Protesters outside Columbia University in New York. UN human rights chief concerned about measures to suppress protests at US universities Human Rights
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Tuesday said he was concerned about a series of harsh measures taken to crack down on protests on university campuses in the United States.
“Freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly are fundamental to society – especially when there are sharp divisions on core issues, such as the conflict in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel,” Turk said .
For several weeks now, thousands of American university students have been protesting against the war in the Gaza Strip. In recent days, large-scale demonstrations have also taken place on university campuses in other countries.
Many protests have passed without incident, but in a number of places they have been dispersed or suppressed by security forces. Hundreds of students were arrested. Many of them were subsequently released, others were charged. Academic sanctions have been imposed on some students.
University authorities and law enforcement officials must carefully select measures to limit the protest movement and ensure that such measures are used only to protect the rights and freedoms of others or to achieve other legitimate goals, such as maintaining public order, Turk emphasized. He called a number of measures taken by universities “disproportionate”. /p>
Actions by universities and law enforcement must be guided by human rights laws that allow for dynamic debate and protect safe spaces for all
“Incitement to violence or hatred based on identity or views – real or perceived – must be categorically rejected,” he said. “We have already seen that such dangerous rhetoric can lead to real violence,” Turk added.
Instances of such behavior must be addressed on an individual level, he said. It is impossible to take radical measures against all protest participants on the basis that a few people hold an unacceptable point of view, Turk believes.
“Here, as elsewhere, the actions of universities and law enforcement agencies must be based on human rights laws that allow for dynamic debate and protect safe spaces for all,” he said.
“Universities The United States has a strong historical tradition of student activism, heated debate, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” Turk added. freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly must be guided by the principles of legality, necessity and proportionality.
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