The Human Rights Law Centre has today released a Declaration of Our Right to Protest in a bid to encourage governments to adhere to international standards and human rights law.
Endorsed by 60 civil society organisations, including the Australian Council of Social Services, Greenpeace Australia, and Amnesty International Australia, the declaration sets out the minimum standards governments must meet to protect the fundamental right to protest, and offers 10 practical steps to safeguard the right from further erosion.
The document was prompted by anti-protest laws enacted around the country, which have often expressly targeted or disproportionately impacted environmental defenders and climate change advocates.
In June, South Australia became the latest jurisdiction to impose severe penalties on people for engaging in peaceful protest, joining New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria and Queensland which have passed anti-protest laws in the past five years.
View the declaration here.
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