Before embarking in our assembly monitoring training journey, we have asked some experts and activists to reflect on the importance of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and on the role that independent monitoring of assemblies plays to protect this right.
In Module 1, you will:
- Learn more about the importance of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly
- Understand the role of independent monitoring of assemblies in protecting freedom of peaceful assembly
- Acknowledge that the right to freedom of peaceful assembly also protects the rights of those monitoring assemblie
Meet the trainer:
Meet the experts:
Part of the content of the video is in Russian. To turn the English subtitles on, click on the settings in the lower-right corner of a video.
Main takeaways:
Main takeaways:
- The right to freedom of peaceful assembly is at the core of a democratic society and is key to building peace and achieving justice. It enables the enjoyment of other rights and allows individuals to raise their voices.
- The right to freedom of peaceful assembly does not only cover the right to hold or participate in public gatherings, but also protects the rights of those monitoring them.
- Independent monitoring of peaceful assemblies should take place at all stages of the exercise of the right to assemble peacefully: during planning, mobilization and outreach as well as during the assembly and after the assembly.
- Monitoring peaceful assemblies can help raise awareness, serve as a basis for dialogue, and be used to advocate for changes in legislation, policy and practice. It can also help prevent human rights violations and contribute to police accountability.
- States have the duty to facilitate the right to monitor assemblies and to enable dialogue between civil society and relevant authorities.
Before moving on to the quiz, we recommend you to review the main takeaways of this module, and to check the additional resources provided under the “Materials” tab above.
Recommended resources:
● OSCE/ODIHR Handbook on Monitoring Freedom of Peaceful Assembly, Second Edition, “I.1. Monitoring: an overview”, “I.2. Why monitor assemblies?”, and “I.3. The “right to monitor”".
● OSCE/ODIHR and Council of Europe Venice Commission, Guidelines on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly, Second Edition, “The Importance of Freedom of Assembly" (§1-7).
● OHCHR (2021) Video “The Right of Peaceful Assembly.”