restrictive law
Monday 12.4.2021 Austria - Latest Developments -
Increased police powers to crackdown on protests, attempts to limit media freedom
Concerns have been raised about the speedy law-making processes, with well over 100 laws being passed since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, limiting the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens. The past months have seen diminishing compliance with COVID-19 regulations, resulting in an increasing number of protests, many of which have been organised by far-right groups and COVID-19 sceptics. Following the breaking up of a gathering of around 2,000 people against coronavirus measures on 3rd January 2021, and a further demonstration of 2,500 people on 6th January 2021, where three people were detained, the Ministry of the Interior and Vienna State Police Directorate have announced a tougher approach by security authorities through issuing strict guidelines for peaceful assemblies. International organisations such as Amnesty International are concerned that the guidelines do not establish clear criteria in placing restrictions on freedom of peaceful assembly, and simply grant greater powers to police in the context of the pandemic. Read more
Friday 9.4.2021 Denmark - Latest Developments -
CSOs call for Parliament to scrap the “Security for all Danes” draft law
Several CSOs, among them ActionAid Denmark, Amnesty International Denmark and Nyt Europa, have relaunched a series of actions to stop the “Security for all Danes” draft legislative proposal, as discussed at the first hearing in the Parliament on 23rd March 2021. Protests against anti-COVID restrictions have been organised in the last couple of months. Environmental rights groups who staged protests over the construction taking place at Lærkesletten on Amager Fælled (a habitat with many endangered species), were met with detentions.
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Friday 9.4.2021 Myanmar - Latest Developments -
Arrests, deadly attacks on protest movement escalate despite condemnation, sanctions on Myanmar
Two months since the Myanmar military seized power in a coup it has launched a brutal crackdown against a protest movement across the country. There have been reports of attacks on compounds of striking public-sector workers and targeting the general population in cities unleashing night-time terror by beating, arresting and even murdering people apparently at random, while destroying or looting private property.
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Wednesday 7.4.2021 Malaysia - Latest Developments -
Malaysian government continues to silence dissent with emergency and repressive laws
In recent months, the police have investigated the former Attorney General related to his book, the courts have convicted a leading new website Malaysiakini of contempt and opened up investigations into its editor-in-chief Steven Gan and MP Charles Santiago for criticising the verdict. The authorities are also investigating an activist for his caricatures and have issued a new restrictive ordinance criminalising ‘fake-news’. A human rights lawyer working on a case against logging is facing lawsuits, while the police are investigating 11 individuals for a peaceful protest. A transgender women is facing arrest and threats for insulting Islam Read more
Tuesday 6.4.2021 United Kingdom - Latest Developments -
Calls for #KilltheBill as the UK government seeks to stifle protests even further
the UK government and authorities have been cracking down on the right to peaceful assembly, with senior government officials labelling environmental and racial justice movements as ‘criminals’. During this reporting period, the government introduced a policing bill which gives significantly more power to the police and threatens peaceful assembly. The kidnapping and murder of Sarah Everard sparked protests over the lack of safety for women. A metropolitan police officer has been charged in connection with the murder. The disproportionate force used by police during a vigil to remember Everard led to a backlash against the government and police, in the context of attempts to increase police powers. Protests against the bill have been ongoing.
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Tuesday 6.4.2021 United States of America - Latest Developments -
Protests against Anti-Asian attacks in the USA
Democrat Joe Biden was sworn in as the United States’ 46th president on 21st January 2021. The usual celebrations were cut back because of the coronavirus pandemic and the inauguration was also closed to the general public because of security concerns related to the 6th January 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol. Read more
Tuesday 6.4.2021 Hungary - Latest Developments -
Orbán’s government targets LGBTI rights amid the pandemic and bans protests
There have been several concerning developments regarding LGBTI rights. On 15th December 2020, the parliament amended the Hungarian Constitution to include the following sentence: “The mother is a woman, the father is a man”. In addition, the amendment prevents adoptions by non-married couples. These amendments will adversely impact on LGBTI people. There have been several moves to censor LGBTI content. The Labrisz Lesbian Association was ordered by the government to print disclaimers identifying books containing “behaviour inconsistent with traditional gender roles”. The book called “Wonderland is For Everyone” contains stories that promote respect of people from all backgrounds and sexual orientations. Legal proceedings were brought against RTL Hungary media group by Hungary’s media regulator for broadcasting an advertisement which raised awareness about LGBTI families. NGO's remain under thereat. Several NGOs have refused to comply with the foreign funding NGO law, which was declared in violation fo EU law by the European Court of Justice (ECJ). As a result, the Tempus Public Foundation, which was established by the government, rejected an EU grant application by the Power of Humanity Foundation (PHF). Read more
Friday 2.4.2021 Pakistan - Latest Developments -
Attacks on Aurat March, minorities and critics highlight shrinking space for dissent in Pakistan
In recent months, intimidation and threats against women activists involved in the Aurat March have been experienced, while groups continue to raise concerns about enforced disappearances. Pashtun activists have been arrested for their comments during protests while transgender persons have continued to face attacks. The authorities also attempted to increase controls over the media while three people were sentenced to death for online blasphemy. Read more
Wednesday 31.3.2021 Latvia - Latest Developments -
Concerns over proposed constitutional amendment which seeks to limit LGBTI rights
In December 2020, the Constitutional Court of Latvia granted ‘paternity’ leave to the female partner of a woman. This comes after the partner had been refused leave due to not being the biological father of the child. In deciding to grant the leave, the Constitutional Court acknowledged that under Article 110, which obliges the legislator to ensure protection for all families (regardless of marriage), the partner was entitled to leave. This Constitutional Court’s decision sparked a move by the far right-wing National Union Party to submit an amendment to article 110 to constitutionally strengthen the concept of family as a union between a man and a woman. Minister for Welfare Ramona Petraviča also expressed opposition to the decision of the Constitutional Court Read more
Tuesday 30.3.2021 Portugal - Latest Developments -
Far-right targets anti-racism activist
In the past year there has been a growth in far-right movements, both in terms of their presence on the streets and in political support. This has led to a deterioration of social peace and dialogue, resulting in a less enabling environment and the backsliding of rights for minority groups such as people of colour, the Roma population, migrants and LGBTI communities. The recent death of the country’s “most decorated war hero”, Lieutenant-Colonel Marcelino da Mata, has sparked debates on Portugal’s colonial past, resulting in threats to freedom of expression and the targeting of anti-racism activists. In particular, Mamadou Ba, a prominent anti-racism activist from the advocacy group SOS Racismo has been targeted by CDS-PP (conservative-right party) and othe far-right persons, who have called for his deportation. In a separate development. Concerns have been raised about the governments revised law on public utility, which intends to control CSOs. It is also concerning that the consultation with CSOs in the re-drafting process was exclusionary, with only some CSOs being consulted. There has also been limited consultation with CSOs for COVID-19 recovery planning. In addition, CSOs have reported that there was no consultation or process for civil society to feed into priority settings for the upcoming Portuguese Presidency of the EU.
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