"Two medics help people suffering from the tear gas launched..."

#6195190

18 November 2020

Two medics help people suffering from the tear gas launched by riot police. Several NGOs (Amnesty International, Human Rights League), trade unions (CGT, CNT, CFDT, SAF ie Union of French Lawyers), journalists' unions (SNJ, SNJ-CGT), International and European Journalists Federation, and political parties called for a gathering against the so-called 'Global Security Law' bill promoted by French President Macron and his majority. The gathering finished amid clouds of tear gas launched by riot police. This law intends to give more powers to municipal police and to private security guards, it will give broader powers to police such as connecting to private CCTVs in buildings or shops. Police will be authorized to use drones and facial recognition during protests. But it will also forbid anyone to photograph or film police members if not flouted : transgressors could be condemned up to one year in jail and a €45.000 fine. The planned law bluntly says that the use of cameras by police forces is intented to 'inform the public and the press' because as said by J.-M. Fauvergue (ex chief of the RAID, a Police Tactital Unit) 'French police is losing the images' war'. The French Rights Defender, the French National Commission on Human Rights (administrative bodies) and the UN Human Rights body condemn the planned law saying that it will be a violation of internationals treaties signed and ratified by France, the Universal Human Rights Declaration, general principles of law, etc. They fear a chilling effect on people wanting to use their right to protest, right to personal privacy... and on journalists, photographers, videographers. Toulouse. France. November 17h 2020.

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