A/HRC/44/42
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
13 May 2020
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Forty-fourth session
15 June–3 July 2020
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Right to freedom of association of migrants and their
defenders
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants*
Summary
The present report, submitted in accordance with Human Rights Council
resolution 34/21, provides an account of the activities undertaken during the reporting
period by the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants. It also provides a
thematic study on the right to freedom of association of migrants, in which the Special
Rapporteur examines recent trends in restrictions in law and in practice on freedom of
association for migrants and civil society organizations that work to protect migrants’
rights.
The right to freedom of association is essential for migrants to express their
needs, protect their right to life and defend their economic, social, cultural and other
human rights. Assistance and support from civil society organizations is crucial for
migrants, particularly for those in an irregular situation or with vulnerabilities. Given the
interconnected nature of human rights, restrictions on migrants’ and their defenders’
freedom of association further hinder migrants’ enjoyment of other rights. Encouraging
migrants to organize empowers them to engage with the host communities directly and
enables them to have a positive impact in the communities and countries in which they
reside.
* Agreement was reached to publish the present report after the standard publication date owing to
circumstances beyond the submitter’s control.
GE.20-06662(E)