A/HRC/20/27
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
21 May 2012
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Twentieth session
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to
freedom of peaceful assembly and of association,
Maina Kiai
Summary
The Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of
association presents its first thematic report to the Human Rights Council, pursuant to
Council resolution 15/21.
Following an introduction (chap. I), the Special Rapporteur provides in chapter II an
overview of his activities during the first year of his mandate.
In chapter III, the Special Rapporteur highlights best practices that promote and
protect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. The right of peaceful
assembly covers not only the right to hold and to participate in a peaceful assembly but also
the right to be protected from undue interference. It further protects those monitoring
peaceful assemblies. The right to freedom of association ranges from the creation to the
termination of an association, and includes the rights to form and to join an association, to
operate freely and to be protected from undue interference, to access funding and resources
and to take part in the conduct of public affairs. This chapter ends with an emphasis on the
right to an effective remedy and accountability for human rights violations and abuses.
In chapter IV, the Special Rapporteur outlines his conclusions and recommendations
to relevant stakeholders.
GE.12-13586