Best practices that promote and protect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 2012, para. 17
Paragraph- Paragraph text
- As outlined by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), "the word 'necessity' does not mean 'absolutely necessary' or 'indispensable', but neither does it have the flexibility of terms such as 'useful' or 'convenient': instead, the term means that there must be a 'pressing social need' for the interference". When such a pressing social need arises, States have then to ensure that any restrictive measures fall within the limit of what is acceptable in a "democratic society". In that regard, longstanding jurisprudence asserts that democratic societies exist only where "pluralism, tolerance and broadmindedness" are in place. Hence, States cannot undermine the very existence of these attributes when restricting these rights. Furthermore, the Special Rapporteur refers to general comment No. 31 (2004) of the Human Rights Committee on the nature of the general legal obligation imposed on States parties to the Covenant, which provides that "where such restrictions are made, States must demonstrate their necessity and only take such measures as are proportionate to the pursuance of legitimate aims in order to ensure continuous and effective protection of Covenant rights" (para. 6).
- 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)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Other
- Reference
- SR Freedom of Assembly, Report to the HRC (2012), A/HRC/20/27, para. 17.
- Paragraph number
- 17
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