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The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of multilateral institutions 2014, para. 86
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur reiterates that the ability to peacefully assemble and freely associate is a key aspect of a vibrant democracy and critical for development. In today's globalized world, the meaning and practice of democracy stretches beyond national boundaries. Multilateral entities thus have positive responsibilities to actively protect peaceful assemblies and to establish and maintain an enabling environment for civil society. This is all the more valid when multilateral institutions claim to represent States, which are the primary actors accountable for the respect and promotion of civil liberties. In addition, the Special Rapporteur underlines the obligation of States to protect and facilitate the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association of those engaging with multilateral institutions.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2014
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Best practices that promote and protect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 2012, para. 76
- Paragraph text
- According to ILO jurisprudence, decisions to dissolve labour organizations "should only occur in extremely serious cases; such dissolutions should only happen following a judicial decision so that the rights of defence are fully guaranteed". The Special Rapporteur values as best practice legislation that stipulates that such drastic measures be taken by independent and impartial courts. In the United Republic of Tanzania, the case of an association working on gender equality that had been deregistered by the authorities was successfully overturned by the Constitutional Court.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Best practices that promote and protect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 2012, para. 32
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur notes the increased use of the Internet, in particular social media, and other information and communication technology, as basic tools which enable individuals to organize peaceful assemblies. However, some States have clamped down on these tools to deter or prevent citizens from exercising their right. In this connection, the Special Rapporteur refers to a recent report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, in which he recommended, inter alia, that "all States [should] ensure that Internet access is maintained at all times, including during times of political unrest" (A/HRC/17/27, para. 79) and "any determination on what [website] content should be blocked must be undertaken by a competent judicial authority or a body which is independent of any political, commercial, or other unwarranted influences" (para. 70).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Best practices that promote and protect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 2012, para. 14
- Paragraph text
- The right to freedom of peaceful assembly is guaranteed in article 21 of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the right to freedom of association in article 22. They are also reflected in article 8 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and in other specific international and regional human rights treaties or instruments, including 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 (art. 5).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Best practices that promote and protect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 2012, para. 15
- Paragraph text
- According to article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the right of peaceful assembly and the right to freedom of association are not absolute rights. Resolution 15/21 (OP 4) makes clear that they "can be subject to certain restrictions, which are prescribed by law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order (ordre public), the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others".
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Best practices that promote and protect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 2012, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur further particularly emphasizes that the right to life and the right to be free from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment should be guaranteed by States to all individuals under all circumstances and at all times, including in the context of the exercise of the rights to freedom of association and of peaceful assembly, as prescribed by article 4 of the Covenant. The Special Rapporteur recalls that, according to the Human Rights Committee, during a state of emergency, the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association shall not be derogated since "the possibility of restricting certain Covenant rights under the terms of, for instance … freedom of assembly is generally sufficient during such situations and no derogation from the provisions in question would be justified by the exigencies of the situation".
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Best practices that promote and protect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 2012, para. 35
- Paragraph text
- The right to life (art. 3 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and art. 6 of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) and the right to be free from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (art. 5 of the Declaration and art. 7 of the Covenant) should be the overarching principles governing the policing of public assemblies, as stated by several countries. In this regard, soft law provisions - the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials (in particular articles 2 and 3) and the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials (in particular principles 4, 9 and 13) - aim at guiding law enforcement officials when policing peaceful protests. In this connection, the Inter-American Court on Human Rights stated that the "pretext of maintenance of public security cannot be invoked to violate the right to life … the State must ensure that, if it is necessary to resort to physical means ... members of its armed forces and its security bodies will use only those means that are indispensable to control such situations in a rational and proportional manner, and respecting the rights to life and to humane treatment". The Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions also stated that "the only circumstances warranting the use of firearms, including during demonstrations, is the imminent threat of death or serious injury" (A/HRC/17/28, para. 60). With regard to the use of tear gas, the Special Rapporteur recalls that gas does not discriminate between demonstrators and non-demonstrators, healthy people and people with health conditions. He also warns against any modification of the chemical composition of the gas for the sole purpose of inflicting severe pain on protestors and, indirectly, bystanders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Best practices that promote and protect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 2012, para. 36
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur also refers to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights list of administrative controls that should be put in place at the State level to ensure use of force during public assemblies on an exceptional basis. Among others, "(a) implementation of mechanisms to prohibit, in an effective manner, the use of lethal force as recourse in public demonstrations; (b) implementation of an ammunition registration and control system; (c) implementation of a communications records system to monitor operational orders, those responsible for them, and those carrying them out".
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of elections 2013, para. 4
- Paragraph text
- Democracy, as a system through which the people participate directly or indirectly in the conduct of public affairs, has broad appeal across the globe. Elections, referendums and plebiscites, in which people choose their representatives and express their choice of laws or policies, are held in the majority of countries in the world. As stipulated in article 21 (3) of the Universal Declaration of Human rights, democracy is a process in which "[t]he will of the people [is] to be the basis of the authority of government". It is commonly thought of as a process with regular periodic, free and competitive elections to decide on policies directly or indirectly through chosen representatives that must be accountable to their electorate. In other words, democracy, as reflected in the electoral process, generally involves the use of clear predictable processes with uncertain outcomes, while a non-democracy can be identified by the fact that the whole electoral process is characterized by unclear and uncertain processes but with predictable outcomes. Nevertheless, the quality of elections is increasingly coming under scrutiny in order to ensure that election outcomes are representative of the will of the people. Elections confer legitimacy on Governments; if those elections are not considered to reflect the will of the people, therefore, a sense of discontent and disenfranchisement may result and sometimes cause violent conflict. In order to sustain the democratic ideal, it is necessary for regimes to uphold the rule of law, respect and protect human rights and remain vigilant and responsive to peoples' views and opinions at all times.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of elections 2013, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- In its resolution 15/21, the Human Rights Council calls upon States to respect and fully protect the rights of all individuals to assemble peacefully and associate freely, including in the context of elections. In addition to the notion of democracy, the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association are implicit in the right to take part in the Government of one's country, as affirmed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states in article 21 (3) that "[t]he will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures". Similarly, article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights affirms every citizen's right without prohibited distinctions and unreasonable restrictions: (a) to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives; (b) to vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors; and (c) to have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in his country. The Human Rights Committee recognizes that the full enjoyment of those rights depends on the free communication of information and ideas about public and political issues between citizens, candidates and elected representatives, which requires the free exercise of the rights to peaceful assembly and association, among other rights (general comment No. 25, para. 25). The General Assembly, in its resolution 59/201 declared that freedom of association and peaceful assembly were essential elements of democracy, together with the right to vote and to be elected at genuine periodic free elections, and encouraged the strengthening of political party systems and civil society organizations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of elections 2013, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- Everyone has the right to form or join a political party and conversely, no one should be compelled to belong to a political party. The Human Rights Committee, in its general comment No. 25 (para. 26), has stated that political parties and membership in parties play a significant role in the conduct of public affairs and the election process. Political parties are indeed the primary vehicles through which people can participate in the conduct of public affairs. The Special Rapporteur recognises political parties as a subset of associations included in the right to freedom of association enshrined in article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. As such, the principles and minimum standards elaborated by the Special Rapporteur in his thematic report on best practices (A/HRC/20/27) generally apply to the regulation of political parties. Nevertheless, political parties are organizations formed to carry out particular objectives, that is, presenting candidates for elections in order to be represented in political institutions and to exercise political power on any level, national or local, and may therefore be subject to specific requirements not necessary for other civil society organizations. According to the European Court of Human Rights, it is in the nature of the role they play that political parties, the only bodies which can come to power, also have the capacity to influence the whole of the regime in their countries. By the proposals for an overall societal model which they put before the electorate and by their capacity to implement those proposals once they come to power, political parties differ from other organizations which intervene in the political arena.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of elections 2013, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- In his second thematic report (A/HRC/23/39), the Special Rapporteur identified the ability of associations to access financial resources as an integral element of the right to freedom of association. The question of funding has far-reaching consequences on the right to freedom of association for political parties in the context of elections. Funding ensures that political parties are able to function on a day-to-day basis, to participate in the political arena, to represent a plurality of views, interests and perspectives, thus strengthening democracy. Funding may also have perverse effects on democratic potential, requiring certain regulation. The Special Rapporteur shares the view of the Human Rights Committee, in general comment No. 25 (para. 19) that reasonable limitations on campaign expenditure may be justified where this is necessary to ensure that the free choice of voters is not undermined or the democratic process distorted by the disproportionate expenditure on behalf of any candidate or party.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of elections 2013, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- Political parties and their members unduly restricted from exercising their right to free association should have recourse to prompt and effective remedies. The Special Rapporteur again stresses that States have an obligation to provide independent and impartial institutions, including electoral management bodies and media regulatory authorities, in addition to an independent judiciary, to ensure that electoral processes are not exploited, thereby creating an uneven playing field for any political party. In order to be effective, the regulatory body should be independent from executive powers, be empowered and have adequate capacity to formulate, monitor and enforce regulations. These are the key conditions for ensuring the respect of the right to freedom of association in the context of elections.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of elections 2013, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- Civil society organizations are inherently different from political parties, the ultimate objective of which is to promote candidates who will run for elections with the aim to govern. Thus, different regulations and restrictions are applicable to the former. In line with this, associations should not be compelled to register as political parties and conversely, they should not be denied registration as associations because they carry out what the authorities consider to be "political" activities. It is a source of serious concern that the term "political" has been interpreted in many countries in such a broad manner as to cover all sorts of advocacy activities; civic education; research; and more generally, activities aimed at influencing public policy or public opinion. It is clear that this interpretation is solely motivated by the need to deter any forms of criticism. In this regard, concern was expressed about the situation in the Russian Federation, where a human rights organization was the subject of an inspection from the Prosecutor's General Office, which claimed that the organization had engaged in "political activity" by "purposefully influencing the image of the electoral commissions and other State organs, through participation in the electoral process", after some members of the organization alleged irregularities during the December 2011 elections. The Special Rapporteur recalls that the right to freedom of association is itself a civil and political right facilitating the participation of all in decision-making of public affairs. Freedom of association provides individuals with unique opportunities to express their political opinions and to engage in cultural, economic and social activities. In fact, associations accused of engaging in "political" activities are often those that seek to keep Governments accountable, through good governance and rule of law initiatives, such as anti-corruption measures, human rights campaigns, institutional reforms and similar measures designed to strengthen democracy. The Special Rapporteur is of the view that labelling associations as "political", and on that basis associating them with opposition parties or preventing them from operating, is largely intended to silence voices that are critical of Government policies and practices.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of elections 2013, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- The freedom of associations to engage in activities related to the electoral process should therefore be guaranteed to all associations, whether they are apolitical in their means and operations, partially or totally supportive of the Government or express criticism of Government policies. Hence, no associations should be compelled to express support for any electoral candidate. Nevertheless, it is important for any organization which voluntarily supports a particular candidate or a party in an election to be transparent in declaring its motivation, as its support may impact on elections' results. The Special Rapporteur is of the view that the strength of a democracy can be gauged by the extent to which diverse views and differing opinions are accommodated and even encouraged in public debate.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of elections 2013, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- Governments in many countries are increasingly imposing restrictions on civil society's ability to engage in the establishment of transparent, accountable and fair democratic machinery and also from undertaking activities such as election monitoring and voter mobilization. Barriers include the prohibition for certain groups to register as associations; the prohibition from carrying out some activities where a restrictive list of authorized activities is not provided by the legal framework; the obligation to adopt negative labels; the denial of accreditations to associations to observe and monitor elections; or even the imposition of sanctions or threats of sanctions for engaging in activities related to the electoral process. In the Russian Federation, the implementation of the 2012 Introducing Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Regarding the Regulation of Activities of Non-commercial Organizations Performing the Function of Foreign Agents, the compliance of which with international standards is analysed in depth in the Special Rapporteur's second thematic report to the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/23/39), has led to audits and inspection campaigns against numerous civic organizations that have conducted "political activities" and have failed to register as a "foreign agent". One of them, Golos Association for the defence of the rights of voters, whose Internet website was hacked in the run-up to the parliamentary elections, was, in April 2013, the first organization to be penalized under the new law.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of elections 2013, para. 53
- 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.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Ability of associations to access financial resources as a vital part of the right to freedom of association & Ability to hold peaceful assemblies as an integral component of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly 2013, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- One of the most common reasons used by governments to limit access to funding relate to security measures, including protection against terrorism and prevention of money-laundering. The crime of terrorism, which aims at the "destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy, threaten[s] territorial integrity and security of States and destabiliz[es] legitimately constituted Governments", has devastating consequences and has caused tragic human suffering. The Special Rapporteur is aware that States have an interest in protecting "national security or public safety", which are legitimate grounds for restricting freedom of association, but he underscores that there is also need for States to comply with international human rights law while countering terrorism.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Ability of associations to access financial resources as a vital part of the right to freedom of association & Ability to hold peaceful assemblies as an integral component of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly 2013, para. 31
- Paragraph text
- Human Rights Council resolution 22/6 calls upon States to ensure that "that no law should criminalize or delegitimize activities in defence of human rights on account of the origin of funding thereto." Article 2 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights requires States to "take steps, individually or through international assistance and co-operation […] to the maximum of their available resources, with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of the rights recognized in the present Covenant". Coupled with article 11 of the same Covenant, which provides for States to "take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the essential importance of international co-operation based on free consent" (emphasis added), this means that States have the obligation to mobilize resources that are available within the society as a whole, but also to gather those that are available from the international community. Hence, restrictions on foreign funding under the guise of preservation of State sovereignty arguably constitute a violation of States' obligation to respect, protect and fulfil these rights, as it amounts to failure on the part of the State to maximize resources through international assistance and cooperation. This is also the sense of the Maastricht Guidelines on Violations of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which stipulate that violations of these rights notably include: "the adoption of legislation or policies which are manifestly incompatible with pre-existing legal obligations relating to these rights […]; the adoption of any deliberately retrogressive measure that reduces the extent to which any such right is guaranteed."
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Ability of associations to access financial resources as a vital part of the right to freedom of association & Ability to hold peaceful assemblies as an integral component of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly 2013, para. 65
- Paragraph text
- A key measure with regard to facilitating the holding of peaceful assemblies is to make public space available for organizers and participants. The Special Rapporteur deems it useful to refer again to an important decision of the Spanish Constitutional Court which stated that "in a democratic society, the urban space is not only an area for circulation, but also for participation". The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) also stressed that although the exercise of the right of assembly can sometimes be disruptive to the normal routine of daily life, or may even cause problems or affect the exercise of other rights that the State has an obligation to protect and ensure, such as freedom of movement, "such disruptions are part of the mechanics of a pluralistic society in which diverse and sometimes conflicting interests coexist and find the forums and channels in which to express themselves". Furthermore, the Human Rights Council in its resolution 22/10 urged States to facilitate peaceful protests by providing protestors with access to public space and protecting them, where necessary, against any forms of threats, and underlined the role of local authorities in this regard. The issue of access to public space is all the more important in light of the increased privatization of public space in many States, where peaceful assemblies have been curtailed through the use by private bodies, both companies and individuals, of civil injunctions, which can be difficult to challenge, coupled with the issue of aggravated trespass, as in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, for example.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Ability of associations to access financial resources as a vital part of the right to freedom of association & Ability to hold peaceful assemblies as an integral component of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly 2013, para. 66
- Paragraph text
- Access to public space means concretely that organizers and participants should be able to use public streets, roads and squares to conduct (static or moving) peaceful assemblies. The Special Rapporteur believes that spaces in the vicinity of iconic buildings such as presidential palaces, parliaments or memorials should also be considered public space, and peaceful assemblies should be allowed to take place in those locations. In this regard, the imposition of restrictions on "time, place and manner" should meet the aforementioned strict test of necessity and proportionality. In Kenya, protesters have been temporarily prohibited from gathering around the Supreme Court as they awaited a decision, as well as from other public places.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of multilateral institutions 2014, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- In previous thematic reports to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly, the Special Rapporteur has emphasized State obligations to ensure the free exercise of the rights to peacefully assemble and to associate at the national level. In this report, he examines State actions at the multilateral level and their impact, recognizing that such actions have repercussions on civil society's ability to engage and participate in social, economic, political and other pursuits. The Special Rapporteur considers that both an enabling environment for civil society and a vibrant civil society are indispensable for the enjoyment of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2014
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of multilateral institutions 2014, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- The similarities in restrictions on civic space at the national and international levels suggest an interrelationship between the effective exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association at the national level, and the effective participation by civil society at the multilateral level. Enabling environments for civil society should exist at both these levels. With the increased interconnectedness in domestic and international affairs, and with decision-making at the international level having a significant impact in national policies and practices, it is essential that such decisions are made in a transparent, accountable and participatory manner. The Special Rapporteur wishes to emphasize the legitimacy of civic action at the international level and underscores the need for States to listen to the views and voices of their constituents, whether they are expressed at the domestic or the international level.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2014
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of multilateral institutions 2014, para. 15
- Paragraph text
- In order to provide robust protection to civic engagement at the multilateral level, it must be recognized that freedom of peaceful assembly and of association are inextricably intertwined with the right to take part in the conduct of public affairs, the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the right of access to information and other relevant rights, such as articles 25 and 19 of the International Covenant. The Human Rights Committee, in general comment 25, paragraph 5, recognizes the right to participate in public affairs to cover "all aspects of public administration, and the formulation and implementation of policy at international, national, regional and local levels". Similarly, the freedoms of opinion and expression are necessary components to ensuring that civic voices are heard at the multilateral platforms. For civil society to engage effectively in global decision-making, the right to access information is indispensable.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2014
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of multilateral institutions 2014, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- Today, however, multilateral institutions find themselves caught between civil society's demands for real civic participation and inclusiveness and pushback from Governments which are uncomfortable with, or are threatened by, citizen involvement. The Special Rapporteur observes with concern how at the multilateral level the space and autonomy given to associations and people to exercise their fundamental rights is in far too many instances determined by world politics and limited and/or suspicious national conceptions of the role of civil movements in global societies.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2014
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of multilateral institutions 2014, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- Effective engagement also requires a robust mechanism for ordinary citizens to submit information and complaints. Multilateral institutions should do more to expand their efforts in this area. The World Bank, for example, has the Office of the Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman and its Inspection Panel, an independent complaints mechanism for people and communities who believe that they have been, or are likely to be, adversely affected by a World Bank-funded project. Although some have criticized these processes for failing to protect labour rights and not adequately guarding against discrimination, the concept of having such a complaint system is a good one and should be encouraged.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2014
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of multilateral institutions 2014, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur also believes that a pro-civil society organization culture within multilateral organizations is crucial. Such a culture should be rooted in the attitude that the organization is an agent dedicated to upholding ideals and effecting change, rather than a bureaucracy built to maintain the status quo. There must also be a willingness to call out Member States who fail to respect fundamental rights. Stating that some issues are "too political" - as the World Bank allegedly did when Human Rights Watch warned them that the Government was closing space for civil society in Egypt - is not acceptable. Finally, it should be acknowledged that a strong civil society sector is essential for multilateral institutions' effectiveness, as it is often the best source of information on the ground.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2014
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Challenges faced by groups most at risk when exercising or seeking to exercise the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and/or of association 2014, para. 21
- Paragraph text
- As the Special Rapporteur has pointed out in previous reports, freedom should be the rule and restrictions the exception (A/HRC/23/39, para. 18). Any restrictions imposed must be strictly motivated by the limited concerns which are prescribed by law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order, the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. Of utmost importance, as stated by the Human Rights Committee, is that where such restrictions are made, States must demonstrate their necessity and only take such measures as are proportionate to the pursuance of legitimate aims in order to ensure continuous and effective protection of Covenant rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2014
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Comparative study of enabling environments for associations and businesses 2015, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur has found that the presence of a robust, vocal and critical civil society sector guarantees, almost without exception, that a State also possesses a good business environment (the converse does not hold: a good business environment does not guarantee a good civil society environment). The rule of law is stronger, transparency is greater and markets are less tainted by corruption. Indeed, the presence of a critical civil society can be viewed as a barometer of a State's confidence and stability - important factors for businesses looking to invest their money.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Comparative study of enabling environments for associations and businesses 2015, para. 21
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur's analysis is based on the premise that States have an obligation under international law to take measures to both protect and promote the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. Restrictions on these rights must be strictly motivated by the limited concerns which are prescribed by law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order, the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. As stated by the Human Rights Committee, where such restrictions are made, States must demonstrate their necessity and only take such measures as are proportionate to the pursuance of legitimate aims in order to ensure continuous and effective protection of these rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph