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The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of elections 2013, para. 52
- Paragraph text
- In other cases, civic activists faced arbitrary detention and long prison terms after unfair trials. In Belarus, where multiple home and office raids, arrests, trials and detention of numerous human rights defenders active in civic associations took place as a result of their legitimate human rights activities during the presidential elections in December 2010, including the sentencing of the Chairperson of the Human Rights Centre "Viasna" to four and one-half years in detention. In the Islamic Republic of Iran, a prominent lawyer was sentenced in 2011 to 11 years of imprisonment, which was later reduced to a six-year prison term, and a 10-year ban on practising as a lawyer for "propaganda against the State", "collusion and gathering with the aim of acting against national security" and "membership of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre". The accusations brought against the human rights lawyer were allegedly based on interviews she had had with media in relation to her clients, who had been imprisoned after the June 2009 presidential election in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
- 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
- Activists
- 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. 40
- Paragraph text
- Since the inception of his mandate, the Special Rapporteur has received numerous allegations to the effect that, during electoral periods, political leaders and supporters, particularly from the opposition, face heightened risks. Prior to, during and after an election, those who voice or have voiced dissent are in many countries subject to, inter alia, harassment, intimidation, corruption attempts, reprisals, arbitrary arrests and imprisonment, solely on account of their political opinions or beliefs. In this respect, the Special Rapporteur is disturbed about the case of an opposition leader from Belarus who was subject, in 2011, to a harsh sentencing, after he participated in a rally protesting the outcome of the presidential elections on 19 December 2011. In the Islamic Republic of Iran, concern was expressed in relation to former presidential candidates who staged a rally in solidarity with protesters in Egypt, for which they had sought permission from the authorities, and who have been kept largely "incommunicado" in their homes since February 2011.
- 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
- Activists
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of natural resource exploitation projects 2015, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- Legal mechanisms, such as injunctions, civil damages and trespass and defamation suits, are often used to curtail the work of civil society organizations and individuals engaged in defending rights in the context of natural resource exploitation. The increasing use of socalled "strategic litigation against public participation" suits is of concern because of the chilling effect the proceedings may have on the legitimate expression of dissent or opposition, including through peaceful protest. These suits may be brought by corporations against individuals or associations that are critical of natural resource exploitation activities in order to intimidate them or deter them from their work by burdening them with litigation costs and damages they may be unable to pay. The Special Rapporteur emphasizes that an independent judiciary should play a positive role in recognizing and upholding international human rights standards , especially in contexts where human rights defenders and communities are subjected to legal proceedings for exercising their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly 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
- Environment
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
- 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. 33
- Paragraph text
- In addition to the fact that justification on the grounds of State sovereignty violates international norms and standards related to freedom of association, the Special Rapporteur is extremely concerned about increased denigration and unfounded accusations against individuals and organizations receiving foreign funding. Special procedures mechanisms have expressed their particular dismay about cases of vicious verbal attacks, intimidation, property damage, physical assaults and even criminalization against activists accused of having ties to a foreign entity, on the sole ground that they had allegedly received foreign funding (e.g. Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan). Allowing or inciting public discredit on individuals' or organizations' honour and reputation or inciting nationalist and xenophobic sentiment is likely to cause associations to engage in self-censorship and, more gravely, to incite hatred and fuel further human rights violations.
- 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
- Activists
- 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. 51
- Paragraph text
- It is disturbing that in the context of elections, some States resort to intimidation, harassment, civil and criminal defamation, or threats against associations' leaders who aim to express their opinions, grievances and aspirations. The Special Rapporteur expresses grave concerns about the following situations where international human rights norms and standards related to freedom of association were violated. In Malaysia, one of the leaders of the Coalition for Fair and Free Elections who has monitored the 2013 elections in the country, had been, on various occasions, the target of severe and sustained acts of harassment, intimidation and smear campaign describing her as "an enemy who tried to smear the nation's name". In Nicaragua, human rights defenders active in associations, who expressed concerns over a decision of the Constitutional Court allowing for the re-election of the President were reportedly subjected to death threats, assaults and acts of intimidation. In Rwanda, a regional umbrella organization working on human rights issues in the country reportedly experienced threats and intimidation after it published a controversial report on legislative 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
- Activists
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Best practices that promote and protect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 2012, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- An "association" refers to any groups of individuals or any legal entities brought together in order to collectively act, express, promote, pursue or defend a field of common interests (see report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders, A/59/401, para. 46).
- 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
- Activists
- 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. 33
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur stresses that States have a positive obligation to actively protect peaceful assemblies. Such obligation includes the protection of participants of peaceful assemblies from individuals or groups of individuals, including agents provocateurs and counter-demonstrators, who aim at disrupting or dispersing such assemblies. Such individuals include those belonging to the State apparatus or working on its behalf. The organizers and stewards of assemblies should not assume this obligation. The Special Rapporteur believes that such responsibility should always be explicitly stated in domestic legislation, as it is in, inter alia, the Republic of Moldova, Serbia and Slovenia. In Armenia, organizers may request police officials to remove provocateurs from the assembly venue (even if in practice the implementation of this provision is reportedly sometimes problematic). The Special Rapporteur holds as a good practice the establishment in Estonia of a Police Rapid Response Unit (riot police) which aims at protecting peaceful demonstrators against attacks by provocateurs and counter-demonstrators and is trained in how to separate the main provocateurs from peaceful demonstrators.
- 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
- Activists
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The Special Rapporteur's vision of the mandate 2017, para. 77
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur will continue to work with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the rights to freedom of opinion and expression and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, with whom there already exists a well-established pattern of close cooperation. At the same time, she will engage with other relevant mandate holders with a view to coordinating efforts, while avoiding overlapping and duplication of work.
- 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
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Fundamentalism and its impact on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 2016, para. 92h
- Paragraph text
- In this regard, the Special Rapporteur reiterates recommendations made in previous reports to the extent that they are applicable to this context, and makes the following recommendations to States: (h) Use ordinary provisions of the Criminal Code to prosecute extremist or terrorist acts and refrain from enacting legislation that specifically targets religious activities, religious organizations, civil society, human rights defenders and activists;
- 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
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of natural resource exploitation projects 2015, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- It is particularly reprehensible when the vilification and stigmatization comes from the highest government authorities, as this sends a clear message to other officials that it is acceptable to perpetuate the intimidation and harassment of activists and defenders. Negative images of activists and human rights defenders are exacerbated when the media picks up on the portrayals and publishes them.
- 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
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Comparative study of enabling environments for associations and businesses 2015, para. 61
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur has highlighted a disturbing trend in Malaysia, where dozens of people have been charged with sedition following their criticism of the Government or its officials. The law has been applied to a range of individuals, including politicians, human rights defenders, academics, lawyers, students and journalists. However only associations - and not businesses - face deregistration if they, as an entity, violate the Sedition Act.
- 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
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
- 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. 44
- Paragraph text
- Moreover, arbitrary differences in the policing of peaceful assemblies are a concern in some Member States. In 2012, for example, the Minister for Ethics and Integrity of Uganda allegedly intervened to disrupt two private civil society workshops: one on the monitoring of human rights violations, and another on the human rights of LGBTI people. Participants say that both workshops were targeted because they addressed the rights of LGBTI people.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- LGBTQI+
- 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. 11
- Paragraph text
- For the purposes of the report, the groups most at risk will also include groups and individuals who are targeted not because of their identity, but because they actively lobby for the rights of those most at risk of discrimination and retribution. Human rights defenders, including journalists, trade unionists and environmental activists, among others, face considerable opposition, harassment, stigmatization and even physical attacks from State and non-State actors in many countries.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Environment
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- 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 elections 2013, para. 27
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur recalls that organizers of peaceful protests should not bear responsibility for the unlawful behaviour of others, including in times of elections. In Malaysia, in May 2012, the federal Government announced that it would sue the organizers of the Bersih 3.0 rally of 28 April 2012 calling for free and fair elections, in relation to property which was allegedly destroyed during the said rally.
- 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
- Activists
- 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. 20
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur warns against the detention of peaceful demonstrators, with a view to preventing their participation in assemblies which are critical of the Government or ruling party. He is similarly concerned about restriction orders prohibiting demonstrators and defenders monitoring assemblies from remaining in, entering, or passing through a city, as occurred, for instance, in Malaysia in July 2011.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The Special Rapporteur's vision of the mandate 2017, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- Successes and achievements of civil society in recent years have been thoroughly investigated and recorded (see A/HRC/35/28). They were, by and large, acknowledged, recognized and endorsed by delegations during the clustered interactive dialogue held by the Human Rights Council with the Special Rapporteur on 7 June 2017 (A/HRC/35/28, para. 4). Yet, since the establishment of the mandate in October 2010, the voices of civil society have been restricted or silenced, if not eliminated, in every region across the globe. Mass surveillance, obstructive regulation of democratic space, including online, overly restrictive legislation to regulate association and limit the exercise of fundamental public freedoms, with frequent use of counter-terrorism legislation to curtail dissenting voices, and harassment of and violence against human rights defenders and ordinary people who exercise their right to express opinions in peaceful protests are all too common.
- 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
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Fundamentalism and its impact on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 2016, para. 63
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association is also concerned when ostensibly secular States leverage fundamentalist religious teachings to restrict the assembly and association rights of certain groups. Nigeria (see A/HRC/26/21, case NGA 1/2014) and Uganda (see A/HRC/26/21, case UGA 1/2014), for example, have seized upon majority Christian opposition to homosexuality to impose draconian laws that severely restrict the assembly and association rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex individuals and groups (see, for example, A/HRC/25/74, case NGA 4/2013; and A/HRC/22/67, case UGA 5/2012).
- 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
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- LGBTQI+
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Fundamentalism and its impact on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 2016, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- Bahrain, formally organized as a constitutional monarchy, has embarked on an extensive crackdown on dissent since a large protest movement began calling for greater political freedom, among other things, in 2011. The Special Rapporteur remains particularly concerned about the imprisonment of opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman and the harassment and detention of human rights defenders involved in organizations defending human rights, including Nabeel Rajab (see A/HRC/28/85, case BHR 13/2014), Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja (see A/HRC/19/44, case BHR 18/2011), Zainab Al-Khawaja, Abduljalil Al-Singace (see A/HRC/18/51, case BHR 4/2011) and others (see A/HRC/28/85, cases BHR 10/2014 and BHR 12/2014).
- 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
- Activists
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the workplace 2016, para. 71
- Paragraph text
- On 14 November 2015, at a rally in the Republic of Korea, 20,000 police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse a protest attended by 100,000 demonstrators. Dozens were injured, and criminal proceedings were brought against 585 leaders and members of the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions. The Confederation president was sentenced to five years in prison (A/HRC/32/36, para. 41). The Special Rapporteur emphasizes again that charging peaceful assembly participants with criminal offenses violates the right to peaceful assembly.
- 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
- Activists
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of natural resource exploitation projects 2015, para. 55
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is alarmed by the latitude afforded to corporations and private military and security companies in relation to policing, and often suppressing, peaceful protests. He echoes the grave concerns expressed by other special procedures mandate holders about these companies suppressing legitimate advocacy activity, particularly social protest, and their attacks on human rights defenders (see A/HRC/7/7/Add.4, para. 71, and A/HRC/19/55, para. 63). In his view, the potential for violations of rights, including to peaceful assembly and association rights, is particularly high when law enforcement responsibilities are ceded to private actors, who are accountable to their clients rather than to the public. Private security companies have also been known to receive concessions to exploit natural resources in exchange for their services, further blurring the interests and relationships between the actors (see A/61/341, para. 74).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of natural resource exploitation projects 2015, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- In many cases, the most egregious violations of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of natural resource exploitation are committed against groups and individuals inhabiting regions far from centres of power, who are often at risk or already marginalized within society. They may lack access to information or the means of effectively advocating for their concerns, or they may be confronted with authorities are that are unable or unwilling to address their grievances. The ability to freely associate and to peacefully assemble are indispensable in this regard. Some of the categories of persons that require special attention in the context of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and of natural resource exploitation are women (including women human rights defenders), Afro-descendants, indigenous peoples, peasant farmers, fisher folk and forest dwellers.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Environment
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2015
- 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. 60
- Paragraph text
- Criminal procedure laws and penal sanctions are used in several States to deter the exercise of the right to freedom of association. Authorities who are hostile to critical voices resort to criminal prosecution for defamation or similar offences, thereby discouraging and interfering with legitimate activities by groups. Organizations engaged in human rights work, anti-corruption advocacy and other accountability initiatives are particularly targeted. In Oman, between May and June 2012, 11 human rights defenders, including bloggers, writers, and members of human rights organizations and of the media, were sentenced for offences related to injurious speech and assembly. They were all pardoned on 22 March 2013. In Viet Nam, in March 2013, the police charged a human rights defender with slander against the regime. The authorities asserted that he had not expressed his opinions in a peaceful manner and that he had thus disturbed the public order. The country's Press Law of 1989 limits the right to express dissent, restricting it to "constructive" opinions on implementing the lines and policies of the Communist Party and the laws of the States law. In El Salvador, article 345 of the Criminal Code considers as illegal two or more people gathering to commit a crime. Despite the necessity to prove intent to commit a crime, law enforcement officials often stop and detain young people simply because it is believed that they are gathering to organize or plan a crime, or that they belong to a gang merely because they have a tattoo, are young, live in a particular neighbourhood where there is gang presence or are poor. Youth are additionally disproportionately affected because criminal groups force them to join their ranks, thereby violating their right to freedom 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
- Activists
- Youth
- 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. 32
- Paragraph text
- Numerous jurisdictions have in recent years banned peaceful protesters from covering their faces during demonstrations, motivated by fears that demonstrators who wear masks or hoods could engage in violence and escape punishment due to their concealed identities. Besides the fact that violent acts during peaceful demonstrations are already illegal under the laws of virtually every jurisdiction, the Special Rapporteur is concerned that bans on face coverings during assemblies are in some circumstances used to target particular groups and improperly curtail their right to freedom of peaceful assembly.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- 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. 20
- Paragraph text
- [International human rights instruments that protect the rights of particular groups specifically recognize directly or indirectly the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association for those groups:] 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 explicitly recognizes the rights of human rights defenders to peacefully assemble, to form, join and participate in non-governmental organizations, associations or groups and to communicate with non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations (art. 5). In its resolution 22/6, the Human Rights Council recognized the importance of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association for defenders.
- 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
- Activists
- 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 elections 2013, para. 29
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur finally emphasizes again the crucial role played by human rights defenders, including journalists, who monitor assemblies and who have been targeted in the context of elections. In Belarus, in December 2010, the Chair of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, among other activists, was arrested and detained by security forces while observing a demonstration organized by an opposition candidate, which was held in front of the Government headquarters. He was taken to pre-trial detention facility before being placed in police custody. In Malaysia, media personnel covering a protest organized by Bersih were allegedly targeted by security forces, while documenting police brutality, despite clearly identifying themselves as media personnel.
- 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
- Activists
- 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. 28
- Paragraph text
- It is also important to allow the unimpeded access to and use of the Internet, in particular social media, and other information and communication technology, which are essential tools, especially in times of elections, by which the right to freedom of peaceful assembly can be exercised, but also monitored and reported upon in relation to human rights violations and abuses. In the Islamic Republic of Iran, in the context of the presidential elections of 2009, access to social media was temporarily blocked across the country, since many bloggers reported on violations against peaceful protestors and foreign media were denied access. In Nepal, in relation to the aforementioned demonstration, telephone lines and mobile phones were cut off in Kathmandu and other major cities by the Nepalese authorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- 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. 19
- Paragraph text
- Apart from using excessive force against peaceful protesters, in some instances, States have criminalized the participation in and organization of peaceful assemblies during election time, with a view to sanctioning or deterring those willing or intending to do so. In Ethiopia, several peaceful demonstrators and human rights defenders were charged with "crimes of outrage against the constitutional order", and sentenced to life imprisonment for having participated in a demonstration against alleged fraud in the general elections of May 2005, in which over 190 protestors were reportedly killed by law enforcement authorities. After signing a statement admitting that their activities had been unconstitutional, they received a pardon and were freed. In the run-up to the legislative elections in Bahrain in September 2011, numerous human rights defenders and their relatives were arrested, dismissed from their jobs and subjected to intimidation and harassment for various politically motivated offences, including "participating in illegal gatherings". Following the presidential elections in December 2010 in Belarus, hundreds of persons protesting on election night were detained, including civil society activists, journalists, and opposition leaders, including presidential candidates. A peaceful protestor was subsequently sentenced to three years and six months in a labour colony on charges of mass disorder, for his participation in peaceful protests. He was initially detained for an administrative offence, but was later charged with a criminal offence, despite the fact that the police officer who had filed his arrest warrant stated in court that he had not actually seen him during the protest. Similarly, in the Russian Federation, charges of "mass disorder" have been pressed against peaceful protestors during election time. Many demonstrators were arrested and accused, inter alia, of "public intimidation" and "public incitation". Peaceful demonstrators in Azerbaijan have increasingly been targeted in the context of the forthcoming elections of October 2013, with several of them being arrested and/or fined. In Nepal in January 2006, four human rights defenders were arrested because of their involvement in the organization of large-scale peaceful demonstrations calling for a boycott of municipal elections scheduled for the following month.
- 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
- Activists
- Families
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Best practices that promote and protect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 2012, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur refers to the report to the General Assembly of the then Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders, who stated that "monitoring of assemblies can provide an impartial and objective account of what takes place, including a factual record of the conduct of both participants and law enforcement officials. This is a valuable contribution to the effective enjoyment of the right to peaceful assembly. The very presence of human rights monitors during demonstrations can deter human rights violations. It is therefore important to allow human rights defenders to operate freely in the context of freedom of assembly" (A/62/225, para. 91). Such defenders include members of civil society organizations, journalists, "citizen journalists", bloggers and representatives of 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
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- 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 multilateral institutions 2014, para. 80
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur finds all these practices deeply disconcerting, and believes that they profoundly undermine the ability of the United Nations to constructively engage with civil society. States sitting on the Committee should champion the right to freedom of association and the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. In this context, he voiced concern about the election of Azerbaijan to the Committee after criminal charges were filed against three of that country's most prominent human rights defenders. His concerns only increased after the three were convicted.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2014
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
29 shown of 29 entities