prijava
BANJA LUKA, March 6 (FENA) - Every public and private space to which the public has access to is adequate to hold a public gathering, and the practice of deciding what accessible space to be a decision of the city council or the mayor needs to be reconsidered, said Human Rights Ombudsperson of Bosnia and Herzegovina Nives Jukić.
Presenting a Special Report on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, she noted that the sanctions against participants, organizers and orderlies of public gatherings have been severe and disproportionate.
Recalling that the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are fundamental rights in a democratic society, Jukić said at a press conference in Banja Luka on Friday that the contents and deadlines for applications are too bureaucratic and, to some extent, encroach on the protection of personal data and could have a deterrent effect.
The BiH Ombudsperson Ljubinko Mitrović said that police officers in charge of freedom of assembly do not have the necessary knowledge and skills.
"We will advocate for the introduction of special, independent and effective controls on the conduct of police officers, with all modalities already in place," Mitrović said.
Assistant Ombudsman and Head of the Department for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Predrag Raosavljević also said that in drafting this Special Report, it was found that domestic legislation is not in line with international standards to the greatest extent, because there exists a pretty long list of venues and locations where holding of public gatherings is prohibited.
There is also some evidence that the issuing of permits to hold the gatherings is sometimes unjustifiably slow, as in several cases, he said, excessive use of police force was found to be used during maintain public order and peace.
The Ombudspersons also made recommendations to the entity parliaments, the Brčko District Assembly and cantonal assemblies, the police and prosecutors' offices.
(FENA) S. R.
