UN RIGHTS EXPERTS CALL ON UGANDA TO REPEAL NEW BILL RESTRICTING PUBLIC ASSEMBLY

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: UNNews <UNNews@un.org>
Date: 9 Aug 2013 10:00:00 -0400
Subject: UN RIGHTS EXPERTS CALL ON UGANDA TO REPEAL NEW BILL
RESTRICTING PUBLIC ASSEMBLY
To: news11@ny-mail-p-lb-028.ptc.un.org

UN RIGHTS EXPERTS CALL ON UGANDA TO REPEAL NEW BILL RESTRICTING PUBLIC ASSEMBLY
New York, Aug 9 2013 10:00AM
Three independent United Nations experts today
<"http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=13617&LangID=E">called
on the Government of Uganda to repeal a new bill that places
restrictions on the freedom of peaceful assembly and of association,
and to prepare a new version that complies with the country's
international human rights obligations.

The Public Order Management Bill, passed on 6 August, prohibits
protests of more than three people without prior police authorization,
and authorizes police to use guns when policing public events.

Maina Kiai, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of
peaceful assembly and of association, stated that several provisions
of the law constitute an undue restriction on the ability for
individuals to take part in public assembly.

"Requiring prior authorization from the authorities to hold an
assembly may result in an effective ban on certain gatherings, which
violates Uganda's international obligations," he said in a news
release.

Mr. Kiai also stressed that "the requirement to list the names of all
participants serves only to frighten people from expressing their
right to peaceful assembly."

The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders,
Margaret Sekaggya, noted that "police intimidation has no place in a
free, open and democratic society" and that the use of firearms must
be strictly safeguarded.

"The Law fails to limit firearm use; it must ensure they can only be
used after exhausting all other possible means, in compliance with the
UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law
Enforcement Official," she stressed.

Ms. Sekaggy also voiced concern that this law is clearly aimed at
obstructing the work of human rights defenders and those who
legitimately wish to express their concerns with the Government.

"By excluding assemblies for social, religious, cultural, charitable,
educational, commercial or industrial purposes, as well as meetings of
any political party from its provisions, it is clear that this law is
not intended to protect public safety during public events, but is
designed to unduly limit those who wish to publicly defend their human
rights," she said.

Also expressing concern was the Special Rapporteur on the right to
freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, who warned that "the
requirement for public statements not to contravene any laws is
excessively vague. In fact, it may be used as a tool for censoring all
sort of critical statements, undermining a crucial guarantee for
democratic governance."

The experts, who are all appointed by the UN Human Rights Council,
drew special attention to the fact that the bill may lead to criminal
penalties against organizers of unauthorized assemblies, and vague
provisions allow members of the public who are harmed by protests to
sue organizers.

"Criminalizing public assemblies which are not authorized by the
Government, and creating the risk of serious financial liability for
their organizers, are unnecessary restrictions on human rights, and
are not necessary to ensure public safety," they said.

The experts added that this latest legislative development is part of
an "increasingly hostile environment" towards civil society and human
rights defenders in Uganda.

"Unless this law is amended to comply with Uganda's international
legal obligations, it must be revoked. We are at the full disposal of
the Government of Uganda to provide any technical assistance it may
require to ensure this law meets international human rights law and
standards," the experts said.

Independent experts or special rapporteurs are tasked with examining
and reporting back on a country situation or a specific human rights
theme. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff,
nor are they paid for their work.
Aug 9 2013 10:00AM
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