Public Assembly Under Threat: Safeguarding Civic Engagement

From protests held on American campuses against the mass human rights violations and war crimes in Gaza to those in Serbia protesting the broad election frauds, we are part of a global struggle for justice and democracy preservation. This is a movement that transcends borders and unites us all. Limited media freedoms and strong lobbyist influence have skewed public discourse against protesters, creating a chilling effect on civic engagement and dissent. This panel co-hosted with The Lawyers Committee for Human Rights (YUCOM) will focus on the deteriorating situation in Europe and the Western Balkans, drawing insights from the Amnesty International Report on the state of the right to protest and other relevant reporting of human rights institutions and organisations. Legal mechanisms designed to facilitate peaceful assembly have increasingly been repurposed by the government as instruments of repression. The UN representatives will provide a perspective on global international standards, while guests from Serbia will share their experiences organizing peaceful assemblies and defending those prosecuted for their participation in court. The panel will explore the strategies and mechanisms that can be employed to safeguard the right to peaceful assembly, even in the face of increasing restrictions. Topics will include the legal frameworks governing protests, the role of social media in mobilising and organising assemblies, and the importance of building alliances across civil society to strengthen the collective voice of protesters. Additionally, the discussion will highlight successful case studies where legal interventions and advocacy efforts have effectively protected protest rights, but also show local examples of misuses and breaches of the right.