No Result
View All Result
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
21 °c
Tripoli
21 ° Wed
21 ° Thu
22 ° Fri
23 ° Sat
  • Advertising
  • Contact
LibyaHerald
 
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
LibyaHerald
No Result
View All Result
Home Libya

Activists worry GNC demo law infringes human rights

byNigel Ash
December 5, 2012
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
12
SHARES
50
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Tripoli, 4 December:

Libyan and Arab human rights groups have called on the General National Congress to review and clarify elements of . . .[restrict]Law 6,5 dealing with the right to peaceful protest.

The seven organisations, including Lawyers for Justice in Libya, have warned that if criminal sanction,s included in Article 10 of the law remain in place, it will frighten people from exercising their basic right to demonstrate.

“Freedom of assembly is not a privilege granted by the state that is only legitimate if approved by the authorities” said the human rights groups in a joint statement, “but rather a fundamental right of citizens that must be protected by the government.”

While the human rights activists welcomed the explicit ban on weapons at demonstrations, they cautioned that the authorities should only use proportionate force, if they absolutely have to contain or break up an assembly.

RELATED POSTS

State recognised militia and Libyan Army clash in central Tripoli

FDCC destroys non-conforming shipments of medicines, calls on suppliers to respect Libyan health standards

They also expressed concern at the vague wording of articles 2 and 3 of the legislation. This warns that demonstrations could be banned, if they disrupt the functioning of public utilities. However this provision does not spell out what that disruption might be, save the blocking of traffic. The human rights activists argued that this wording is not sufficiently clear and added that it is the responsibility of the authorities to find alternative routes for traffic and to provide for public safely, while also guaranteeing the fundamental right of assembly.

There are similar concerns over Article 7, which has, in their opinion, a catch-all justification of “security” as grounds to forbid a demonstration.  The activists argued in their statement: “All decisions to ban protests should require judicial review, as a safeguard against the abuse of such justifications. Moreover, the law should include language stipulating that prohibiting protests should only be proposed, where necessary and proportionate, and as a measure of last resort where there is a serious threat of unlawful acts or crimes.”

The activists want to see incorporated into the law a provision for judicial review, if a protest is banned, which could challenge the decision of the authorities.

The human rights’ activists concerns extend to the probability that under Article 8 of the existing legislation,  demonstrators could be forced to disperse, because of minor infringements of the conditions under which the protest was originally permitted.  If individuals in a crowd step out of line, the authorities should remove those people, without dispersing the demonstration as a whole.

The activists also took issue with Article 4 which stipulates that a committee of organisers be responsible for the behaviour of demonstrators.  They protested that, according to UN norms, it is the state, not the organisers, who bear primary responsibility for public order and taking care of the safety of both demonstrators and non-protestors alike. Those who set up demonstrations should not be held accountable for the actions of individuals among protestors.

Issue was  also taken with parts of Articles 5 and 6, which among other things stipulate that 48 hours notice should be given in advance of any protest gathering. While noting that two days is comparatively better than in other countries, and also that the GNC plumped for a system of notification, rather than authorisation,  the activists believed that the authorities must be sympathetic in any adjustments they might seek. Demonstration should be within sight and sound of the object of the protest.  Equally spontaneous demonstrations should not be banned. Rather the authorities should protect and facilitate them, as long as they remained peaceful.

Along with Lawyers for Justice in Libya, the call for the GNC to rethink Law 65, is backed by the New Libya Foundation, the Rashad Foundation, the Eugrtin Organisation for Amazighi Culture and Development, the Qafza Organisation and the Kufra Youth Forum, all from Libya and Egypt’s Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies.

[/restrict]

Share5Tweet3Share1

Related Posts

State recognised militia and Libyan Army clash in central Tripoli
Libya

State recognised militia and Libyan Army clash in central Tripoli

May 29, 2023
FDCC destroys non-conforming shipments of medicines, calls on suppliers to respect Libyan health standards
Libya

FDCC destroys non-conforming shipments of medicines, calls on suppliers to respect Libyan health standards

May 29, 2023
GNU to take oath at Benghazi HoR session and budget to be approved at Tripoli session: GNU
Libya

Tripoli Libyan government conducts drone strikes against criminal hideouts in western coast

May 25, 2023
AmCham Libya Networking Breakfast
Libya

US Embassy in Tripoli announces easing of visa protocol: One-year multiple entry visas now replace three-month single-entry visas

May 24, 2023
Ten former antagonists, now presidential candidates, including Hafter, Bashagha and Maetig gather in Benghazi
Libya

Bashagha suspended by HoR as eastern-based prime minister

May 19, 2023
Acting Interior Minister Trabelsi taking steps to counter forged ID numbers and passports
Libya

Acting Interior Minister Trabelsi taking steps to counter forged ID numbers and passports

May 19, 2023
Next Post

Benghazi aid for Gaza

New fire engines for Benghazi

 

Advertise on LibyaHerald

Reach thousands of our site visitors daily

240 x 400px

Advertise Here
ADVERTISEMENT

Top Stories

  • State recognised militia and Libyan Army clash in central Tripoli

    State recognised militia and Libyan Army clash in central Tripoli

    164 shares
    Share 66 Tweet 41
  • Tripoli Libyan government conducts drone strikes against criminal hideouts in western coast

    131 shares
    Share 52 Tweet 33
  • US Embassy in Tripoli announces easing of visa protocol: One-year multiple entry visas now replace three-month single-entry visas

    107 shares
    Share 58 Tweet 21
  • Libya and Austria discuss reopening airspace

    80 shares
    Share 35 Tweet 19
  • The Tripoli Libyan Ministry of Transport confirms development plan for Libya-Tunisia Ras Jedir border crossing

    54 shares
    Share 22 Tweet 14
LibyaHerald

The Libya Herald first appeared on 17 February 2012 – the first anniversary of the Libyan Revolution. Since then, it has become a favourite go-to source on news about Libya, for many in Libya and around the world, regularly attracting millions of hits.

Recent News

State recognised militia and Libyan Army clash in central Tripoli

FDCC destroys non-conforming shipments of medicines, calls on suppliers to respect Libyan health standards

Sitemap

  • Why subscribe?
  • Terms & Conditions
  • FAQs
  • Copyright & Intellectual Property Rights
  • Subscribe now

Newsletters

    Be the first to know latest important news & events directly to your inbox.

    Sending ...

    By signing up, I agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Login
    • Sign Up
    • Cart
    • Libya
    • Business
    • Advertising
    • About us
    • BusinessEye Magazine
    • Letters
    • Features
    • Why subscribe?
    • FAQs
    • Contact

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    Welcome Back!

    Sign In with Facebook
    Sign In with Linked In
    OR

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password? Sign Up

    Create New Account!

    Sign Up with Facebook
    Sign Up with Linked In
    OR

    Fill the forms bellow to register

    *By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
    All fields are required. Log In

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In
    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
    Are you sure want to unlock this post?
    Unlock left : 0
    Are you sure want to cancel subscription?