ICCPR Recommendations 2024, paragraph 53

UN recommendation

Plain English recommendation

Government should:
Review and change its laws, including the Public Order Act 2023, to ensure people can enjoy their right to peaceful assembly without restriction. Any restrictions on that right must align with article 21 of the ICCPR and should ensure that those who peacefully assemble are not punished for it. Authorities should release and compensate anyone detained for exercising their right of peaceful assembly. Government should also end the use of facial recognition and other mass surveillance technologies by law enforcement at protests to protect the privacy and rights of protesters to non-discrimination, freedom of expression, association and assembly rights.


Original UN recommendation

In accordance with the Committee’s general comment No. 37 (2020) on the right of peaceful assembly, the State party should review and consider amending its legislation, including the Public Order Act 2023, to ensure that individuals fully enjoy their right of peaceful assembly and to guarantee that any restrictions of that right comply with the strict requirements of article 21 of the Covenant. It should ensure that individuals who exercise their right of peaceful assembly are not prosecuted and punished for exercising their rights, and that those detained are immediately released and provided with adequate compensation. Furthermore, the State party should end the use of facial recognition and other mass surveillance technologies by law enforcement agencies at protests, in order to safeguard privacy, non-discrimination, freedom of expression and association and assembly rights for protesters.

 

Date of UN examination

03/05/2024

Last updated on 10/04/2025