UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association
This portal tracks Mr. Maina Kiai's work to defend the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association.
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Mr. Maina Kiai's Inaugural ReportThis is the first report Mr. Maina Kiai submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in May 2012. He discusses best practices to promote the rights in his mandate and issues recommendations to guide states in protecting the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association in law and practice. |
Second Report of the Special Rapporteur
This is Mr. Maina Kiai's second thematic report, which he submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in April 2013. It focuses on the right of NGOs to seek, secure and utilize financial resources from domestic and international sources.
Mr. Maina Kiai will present this report to the General Assembly on October 29, 2013. It discusses freedom of assembly and association in the context of elections.
Speeches
The Special Rapporteur delivered this speech at the 20th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva in June 2012. It highlights his recommendations to promote free assembly and association.
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.
Resolutions
This UN resolution of October 2010 recognized that peaceful assembly and association are "essential components of democracy" and established the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur to promote and protect these two rights.
This 2011 UN Human Rights Council resolution reminds states to protect the rights of all individuals to assemble and associate freely online and offline and mandates the Special Rapporteur to report on this issue to the General Assembly.
Country Visits
After an official visit to the UK and Northern Ireland, Mr. Maina Kiai issued a report in June 2013 detailing positive measures and problematic issues related to the freedom of peaceful assembly. The UK government provided comments on the report.
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 Mr. Maina Kiai discusses the responsibilities of organizers and the role of police during protests.
Mr. Maina Kiai keeps his own updated twitter account (@MainaKiai_UNSR) and Facebook page.
Press Releases
Among other examples, the Special Rapporteur issued press releases on Russia’s “foreign agent” law; the detention of protesters in Quebec; the freedom of association during elections in Malaysia and Algeria; the persecution of human rights defenders in Bahrain; the passing of the restrictive Public Order Management Bill in Uganda; and violence during protests, which he condemned and said was not protected by international human rights law.
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 endorsed by Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama, the late Vaclav Havel, and internationally-recognized civil society leaders. It catalogues legal barriers constraining civil society and details international legal principles to protect civil society.