;

• denying persons the right to form and/or join trade unions

  ---

International human rights mechanisms which protect the right of freedom of assembly and association

The right of freedom of assembly and association is protected by the following international human rights mechanisms (click on the links to find out more about how to use these mechanisms):

United Nations Human Rights Committee

Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders

1503 Procedure

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

African Commission on Human and People's Rights

European Court of Human Rights