Non-Credit Course: Research Training on the Right of Peaceful Assembly

Programme​

This research training programme, from Hilary Term 2022, provided students with training on research and analysis on legislation and jurisprudence on the right of peaceful assembly. An introductory seminar gave an introduction to international standards; and guidance on research methods and report writing. Under academic guidance by Dr Stuart Maslen, each student prepared a case study on one jurisdiction which was submitted at the end of the programme. Students were provided with a certificates of participation.

Context of the project

Everyone has the right of peaceful assembly under customary and conventional human rights law. Restrictions on the exercise of the right must comply with the principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality. Effective protection of the freedom of assembly thus requires appropriate frameworks to be adopted and implemented in every jurisdiction. The Bonavero Institute of Human Rights in collaboration with the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, seeks to support a database containing the laws, jurisprudence, and other relevant legal materials that relate to the freedom of assembly in a wide range of countries: https://www.rightofassembly.info. It is hoped that the database will play a significant role in identifying and publishing domestic standards to enable oversight by civil society, as well as by national and international human rights agencies, including treaty bodies. It is also hoped that the project will assist in the identification of model national frameworks as well as frameworks that exhibit shortcomings, whether in drafting or implementation. The case studies prepared by the participants of this research training programme will be helpful in establishing the database.