A/HRC/56/50 10. Significant advancement has been made towards reasserting the right of associations to have access to resources. The mandate holder contributed substantially to that effort, reinforcing the right of members of associations to free access to human, material and financial resources from domestic, foreign and international sources as intrinsic to the right to freedom of association and essential for the existence and effective operation of any association.6 Furthermore, the Human Rights Committee has asserted that the obligations of States relating to the right to freedom of peaceful assembly extend to activities integral to making the exercise of the right meaningful, such as the mobilization of resources by participants or organizers.7 11. The Special Rapporteur also strengthened the standards on access to resources by developing specific guidelines that provide practical recommendations to States, the donor community, financial institutions and multilateral entities. 8 The Special Rapporteur engaged proactively with the Financial Action Task Force to ensure that safeguards were put in place against States’ misuse of counter-terrorism and anti-money-laundering regulations to suppress fundamental freedoms. In November 2023, the Financial Action Task Force amended its recommendation 8 and its interpretive note to state that any counter-terrorism or anti-money-laundering measures implemented by States should be focused, proportionate and risk-based to address identified terrorism financing risks and must not be overly burdensome or restrictive.9 12. The mandate holder, along with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, has regularly provided analysis of legislation, policies and practices to counter the instrumentalization of ill-defined or overly broad counter-terrorism laws to suppress movements, peaceful protests and civil society organizations. 13. In its general comment No. 37 (2020) on the right of peaceful assembly, which reinforces the mandate holder’s efforts, the Human Rights Committee provided authoritative guidance on the scope of the right of peaceful assembly, the obligations of States, the duties and powers of law enforcement agencies and the right to peaceful assembly during states of emergency. 14. Important efforts to safeguard the protection of human rights in the context of protests have been made, such as through the Human Rights Council resolutions on peaceful protest 10 and the Special Rapporteur’s reports. Specifically, the Special Rapporteur has focused his efforts on reversing the negative discourse portraying peaceful protests as threats and on reasserting States’ obligations to protect and facilitate peaceful protests as a right, protected under article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including in crisis situations. 11 The Model Protocol for Law Enforcement Officials to Promote and Protect Human Rights in the Context of Peaceful Protests, developed recently by the Special Rapporteur in collaboration with UNODC and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, provides critical practical guidance for law enforcement to ensure that peaceful protests are facilitated, rather than controlled or suppressed.12 The Model Protocol operationalizes international standards relating to precaution, protection, accountability and the avoidance of the use of force. 15. The mandate holder’s work has also been instrumental in advancing the protection of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association online and through the use of digital technology.13 The 2023 joint declaration issued by the Special Rapporteur, together with regional mechanisms, provided recommendations to States and the business sector to 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 4 See A/HRC/50/23 and A/HRC/23/29. Human Rights Committee, general comment No. 37 (2020), para. 33. A/HRC/53/38/Add.4. See https://www.fatf-gafi.org/en/publications/Fatfrecommendations/protecting-non-profits-abuseimplementation-R8.html. Resolution 50/21. A/HRC/50/42. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/tools-and-resources/practical-toolkit-law-enforcementofficials-promote-and-protect-human. A/HRC/41/41. GE.24-11191