{"id":134759,"date":"2021-08-11T06:34:44","date_gmt":"2021-08-11T10:34:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=134759"},"modified":"2021-08-11T06:48:44","modified_gmt":"2021-08-11T10:48:44","slug":"opinion-the-rights-of-a-man-to-have-freedom-of-speech-picket-or-protest-are-almost-untouchable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/opinion-the-rights-of-a-man-to-have-freedom-of-speech-picket-or-protest-are-almost-untouchable\/","title":{"rendered":"OPINION: The rights of a man to have freedom of speech, picket or protest are almost untouchable!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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People need to understand that the rights of a man to have freedom of speech, picket or protest are almost untouchable.! Even under a state of emergency he still has the right to demonstrably protest without being interfered by the authorities!! For the uneducated, non readers and biasedly programmed nut heads, read an extract of your rights as stipulated by the international human rights laws governing protests even during a pandemic or state of emergency:<\/strong><\/p>

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Protest rights in the pandemic context\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

COVID-19 does pose a serious threat to public health, so some temporary and proportionate restrictions on gatherings and people\u2019s movement have been \u2013 and may remain \u2013 necessary. However, democracy doesn\u2019t stop in a pandemic and experience in Australia and internationally has shown that protests can continue to take place safely.<\/p>

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To be lawful and consistent with democratic and human rights principles, any restrictions on protest rights must be limited to what is strictly necessary to protect public health and remain in force only for as long as is absolutely necessary – the pandemic must not be used as a gateway to impose lasting restrictions on protest rights.<\/p>

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Proportionality and reasonableness must also underpin the application of any restrictions.They must be enforced in a way that is fair, with common sense and discretion, and without the use of excessive force or violence.<\/p>\n

Governments\u2019 responsibility\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

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Blanket bans on protest are unjustified and potentially unconstitutional. Governments have a responsibility \u2013 recognised under international human rights law \u2013 to take reasonable steps to proactively facilitate safe and peaceful protest activity.\u00a0[4]<\/p>\n

Reasonable steps governments should consider taking include:<\/p>

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