Freedom of expression is not something which should be constained by rules, other than the law. But a little common sense planning can help to ensure that everyone enjoys an equal right to exercise their rights without infringing those of others.
Speakers’ Corners as civic spaces have very considerable symbolic as well as actual value. They not only represent the rights of citizens to free expression and assembly but also provide a platform for the exercise of those freedoms.
But in planning and managing Speakers’ Corners it is important to recognise that freedoms are not absolute and that when different rights or the rights of different people compete, or occasionally conflict, balances have to be struck.
Speakers’ Corners are public spaces over which a Speakers’ Corner Committees have no jurisdiction. Committees therefore cannot make (much less police) enforceable ‘rules’ – and may in any event consider that framing rules about the conduct of free expression would be inappropriate.
But Speakers’ Corner Committees may wish to adopt brief Codes of Conduct as simple reminders to people using Speakers’ Corners of the need to behave considerately and cooperatively, within the spirit of the Speakers’ Corner initiative.
Speakers’ Corner events are intended to be relaxed, inclusive events. But informailty sometimes takes a little organisation.
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"Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of democratic life. It is by the free exchange of ideas among citizens about how they should live together and how they should be governed that we create and sustain the democratic society. So the rights to free association and expression are scarcely less important than the right to live in peace and free from want."
SCT's online Forum for Debate provides a space for leading academics, campaigners and commentators to set out balanced arguments on key contemporary issues as a means of stimulating wider public debate about them.
Each debate is supplemented by an invaluable bibliography of further reading provided by the British Library.