The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of elections 2013, para. 53
Paragraph- Paragraph text
- Activities that involve monitoring and observation of the conduct of election processes by international groups may also be subject to undue restrictions. In this context, it is worth recalling that the protection of State sovereignty against external interferences is not listed as a legitimate interest in article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Special Rapporteur underscores the fact that States cannot refer to additional grounds, even those provided by domestic legislation, to restrict the right to freedom of association. Hence, restrictive measures imposed under this guise unduly limit associations in their free operations. Governments that exclude independent international observers from electoral processes by enacting legislation to this effect, by making the process of registering as an election monitor burdensome, or by inviting only friendly observation groups that will not be critical in their monitoring, thus diluting or countering any criticism by independent impartial groups, do not guarantee the right to freedom of association. The Special Rapporteur recognizes that elections constitute a significant event in the life of a nation and should be protected from foreign interference. Nevertheless, he also recognizes the need to establish clear, specific and objective criteria that would enable independent and impartial election observation by all monitors, including from abroad. In this regard, blanket restrictions on international election observers groups are inherently disproportionate and thus incompatible with international law standards.
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Other
- Reference
- SR Freedom of Assembly, Report to the UNGA (2013), A/68/299, para. 53.
- Paragraph number
- 53
sorted by
Date ajouter
71 relationships, 71 entities