Search Tips
sorted by
30 shown of 121 entities
The Special Rapporteur's vision of the mandate 2017, para. 9
- Paragraph text
- The mandate is a service, not a personal matter of the individual who happens to be the Special Rapporteur at a given time. Moreover, the mandate is not an end in itself but it is a means to a further end.
- 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
- 2017
Paragraph
The Special Rapporteur's vision of the mandate 2017, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- The beneficiaries are and should be the people, as espoused in the Preamble of the Charter of the United Nations, which begins: “We the peoples of the United Nations”. The beneficiaries must be civil society: civil society organizations such as non-governmental organizations, development and humanitarian actors, religious associations, political parties, trade unions, social movements, professional associations, academic institutions, and sports, leisure and other associations of all kinds. The beneficiaries must be the people who gather and meet in peaceful assemblies, in private or public space, offline or online, to protest or for any other peaceful purposes.
- 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
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
The Special Rapporteur's vision of the mandate 2017, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- When the people and civil society benefit, States, international organizations and international society as a whole benefit, too.
- 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
- 2017
Paragraph
The Special Rapporteur's vision of the mandate 2017, para. 16
- Paragraph text
- The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association are not absolute, meaning that not only can they be temporarily derogated from in a state of emergency, but they can also be exceptionally interfered with under other circumstances. While they are human rights guaranteed to all, their exercise may be subject to certain restrictions. Such restrictions are permitted if they are necessary for a number of public purposes, including the protection of the rights and freedoms of others, as long as they are proportionate and provided for by law. Security and emergency laws, measures aimed at curtailing the financing of international terrorism, anti-money-laundering regulations and other limitations restrictive of civic space in the name of general public purposes, however, do not, as such, justify systematic violations of the 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
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
The Special Rapporteur's vision of the mandate 2017, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- The rapid pace of technological development enables individuals all over the world to use information and communications technology and, at the same time, enhances the capacity of Governments, business enterprises and individuals to undertake surveillance, interception and data collection, which may violate or abuse human rights. It is generally recognized that the same rights that people have offline must also be protected online, including the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association (see, for example, Human Rights Council resolution 34/7). However, Internet shutdowns have emerged as a popular means of information control. Government surveillance continues to intensify worldwide, jeopardizing the privacy and security of millions. Net neutrality, the long-held premise that all Internet data should be treated equally and without undue interference, has come under attack (see A/HRC/35/22).
- 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
- 2017
Paragraph
The Special Rapporteur's vision of the mandate 2017, para. 27
- Paragraph text
- The Human Rights Council has reaffirmed those principles through a number of resolutions. Most recently, on 23 June 2017, it adopted resolution 35/21 on the contribution of development to the enjoyment of all human rights. In the resolution, the Council recognized the common aspiration of the international community to build a shared future for human beings and affirmed that development contributed significantly to the enjoyment of all human rights. It called upon all countries to realize people-centred development of the people, by the people and for the people, and called upon all States to enhance international cooperation and to spare no effort in promoting sustainable development, in particular while implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as it was conducive to the overall enjoyment of human rights. The Council also welcomed further efforts to promote development initiatives with the aim of promoting partnerships, win-win outcomes and common development.
- 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
- 2017
Paragraph
The Special Rapporteur's vision of the mandate 2017, para. 79
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur will cooperate with international organizations both inside and outside the United Nations system, in particular ILO, while being mindful of paragraph 5 (g) of Human Rights Council resolution 15/21, according to which her tasks include undertaking activities “such that the present mandate will not include those matters of specific competence of the International Labour Organization and its specialized supervisory mechanisms and procedures with respect to employers’ and workers’ rights to freedom of association, with a view to avoiding any duplication”.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
The Special Rapporteur's vision of the mandate 2017, para. 80
- Paragraph text
- Consultation and coordination with regional human rights organizations worldwide and national human rights mechanisms are equally essential to the success of the mandate.
- 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
- 2017
Paragraph
The Special Rapporteur's vision of the mandate 2017, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, human rights were recognized as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace. In the unanimously adopted Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms were evoked as interdependent and mutually reinforcing.
- 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
- 2017
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the workplace 2016, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- At the same time, the global attack on labour rights has made it disturbingly clear that the old ways of defending workers' rights are no longer working. Our world and its globalized economy are changing at lightning pace, and it is critical that the tools we use to protect labour rights adapt just as quickly. A first step towards that goal is to obliterate the antiquated and artificial distinction between labour rights and human rights generally. Labour rights are human rights, and the ability to exercise those rights in the workplace is a prerequisite for workers to enjoy a broad range of other rights, whether economic, social, cultural, political or otherwise.
- 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
- 2016
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the workplace 2016, para. 83
- Paragraph text
- States are obligated under international law to establish accessible and effective complaint mechanisms that can promptly investigate allegations of abuses related to the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association (see A/HRC/20/27, p. 19). Where those rights have been unduly restricted, victims have the right to obtain redress, including adequate compensation and sanctions against the employer (ibid.). Effective remedies should be available from a range of mechanisms, including judicial and non-judicial and administrative institutions, such courts, ombudsperson offices and national human rights 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
- 2016
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the workplace 2016, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- In recent decades, economic globalization, implemented with as few regulations on companies and capital as possible, has been touted by many economists as an essential vehicle to global prosperity and the end of poverty. The economic system that grew out of that philosophy has indeed led to a rise in global economic productivity and wealth, but it has also contributed to a dramatic rise in the power of large multinational corporations and concentrated wealth in fewer hands. At the same time, States' power to regulate those business entities has eroded. Further, the world's recent economic growth has not been shared equally. Productivity and economic output have increased, but so has inequality, with the fruits of that growth going primarily to the wealthiest.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Fundamentalism and its impact on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 2016, para. 31
- Paragraph text
- Free markets have undoubtedly contributed to producing great amounts of monetary wealth and impressive technological advancements. Yet the pursuit of this wealth in some cases has also contributed to environmental destruction, growing income inequality and the erosion of protections for workers. It is important that people on both sides of this argument be given equal freedom and facilitation to air their views in a peaceful manner. As the Special Rapporteur has repeatedly emphasized, States should also not favour businesses over civil society reflexively, but instead should adopt a policy of "sectoral equity" - a fair, transparent and impartial approach in which the regulation of each sector is grounded in international law, standards and norms (see A/70/266).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the workplace 2016, para. 66
- Paragraph text
- State restrictions on assembly and association rights, including the right to strike, frequently exceed parameters set by ILO Convention 87 and decades of case law. In countries where the right to strike is not legally prohibited, Governments attempt to justify restrictions in the name of public order, public security, the threat of terrorism, national interest or economic crisis.
- 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
- 2016
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the workplace 2016, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights provides that States must respect assembly and association rights and ensure that all people within their territory and jurisdiction enjoy them, without distinction of any kind, through law, the provision of remedies and effective enforcement. States must also refrain from violating rights recognized by the Covenant, and are accountable for violations of those rights when the infringement occurs as a result of its failure to secure the right in domestic law and practice. The desire to maximize economic profit or create attractive investment climates does not lower the obligations and responsibilities of the State. The Covenant also obliges States to combat discrimination by private actors, including in employment.
- 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
- 2016
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the workplace 2016, para. 55
- Paragraph text
- The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights both explicitly protect the right to form and join trade unions. International human rights law also imposes upon States a duty to actively promote, encourage and facilitate the enjoyment of fundamental rights, including labour rights (A/70/266, para. 4). Further, the notion that States should promote trade unionism among workers is implicit in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. States must take measures to ensure that third parties do not interfere with union 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
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Fundamentalism and its impact on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 2016, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- The obligation to protect is recognized in international human rights law instruments as well as by international and regional human rights bodies. For example, States parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination are required to take action against all propaganda and all organizations that are based on ideas or theories of racial or ethnic superiority. The measures include declaring illegal and prohibiting such organizations and activities that promote and incite racial discrimination. This provision obligates States to take action directly against non-State actors that promote or incite racial discrimination.
- 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
- 2016
Paragraph
Fundamentalism and its impact on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 2016, para. 88
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur agrees with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights that Member States must move away from a "hard security" approach, focusing instead on human rights and on "promoting resilience" in communities, so that people "feel they have space to freely express themselves and fully participate in political life and public affairs".
- 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
- 2016
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the workplace 2016, para. 58
- Paragraph text
- States have the primary role in preventing or halting violations of workers' rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, with clear obligations to protect, promote, facilitate and fulfil those rights, even in the global economy. Yet workers' ability to exercise their rights is in precipitous decline. Many States place obstacles, both in law and practice, that restrict workers' rights or fail to enforce laws protecting those rights. The International Trade Union Confederation found that 50 of 141 countries surveyed had such restrictions.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the workplace 2016, para. 67
- Paragraph text
- Restrictions often used include exclusion of categories of workers from the right to strike; excessive prerequisites required to hold a legal strike; inappropriate legal changes that allow public authorities to suspend or declare a strike illegal; and government and public arguments favouring restrictions on the right to strike. Onerous requirements or excessive restrictions can make it almost impossible to conduct a legal strike, thereby removing one of the tools of last recourse for workers trying to bring unwilling employers to the bargaining table. Such restrictions constitute a violation of workers' rights to freedom of assembly and of association.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the workplace 2016, para. 68
- Paragraph text
- States are obliged to respect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association by refraining from interfering, directly or indirectly, with their exercise. Under international law, restrictions on the rights to peaceful assembly and to association and to form or join a trade union are permissible only where prescribed by law and as necessary in a democratic society in the furtherance of the legitimate interests enumerated in those instruments. International law foresees the possibility of States restricting members of armed forces and police from exercising the right to freedom of association, and allows for States to restrict the right to strike for essential services and civil servants engaged in the administration of the State. However, as with all restrictions, these should be the exception rather than the rule.
- 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
- 2016
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the workplace 2016, para. 85
- Paragraph text
- Governments and employers are not the only entities that influence workers' ability to exercise their peaceful assembly and association rights. Multilateral financial institutions may condition government loans on measures that weaken labour protections, deny workers a voice in the process and move employment towards informality. Recent International Monetary Fund loans to Romania and Greece were conditioned on limiting or denying workers' rights and benefits. Meanwhile, the same financial institutions fail to enforce their own labour standards, as in Uzbekistan, where the World Bank-funded projects that benefit the Government's cotton sector are plagued by State-sponsored forced labour. The Special Rapporteur notes that the World Bank recently adopted a new environmental and social framework that specifies that workers' rights must be respected in Bank-financed projects. He is concerned, however, that the labour safeguards do not reference international human rights standards and, as such, may be weakened by national laws.
- 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
- 2016
Paragraph
Fundamentalism and its impact on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 2016, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- The values of pluralism, tolerance and broadmindedness are at the core of any successful and stable democratic State. Indeed, the European Court of Human Rights has stated that there can be no democracy without pluralism. The Special Rapporteur has previously noted (see A/HRC/26/29, para. 31) that the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association are so fundamental in part because of their crucial role in promoting pluralism. They provide a platform for all people - including those at the margins - in any society to mobilize, organize, and work towards change in a peaceful manner.
- 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
- 2016
Paragraph
Fundamentalism and its impact on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 2016, para. 87
- Paragraph text
- States that claim to be fighting terrorism yet at the same time restrict civil society are playing with fire. The existence of a robust civil society and respect for human rights in general are critical in combatting extremism, and in channelling dissent and frustrations in a legitimate way through the system. In a democratic environment, civil society gives States a legitimate and open partner to work with and expresses people's views in an public and transparent way. The exercise of peaceful assembly and association rights encourages freer discussion between ordinary people, which can build relationships, increase social cohesion and encourage tolerance. All of this helps to foster moderation and counter extremist tendencies and will yield more sustainable results than short-term suppression.
- 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
- 2016
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the workplace 2016, para. 57
- Paragraph text
- ILO, as the only global tripartite institution, plays a unique role in setting standards on fundamental principles and rights at work. Core ILO labour conventions include the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize, 1948 (No. 87), which calls on States to prevent discrimination against trade unions, protect employers' and workers' organizations against mutual interference and promote collective bargaining; and the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98), which protects workers who are exercising their right to organize, upholds the principle of non-interference between workers' and employers' organizations and promotes voluntary collective bargaining. These foundational rights are essential to the protection of other core labour rights. ILO signatory States are obliged to respect principles of freedom of association whether or not they have ratified the appropriate conventions. The ILO Decent Work Agenda calls on countries to respect core conventions, provide for social protection, create decent jobs and engage in genuine social (tripartite) dialogue. Also of relevance, the ILO Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189) sets standards for the effective promotion and protection of domestic workers' human 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
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the workplace 2016, para. 73
- Paragraph text
- States are obligated to protect workers' peaceful assembly and association rights from interference by non-State actors, such as private-sector employers and enterprises. That includes an obligation to take steps to prevent, punish and provide redress abuses through effective law, policies and adjudication. The implementation of the norms is as significant as the norms themselves.
- 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
- 2016
Paragraph
Fundamentalism and its impact on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 2016, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- One of the world's most extreme examples of political fundamentalism can be found in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The Workers' Party of Korea, founded by Kim Il-sung and presided over since by his direct descendants, has ruled for nearly 70 years. Opposition political parties are not permitted to exist and challenges to the ruling party are not tolerated. According to the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, "the police and security forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea systematically employ violence and punishments that amount to gross human rights violations in order to create a climate of fear that pre-empts any challenge to the current system of government and to the ideology underpinning it. The institutions and officials involved are not held accountable. Impunity reigns" (see A/HRC/25/63, para. 56). It is estimated that between 80,000 and 120,000 political prisoners are currently detained (ibid., para. 61). The Human Rights Council has expressed its "grave concern at the detailed findings made by the commission of inquiry in its report, including the denial of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and of the rights to freedom of opinion, expression and 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
- 2016
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the workplace 2016, para. 26
- Paragraph text
- In some countries administrative or judicial processes are too slow, weak or corrupt. When workers who seek to associate and form a union are fired, they find no effective remedy, either at home against the local firm, or abroad against the lead firm that may have contributed to the violation. Without legal consequences, the situation is unlikely to change.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Fundamentalism and its impact on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 2016, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- States' positive duty to "protect" by proactively taking measures to prevent violations includes refraining from acquiescing to or enabling violations, and promoting an environment where all groups are guaranteed equal rights, regardless of the popularity of their views.
- 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
- 2016
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the workplace 2016, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- Both trade unions and the right to strike are fundamental tools to achieving workers' rights, as they provide mechanisms through which workers can stand up for their interests collectively, and engage with big business and government on a more equal footing. The State is obligated to protect these rights for all workers.
- 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
- 2016
Paragraph