Freedom of Assembly in Turkey

The constitutional guarantee of freedom of assembly is supplemented by a wide range of secondary legislation in Turkey.

Freedom of Assembly in Italy

This country note by Caterina Scuderi reviews constitutional provisions and two other main laws regulating assemblies in Italy.

Marikana Commission of Inquiry

On 16 August 2012, members of the South African Police Service (“SAPS”) lethally shot 34 people at Lonmin Mine, Marikana.

A Right, Not a Crime: Violations of the Right to Freedom of Assembly in Russia

The respect for the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association has long been tenuous in Russia.

On the Streets of America

This 2014 Amnesty International report raises human rights concerns on law enforcement response to protests in Ferguson, Missouri, such as intimation of protestors, dispersal of protests, restrictions on media and accountability of law enforcement.

Report on the Monitoring of Freedom of Peaceful Assembly in Selected OSCE Participating States (May 2013 – July 2014)

This report presents the findings of the monitoring of public events undertaken by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in selected OSCE participating States between May 2013 and July 2014.

The Road to Dignity by 2030

This 2014 report by the UN Secretary General synthesizes input on the the Post-2015 Agenda.

Report from the African regional workshop on Protecting Civic Space

A paper detailing the outcomes of an African regional workshop on “Protecting Civic Space” on November 17-18, 2014 at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. 

UN Special Rapporteur’s Report to the General Assembly on Multilateral Institutions and their Effect on Assembly and Association Rights

The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association are equally fundamental and protected at the national and multilateral levels.

Civil Society Space and the United Nations Human Rights System

This OHCHR guide highlights issues related to the work of civil society actors (CSAs), providing an overview of the conditions and environment needed for a free and independent civil society, including relevant international human rights standards for freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly, and the right to participate in public affairs.

Turkey’s Human Right Rollback – Recommendations for Reform

This Human Rights Watch report outlines the rollback of human rights and rule of law in Turkey, linked to the 2013 mass anti-government protests.

Response of the Civic Space Initiative to the July 2014 Proposal of the Open Working Group for Sustainable Development Goals

In this letter to the Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General on Post 2015 Development Planning, the Civic Space Initiative (CSI) partners express our concern that there is no explicit recognition of an “enabling environment for civil society” in the Open Working Group's proposal on Sustainable Development Goals and urging that the UN Secretary General’s synthesis report highlights this issue.

New Practices in Raising Domestic Funds by CSOs in Europe

This 2014 paper by the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law focuses on opportunities to enhance CSOs’ financial sustainability by raising funds from private domestic sources and through indirect state support mechanisms.

Towards a new relation of partnership between civil society organisations and the State

ICNL Fellow Diego Scardone shares lessons from Brazil’s collaborative process in developing a landmark law regulating public funding of CSOs and CSO participation in public policymaking.

Mapping Initiatives to Address Legal Constraints on Foreign Funding

Since January 2012, more than 50 countries have introduced or enacted legislation constraining civil society.

UN Report on the Realization of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression in Electoral Contexts

Approaches in Regulation of Volunteering

This European Center for Not-for-Profit Law paper outlines key attributes of volunteering based on the definition of volunteering by the International Labor Organization (ILO). 

Volunteering: European Practice of Regulation

This paper from the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law outlines key attributes of volunteering based on the definition of volunteering by the International Labor Organization (ILO). 

Summary of the UNHRC Panel on the Promotion and Protection of Civil Society Space

This report (A/HRC/27/33) summarizes a March 11, 2014, panel discussion convened by the UN Human Rights Council on the importance of the promotion and protection of civil society space.

Burundi: Locked Down

This 2014 Amnesty International report documents the shrinking of political space in Burundi in the build-up to the 2015 presidential, legislative and communal elections.

Freedom of Assembly in Germany

This ICNL country note reviews federal regulation of assemblies in Germany, covering legal definitions, notification procedures, eligibility requirements for the organizers and leaders of the assembly as well as their rights and obligations.

Freedom of Assembly: Procedures of Permission and Notification

One of the most common ways that countries restrict assemblies is to enact laws that require organizers and participants to receive permission from the government authorities in advance of holding the assembly.

General Principles on Civil Society’s Right to Funding

This set of “general principles,” issued by UN Special Rapporteur Kiai and the Community of Democracies, summarizes key aspects of civil society's right to seek, receive and use resources.

Punished for Protesting: Rights Violations in Venezuela’s Streets, Detention Centers, and Justice System

Beginning on February 12, 2014, thousands of people across Venezuela participated in marches and public demonstrations to protest the policies of the government of President Nicolás Maduro.