Challenges faced by groups most at risk when exercising or seeking to exercise the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and/or of association 2014, para. 33
Paragraph
Paragraph text
There may be legitimate and non-criminal reasons for wearing a mask or face covering during a demonstration, including fear of retribution. For example, in Egypt, article 6 of the 2013 law on protests and demonstrations prohibits the wearing of a mask to hide the face during any assembly. That provision contains no exceptions and could be used to discriminate against women who wear the niqab, effectively preventing them from participating in public meetings or protests. Such laws may also be used against individuals with medical disabilities who wear face masks for medical purposes. Certain peaceful protest movements in the Arab world, Western Europe, North America and elsewhere have adopted the use of the Guy Fawkes mask as an emblem. The mask is particularly popular among youth and student protest movements. The donning of this mask can be as much a political statement - a way of identifying with one's fellow demonstrators and a worldwide movement - as it is an attempt to conceal identity.
Legal status
Non-negotiated soft law
Body
Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
Document type
Special Procedures' report
Means of adoption
N.A.
Topic(s)
Equality & Inclusion
Governance & Rule of Law
Person(s) affected
Persons with disabilities
Women
Youth
Year
2014
Paragraph type
Other
Reference
SR Freedom of Assembly, Report to the HRC (2014), A/HRC/26/29, para. 33.