CoE Commissioner for Human Rights: Montenegro: Parliament should not adopt legislative amendments that excessively restrict freedom of peaceful assembly

“I am concerned about the draft amendments to the Law on Public Gatherings and Public Events currently under consideration by parliament in Montenegro. These proposals are incompatible with international human rights standards, in particular Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) which guarantees the right to freedom of peaceful assembly,” said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty.

“The proposed blanket prohibition of public gatherings on highways, express roads, main and regional roads and border crossings – if such a gathering would jeopardize traffic safety, prevent the flow of traffic, or hinder or endanger the movement of citizens – is excessive and undermines the essence of the right to assemble peacefully.”