IHRC has arranged a side panel meeting at the United Nations with the international body’s Special Rapporteur on freedom of assembly to present our findings on the growing levels of repression being faced by pro-Palestine activists and citizens in Europe.

Since the escalation of hostilities between Palestine and Israel on the 7th of October 2023, the governments of United Kingdom, France and Germany have reached an alarming level of repression against protests and dissent in support of Palestinians, with the targeting of activists, artists, protestors, political and civil organizations.

Bound by a common design, all these countries have adopted an identical approach in quelling pro-Palestine protest: exceptional Islamophobic and racist counter-terrorism powers; illegal bans; brutal harassment; arbitrary arrests of human rights defenders; censorship; harassment and electronic surveillance.

Often, the repression is animated in part by right-wing officials using this moment as an opportunity to advance their own political agenda of anti-immigrant policies and to advance the same objective of censoring and criminalising critical opinion, shrinking civil society space and reducing the influx of migrants.

At the event on Monday on the fringes of the meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of assembly and association, Gina Romero, will make an introductory remark, followed by Ms. Caterina Aiena from IHRC, presenting the findings on her research on the current repression of Pro-Palestine movement in Europe, with a special focus on UK, Germany and France.

The journalist and activist Susann Witt-Stahl, film-maker Haim Breseeth and an IHRC Legal team representative will bring their first-hand experience of the high levels of repression currently being seen in German and UK.

In late 2023, Using the UN special joint communication procedure, IHRC submitted in 2023 a communication carrying information on legislation and policy deemed to violate the right to freedom of opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and of association, and protection of human rights defenders. The 2024 report is due to be published in the coming weeks. More details of the event and a copy of the 2023 report are available here.

DATE: 24 June 2024

TIME: 11.00 am CEST.

Venue: Online IHRC TV or YouTube – in person Room XXV, UN Buildings, Geneva

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For more information or comment please contact the Press Office on (+44) 208 904 0222  or (+44) 7958 522196 or email media@ihrc.org
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