A/HRC/22/28 30. Similarly, the constitutions of Bulgaria, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay and Venezuela (Bolivian Republic of) protect the right to peaceful assembly and demonstration, while explicitly stressing that this right should be exercised without recourse to “arms”. The constitutions of Qatar and Bahrain protect the right to peaceful assembly, and both States have also adopted national legislation banning the use of arms during assemblies. 31. Serbia indicated that the right to peaceful assembly is laid down in its Constitution and that during peaceful protests, citizens’ rights to freedom of thought and expression are protected. Mauritius stated that peaceful protests are protected by two different constitutional provisions: the right to freedom of expression and the right to freedom of assembly and association. 32. The Estonian Constitution states that everyone has the right, without prior permission, to assemble peacefully and hold meetings. However, it also provides for restriction to this right pursuant to a procedure provided by law to ensure national security, public order, morals, traffic safety and the safety of participants in a meeting, or to prevent the spread of an infectious disease.13 33. Guatemala reported that the right to peaceful assembly may be restricted in certain cases established in the Law on Public Order, taking into account the provisions of article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In order to ensure peace, security and the effective implementation of human rights, the Civil Security Forces Support Act regulates the support provided by the Guatemalan armed forces to civil security forces when working to prevent and combat organized and minor crimes.14 In November 2012, a Protocol on Inter-agency Action: Military Support to Civil Security Forces, specifying the legal framework for assistance, cooperation and coordination between the Guatemalan armed and civil security forces, was adopted.15 B. Measures and best practices Prior notification and authorization 34. While some States do not require any prior notification or prior authorization to hold peaceful demonstrations, others may require one or the other. In certain situations, prior notification or authorization is only required if the organizers intend to use public roads or public areas, or when special facilities, such as stands or barriers, may have to be erected for the demonstration. 35. Similarly, States diverge on approaches to spontaneous peaceful protests. Some States which require prior notification or authorization may ban such demonstrations, others may allow them, or others still may allow the demonstration even if it contravenes legal requirements rergarding prior notification or authorization. 36. In Azerbaijan, notification must include the name, purpose, place and date of the event, the approximate number of participants, and if a street march is held, its proposed route, including starting place, distance and destination, as well as the name and contact information of the organizers. However, spontaneous demonstrations or protests do not require written notification, but can be restricted or stopped.16 13 14 15 16 Estonia, Constitution (1992), art. 47. Guatemala, Act on the Support to Civil Security Forces, Decree No. 40-2000 of 16 June 2000. Guatemala, Protocol on Inter-agency Action: Military Support to Civil Security Forces, Government order No. 285-2012 of 6 November 2012. Azerbaijan, Law on Freedom of Assemblies of 22 February 2008, arts. 3 and 12. 9