The Public Interest Litigation Project (PILP) of the NJCM on June 24 sent legal observers for the first time to a protest in the port of Amsterdam. These are lawyers and jurists from the network of PILP who voluntarily work as observers.

The right to protest

They were there to ensure that people's right to protest under the law on public manifestations was respected, as well as to answer questions from attendees on the rights and duties of protesters.

The PILP team was easily recognizable by their white hi-viz vests containing the logo of PILP and the words "legal observers."

Legal observers explicitly did not participate in the protests or other events they attended. In addition to their recognizable clothing, they informed the authorities in advance and during the protests of their presence and role.

The PILP team carried flyers to the event with a short overview of the applicable legislation. For those who want to know more: keep an eye on the PILP website for the publication of an extensive manual on the right to protest and the right to freedom of speech.

Why is PILP involved?

This was the first of a series of protests in the coming months where PILP will send legal observers. This way, the PILP wants to examine where things go wrong during protests. The law on public manifestations, which elaborates on the right to protest, will be revised in the near future.

By using legal observers and by looking at the legal cases that will possibly result from the protests, PILP will research how the law can be improved.

Mayors and the police should facilitate the right to protest, while at the same time ensuring order and safety of both protesters and bystanders. Protesters should in turn realize that the freedom of expression, although extensive, is not at all unlimited in the Netherlands.

Balancing the limits of the power of mayors and police with the rights of protesters can sometimes be difficult, which PILP legal observers experienced a couple of times last year.

Here you can read about the case that PILP brought after the protests on the arrival of Saint Nicholas in Sittard-Geleen.

The right to protest is incredibly important for participating in the democratic process. It allows people to express their opinions, raise awareness on abuses and participate in the public debate. The protection of this fundamental right and human right and the freedoms that it entails is therefore an important goal for the PILP.