HUMAN RIGHTS: New UK law curtails key civil and political rights - UN on GEO´
Syndicated By: GEO´ PRWire Team - Gibraltar
5th May 2023
A new UK law affecting people’s rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, is “incompatible” with the country’s international obligations, the UN rights chief said on Thursday.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called the Public Order Bill “deeply troubling legislation”, after it completed its passage through parliament on Wednesday.
“It is especially worrying that the law expands the powers of the police to stop and search individuals, including without suspicion; defines some of the new criminal offences in a vague and overly broad manner; and imposes unnecessary and disproportionate criminal sanctions on people organising or taking part in peaceful protests,” Mr. Türk said.
He appealed to the UK Government to reverse the legislation, which has yet to receive Royal Assent, “as soon as feasible”.
The Government insists that the fundamental right to protest is still protected under the legislation, but it brings in new penalties for so-called “guerrilla tactics”.
The bill was introduced to crack down on disruptive protests by activists such as the Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion groups, which have used tactics such as blocking roadways and chaining themselves to railings, including those around the UK Parliament in central London. Learn More /...
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