The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of multilateral institutions 2014, para. 65

Paragraphe

Paragraph text: There have been repeated instances of reprisals against individuals, or their relatives, participating or seeking to participate in sessions of the Human Rights Council. The most dramatic forms of retaliation involved the loss of lives. For instance, Cao Shunli, a Chinese human rights defender who worked on increasing citizen inputs to the preparations of China's UPR, was arrested in September 2013 before boarding her flight to Geneva to participate in a human rights seminar and observe China's UPR. She was subsequently charged with the crime of "provocation". While in detention, her health dramatically deteriorated as she was allegedly denied medical treatment. She died on 14 March 2014. In December 2008, Edwin Legarda, an indigenous leader and husband of Aida Quilcué Vivas, was killed by security forces on his way to collect his wife at the airport. She was returning from Geneva, where she had participated in the UPR session of Colombia. Six former members of the military were subsequently arrested, tried and sentenced to 40 years' imprisonment.

Organe: Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association

Thèmes

Personnes concernées

Reference: SR Freedom of Assembly, Report to the UNGA (2014), A/69/365, para. 65.