The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association are seriously threatened today, and urgent action is needed to push back and preserve them, a UN Special Rapporteur* said.
"We are witnessing widespread, systematic and intensive attack against these rights and civic space broadly, as authoritarianism, populism and anti-rights narratives are increasing," said Gina Romero, the newly appointed Special Rapporteur on the rights to peaceful assembly and association.
Romero was presenting the last thematic report prepared by her predecessor, Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, at the 56th session of the Human Rights Council.
The report outlines how governments have instrumentalised the adoption and/or implementation of laws, including so called "foreign agents" laws, to suppress the legitimate exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. This has been done in combination with intense stigmatising campaigns to silence dissent, civil society, unions, and civic activism, including citizen's organization and participation in peaceful protests.
"As people around the world have been increasingly exercising these rights to protect their freedoms, to resist autocracy, repression and discrimination, to build peace and democratic and responsive governance institutions, to advocate for climate justice, and express solidarity with those suffering, we witness how governments have been finding innovative ways to silence them and crash these rights," Romero said.
The spread of armed conflicts, the severe environmental crisis, undermined electoral processes marred by populism and disinformation, and emerging and unregulated digital technologies, exacerbate the threat to the enjoyment of these rights.
"This report is a wake-up call for collective action to protect democracy and our collective values, and the enjoyment of all human rights and freedoms. Enabling civic space, hearing and protecting activists is fundamental to foster civil society contributions for tackling today's pressing issues." Romero said.
"I join the report's call for a global renewed commitment to these rights. Through the establishment of this mandate 14 years ago, the Human Rights Council reiterated its commitment for the protection of these fundamental freedoms, and it is urgent today that the Council reinforce the mandate's capacity to continue effectively protecting these rights, especially in the emerging crises."
The Special Rapporteur also presented reports on the official country visits to Peru in May 2023 and to Algeria in September 2023, conducted by her predecessor Voule.
