PRIORITY AREA 1: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND CIVIC SPACE
Our aim is to strengthen the people’s right to freedom of expression and association by 2030, benefitting from expanded civic space, where more people in more places under more circumstances – online and offline – are safely exercising their freedom of expression under the shelter of laws and regulations that protect them from violence, harassment, and unfair treatment.
OUTCOME 1.2. SECURING THE RIGHT TO PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY FOR ALL
States expand and protect people’s right to peaceful assembly, including in the digital space, in line with human rights standards, including through the legal and policy frameworks that govern law enforcement practices and accountability, and protect individuals from arbitrary detention and unfair trials, and from torture.
ACTIVITIES IN GHANA
The “Protect the Protest” campaign by Amnesty International Ghana represents a critical effort to defend and promote the right to peaceful assembly as a fundamental human right essential to the functioning of democracy.
By raising awareness, advocating for legal reforms, providing support to activists, mobilising stakeholders, and fostering dialogue and understanding, we aim to create an enabling environment where the right to peaceful protest is respected, protected, and upheld for all individuals in Ghana. AI Ghana collaborates with various government agencies and pressure groups regarding this campaign.
This campaign is not merely a call to action; it is a reaffirmation of our commitment to defending the rights of all individuals to peacefully assemble, express dissent, and engage in activism without fear of persecution. Amnesty International’s “Protect the Protest” campaign emerges as a beacon of hope and solidarity. Drawing inspiration from pivotal moments in history, where collective action and protest have catalysed notable change, this initiative seeks to galvanize a global movement. Our mission is to safeguard the right to protest, ensuring that voices calling for justice and equality are not silenced but celebrated and protected, and this can be achieved through our campaign.
OBJECTIVES
- We aim to establish a well-equipped protest observation team that produces annual reports on police/military infractions during protests.
- Initiate discourse about a legal ban and influence the debate for legislative review on the use of lethal weapons during protest.
- Lead and champion the review discourse and call on policy makers to review the Public Order Act.
- Uncover or document human rights abuses during protests and seek redress for victims.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
- Increased public awareness of the right to peaceful protest through nationwide education and advocacy campaigns by 2030.
- Improved police behaviour and response during demonstrations, with reduced incidents of the use of excessive force or arbitrary arrests.
- Positive legal or policy reforms, including amendments to the Public Order Act, that better protect freedom of assembly.
- Enhanced accountability mechanisms for human rights violations committed during protests.
- Strengthened collaboration with civil society organizations and youth groups to promote and defend protest rights.
- A safer and more enabling environment for civic participation and activism in Ghana.