10 Examples of Freedom Of Movement

John Spacey, June 17, 2019

Freedom of movement is the right to travel from place to place. This is considered a basic human right that is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. The following are illustrative examples of freedom of movement.

Domestic Travel

The right to travel to all regions and areas of your own country.

Public Space

Freedom of movement requires ample public space that allows people to be outside and move from place to place.

Private Property

Freedom of movement may limit private property rights in some cases. For example, a private land owner may be required to provide a means to access public land such as a beach if their land is mostly surrounding it according to right of access laws. Likewise, nations and cities may expropriate land with sufficient compensation where the land is important to freedom of movement. This is to prevent the historical problem of robber barons who charged high tolls to cross land that was essential to transportation and freedom of movement such as the only path between two towns.

Right To Chose a Residence

The right to move and to live in a place of your choosing.

Right To Leave

The right to leave a country to go somewhere else. For example, a citizen that has a right to a passport and to leave a country without undue hindrance.

Right To Return

A right to repatriate to your own country.

Freedoms of the Air

The right to fly over private property above a height defined by law.

Transport

A broad interpretation of freedom of movement might include a right to access transportation at a reasonable cost. For example, a remote community might ask a government to subsidize transportation based on the community's right to movement.

Services

Certain services may be a right based on freedom of movement such that they can't be arbitrarily denied to an individual. For example, if a national airline bans a person from flying based on a minor commercial dispute that individual may argue that this violates their right to movement by effectively preventing them from traveling.

Children

Children commonly have their right of movement restricted by parents or local governments. For example, curfew laws that prohibit children from being outside their home after a certain time. In extreme cases, such laws also apply to children who are with their parents or guardian. Severe restrictions on a child's right of movement may additionally infringe on the right to education and right to play.

Notes

In many countries, freedom of movement is a constitutional right. In fact, this is amongst the most common clauses to be found in national constitutions.