More about Freedom of Assembly

Section 103 of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia
Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 21 of the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Article 11 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights

The right to peaceful assembly is among the key values of democratic society, along with the right to freedom of speech. Freedom of assembly, as well as freedom of formation and speech, is among the most essential political rights. Such rights enable active civil society to express publicly their opinion and to participate in democratic processes.

Freedom of assembly includes the right to participate at the event in question as well as the right to arrange such event. The said right is individual by nature, notwithstanding that meeting means participation of more than one person.

The right to freedom of assembly is not absolute and it is subject to restrictions. It should also be taken into account that protection stipulated in the international legal norms only extends to the right to peaceful meeting.