The right to freedom of assembly has been enshrined in the European Convention of Human Rights (Article 11), the international covenant on civil and political rights (article 21) and is often seen as a key element to the existence of democracies.

In the last years, they have been bans and limitations on the right to freedom of assembly in several countries in European. Ilga-Europe has been raising this issue with the European Parliament, the Committee of Region, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

In the current of spring 2006, ILGA-Europe will publish a handbook on monitoring prides marches in places where they are contentious .

For more information on this issue, please contact: Christine Loudes at christine@ilga-europe.org