A/HRC/RES/32/31
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
20 July 2016
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Thirty-second session
Agenda item 3
Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 1 July 2016
32/31.
Civil society space
The Human Rights Council,
Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,
Guided also by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Vienna Declaration
and Programme of Action, the International Covenants on Human Rights and all other
relevant instruments,
Recalling the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups
and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms,
Recalling also its resolutions 27/31 of 26 September 2014, on civil society space,
and 24/21 of 27 September 2013, on civil society space: creating and maintaining, in law
and in practice, a safe and enabling environment,
Recalling further all other Human Rights Council resolutions relevant to creating
and maintaining civil society space, inter alia, those addressing freedom of opinion and
expression; the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; protecting
human rights defenders; equal participation in political and public affairs; cooperation with
the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights;
promotion and protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protests; and the
promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the Internet,
Recognizing the important role of civil society at the local, national, regional and
international levels, that civil society facilitates the achievement of the purposes and
principles of the United Nations, and that the undue restriction of civil society space
therefore has a negative impact upon their achievement,
Welcoming the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,1
including the commitments therein to, inter alia, promote peaceful and inclusive societies
for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, build effective, accountable
1
General Assembly resolution 70/1.
GE.16-12549(E)