UN Special Rapporteur

These are key documents related to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association.

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Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association

This is the inaugural report of the Special Rapporteur, which discusses best practices to protect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

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Second Report of the Special Rapporteur

This is the second thematic report of the Special Rapporteur, which focuses on the right for civil society organizations to seek, secure, and utilize financial resources.

Statement

The Special Rapporteur delivered this statement, which highlights his recommendations for the promotion and protection of the freedom of assembly and of association, at the 20th session of the Human Rights Council.

Resolutions

This resolution recognized that the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association are "essential components of democracy" and established the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur for those two rights.

This resolution reminds states to protect the rights of all individuals to assemble peacefully and associate freely online as well as offline and mandates that the Special Rapporteur report to the General Assembly.

Country Visit

The Special Rapporteur issued this report and statement after an official visit to Georgia in February 2012.

Multimedia

In this video, the Special Rapporteur discussed the responsibilities of states with respect to peaceful protests.

In this webcast the Special Rapporteur (33:20) and panelists from ICNL and NED discussed how countries are restricting the freedom of association and effective ways for the international community to respond.

In this video the Special Rapporteur discusses issues related to the liability of organizers and the role of police during protests.

Press Release

Among other examples, the Special Rapporteur issued press releases on Russia’s “foreign agent” law; the detention of protesters in Quebec; and freedom of association during elections in Malaysia and Algeria; the persecution of human rights defenders in Bahrain; and violence during protests, which he condemned and said was not protected by international human rights law.

Speech

The Special Rapporteur delivered this speech at the Opening Session of the Busan Global Civil Society Forum in November 2011. He discussed ways to create the enabling environment for civil society.

Communications

This entry includes communications from the Special Rapporteur to governments about violations of the freedom of assembly and association and guidelines for people to submit complaints to the Special Rapporteur.

Resource on Legal Principles to Protect Civil Society

This is the second edition of the Defending Civil Society Report previously endorsed by Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama, the late Vaclav Havel, and other internationally-recognized civil society leaders. It catalogues legal barriers constraining civil society and details international legal principles to protect civil society.