The NGO League for Human Rights has formally requested the United Nations to send international observers to monitor firsthand the actions of the Police during the large demonstrations planned for next Saturday in France. The organization justifies this request on the "chaotic and inconsistent" response of the state security forces during the past weekend, as well as on the expressed will of the French Government to reinforce and tighten the upcoming measures.
"The only announcements from the Government refer to an escalation in the deployment of means of repression not trained to maintain order," warns the LDH.
In light of this scenario, the LDH "has referred the matter to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and calls on the High Commissioner for Human Rights to carry out an observation mission of the demonstrations that will take place so that the protesters can express themselves peacefully." The organization understands that the presence of the UN is key to ensuring that the right to assemble is exercised without violence.
The LDH also demands that the French Executive adopt political responses "whose objective is also de-escalation" and that it aims to reduce social tension, reminding that, "while the state of democracy is a matter of public debate, the Government has the primary responsibility to restore the right to peaceful protest." The NGO emphasizes that it is up to the authorities to guarantee a safe framework for the mobilizations.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, had previously expressed his "concern" over the incidents linked to the protests of high school students in France, especially after the case of a student who lost a hand due to the explosion of a grenade thrown by the law enforcement in Lens. This episode has intensified international scrutiny over the methods employed by the French Police in controlling the demonstrations.