UN envoy roots for freedom of assembly

By Francis Kagolo  
 
The UN high commissioner for human rights in Uganda has challenged the Government to revise its policy on public gatherings so as not to limit people’s freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.

Birgit Gerstenberg said limiting people’s freedoms of expression and assembly was a violation of the African and international human rights protection system which Parliament and Government ought to uphold.

Parliament last month passed the Public order management Bill which bars organising public rallies and meetings without the permission of the Inspector General of Police.

It outlaws the use of megaphones, loudspeakers and public address system unless with permission from Police.

According to the Bill, organisers must give notice in writing to the Inspector General of Police of the intention to hold a public meeting, at least seven days but not more than fifteen days before the proposed date of a public meeting.

The Government says the law is aimed at maintaining peace and stability for economic development through ensuring order during demonstrations that often turned violent.

“As much as regulation for the protection of and the exercise of public freedoms is legitimate, restrictions should not unduly limit the freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association,” Gerstenberg said.

“At the contrary, these regulations should provide for potentially enlarging the space and improving the conditions for their exercise.
She made the remarks during a workshop organised to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and launch Uganda’s National Action plan for human rights at Speke Resort Munyonyo on Wednesday.

The day-long conference brought together over a hundred local and international human rights experts and activists.

Gerstenberg called for the implementation of measures to prevent, investigate and punish torture and inhuman treatment.

She warned that Uganda risked losing the battle against poverty unless corruption is eradicated and the progressively increasing resources are allocated to social and economic rights like health and education.

Asuman Kiyingi, the state minister for regional affairs, explained that with the Vienna declaration, no state could shield itself from scrutiny of its human rights violations.

“It is important to note that no country has a perfect human rights record and that each country must start from its own actual political, cultural, historical and legal circumstances (to improve),” Kiyingi said.

“The idea is that instead of defensively resisting change, governments should accept the problems and make a start.”

He said this was the reason Uganda was drafting a National Action Plan (NAP) to integrate human rights in all government ministries and departments as well as development programmers.

Simone Knapp, the head of the Austrian development cooperation in Uganda, applauded the Government for the efforts taken to promote people’s rights and called for more protection for human rights’ defenders.

Participants in the workshop hailed the need to review school curricula to include human rights education right from primary to university levels including vocational schools