GE.13 -17833
Human Rights Council
Twent y-fourth session
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil ,
political, economic, social and cultural rig hts,
including the right to development
Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council 
24/5.
The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association
The Human Rights Council ,
Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Internati onal
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights and other relevant human rights instruments,
Reaffirming Human Rights Council resolution 15/21 of 30 September 2010, and
recalling Council resol utions 19/35 of 23 March 2012, 20/8 of 5 July 2012 , 21/16 of 27
September 2012 and 22/10 of 21 March 2013 , and relevant resolutions of the Commission
on Human Rights,
Recognizing the importance of the rights of everyone to freedom of peaceful
assembly and of association to the full enjoyment of all human rights,
Recalling that , in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights and as similarly prescribed in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights, no rest riction may be placed on the exercise of the rights to freedom of
peaceful assembly and of association other than those that are prescribed by law and that
are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety,
public order ( ordre public ), the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the
rights and freedoms of others,
Reiterating the critical mandate, role, expertise and specialized supervisory
mechanisms and procedures of the International Labour Org anization with respect to
employers’ and workers’ ri ghts to freedom of association,

 The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of
the Council on its twenty -fourth session (A/HRC/24/2), Pa rt One.
United Nations A /HRC/ RES/ 24/5

General Assembly Distr.: General
8 October 2013

Original: English

A/HRC/ RES/ 24/ 5
2
Taking note of the report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of
peaceful assembly and of association submitted to the Human Rights Council at its twenty –
thi rd session, 1
Aware that resources are necessary for the existence and sustaina ble operations of
associations,
Reiterating the important role of new information and communications technologies
in enabling and facilitating the enjoyment of the rights to free dom of peaceful assembly and
of association, and the importance for all States to promote and facilitate access to the
Internet and international cooperation aimed at the development of media and information
and communicatio ns facilities in all countries,
Recognizing the importance of the freedoms of peaceful assembly and of
association, as well as the importance of civil society, to good governance, including
through transparency and accountability, which is indispensible for building peaceful,
prosp erous and democratic societies,
Aware of the crucial importance of the active involvement of civil society in
processes of governance that affect the life of people,
Recalling Human Rights Council resolutions 5/1 and 5/2 of 18 June 2007,
1. Decides to extend th e mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to
freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, as established by the Human Rights
Council in its resolution 15/21, for a period of three years;
2. Reminds States of their obligation to respect and full y protect the rights of all
individuals to assemble peacefully and associate freely, online as well as offline, including
in the context of elections, and including persons espousing minority or dissenting views or
beliefs, human rights defenders, trade un ionists and others, including migrants, seeking to
exercise or to promote these rights, and to take all necessary measures to ensure that any
restrictions on the free exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of
association are in accordan ce with their obligations under international human rights law;
3. Expresses concern at violations of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly
and of association;
4. Emphasizes the critical role of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and
of associ ation for civil society, and recognizes that civil society facilitates the achievement
of the purposes and principles of the United Nations;
5. Stresses that respect for the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of
association, in relation to civil so ciety, contributes to addressing and resolving challenges
and issues that are important to society, such as the environment, sustainable development,
crime prevention, human trafficking, empowering women, social justice, consumer
protection and the realiza tion of all human rights;
6. Calls upon States to continue to cooperate fully with and assist the Special
Rapporteur in the performance of his mandate, to respond promptly to his urgent appeals
and other communications and to consider favourably his reques ts for visits;
7. Reiterates its call upon the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights to assist States to promote and protect the rights to freedom of peaceful
assembly and of association, including through the technical assistance programmes of the
Office, at the request of States, and to cooperate with relevant bodies of the United Nations

1 A/HRC/23/39.

A/HRC/RES/24/5
3
system and other intergovernmental organizations to assist States to promote and protect
the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of asso ciation;
8. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue to report annually to the Human
Rights Council and the General Assembly;
9. Decides to continue its consideration of the issue of the rights to freedom of
peaceful assembly and of association in accor dance with its programme of work.
34th meeting
26 September 2013
[Adopted without a vote.]