Kigali, 27 January 2014 I would like to thank the Government of the Republic of Rwanda for inviting me to carry out a visit to the country. I commend Rwanda for being the first country in Africa to extend an invitation to my mandate since its establishment by the Human Rights Council in October 2010. I thank the Government for its excellent cooperation before and during the conduct of this mission. I am most grateful to all interlocutors I have met. I had fruitful exchanges with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Internal… Continue reading →
United Nations Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai will visit Rwanda from 20 to 27 January 2014 to assess in depth to what extent the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association are enjoyed in the country. Mr. Kiai’s visit will be the first information-gathering mission to Rwanda by an independent expert mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor and promote the realization of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association worldwide. “The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association are essential… Continue reading →
An op-ed by Maina Kiai has been featured in the Guardian. The piece concerns the United Kingdom’s proposed “Transparency in Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning, and Trade Union Administration Bill” – legislation that would impose harsh restrictions on civil society advocacy during the year prior to an election. The most concerning part of the legislation would broaden the definition of what constitutes “election campaigning” to include any activity that affects the outcome of an election, even if unintentionally. The law would then regulate that… Continue reading →
The inaugural issue of the Assembly and Association Briefing, the official newsletter of Maina Kiai, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. In this issue: • Call for input as Kiai readies report on groups most at risk • UN Special Rapporteur launches new website for mandate • Repressive amendments to NGO law defeated in Kenya • Kiai to visit Rwanda in Jan. 2014 • NGO Bill Threatens to Hinder Civil Society’s Work in South Sudan, UN Rights Experts Warn • Maina Kiai… Continue reading →
Maina Kiai has accepted an invitation from the government of Rwanda to make an official visit in January 2014. The trip is schedule to take place from January 20-27. Kiai, who is the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, will spend approximately one week in the country evaluating the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. The visit will include meetings with the government and other key stakeholders. “I thank the Rwandan government for inviting me to visit in my capacity as… Continue reading →
