Article 11. - Freedom of assembly and association (Freedom of assembly and association)
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of association with others, including the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
2. No restrictions shall be placed on the exercise of these rights other than such as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. This Article shall not prevent the imposition of lawful restrictions on the exercise of these rights by members of the armed forces, of the police or of the administration of the State.
Uitleg in duidelijke taal
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of association with others, including the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
This first part states that everyone has two main rights: first, the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, and second, the right to freedom of association with others. It clarifies that this second right (freedom of association) includes the specific right to form trade unions and to join trade unions, when this is for the protection of an individual's interests.
2. No restrictions shall be placed on the exercise of these rights other than such as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. This Article shall not prevent the imposition of lawful restrictions on the exercise of these rights by members of the armed forces, of the police or of the administration of the State.
This second part states that no restrictions shall be placed on the exercise of the rights mentioned in Part 1, unless those restrictions meet two conditions: they must be 'prescribed by law', and they must be 'necessary in a democratic society'. Furthermore, such necessary and lawful restrictions are only permissible if they are in the interests of: national security or public safety; or for the prevention of disorder or crime; or for the protection of health or morals; or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. The final sentence of this part clarifies that this Article does not prevent 'lawful restrictions' from being imposed on the exercise of these rights by specific groups: 'members of the armed forces', 'of the police', or 'of the administration of the State'.