Warsaw is preparing for the European Economic Summit that will commence on the 28th of April 2004. It is expected that the arrival of politicians will be the cause for the arrival of various alterglobalist groups.
Warsaw´s inhabitants, city authorities and participants of the scheduled protests are voicing their concerns that the street demonstrations may turn into violent clashes between the police and the alterglobalists.
The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, as an independent non-governmental organisation, intends to monitor the situation on the streets of Warsaw during the Summit. Special attention will be paid to the alterglobalists´ protests. On the 29th of April the Foundation´s representatives will be monitoring the exercise of freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, as well as the right to protection of public security and public order. The observers will also investigate the legality of detentions, their complianccacce with procedures prescribed by law and the exercise of rights of those detained in connection with public demonstrations.
