Worldwide, space is shrinking for civic organizations and actions, while the threats to the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association are growing. In an effort to help reverse these trends, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association began a new project in 2014 that aims to protect these rights via litigation in national and regional courts. The project, which is supported by the government of Norway, focuses on providing technical assistance and advisory services for public interest litigation on assembly and association issues, with a view to increasing such litigation and encouraging the application of international law norms at the domestic level. The Special Rapporteur also plans to submit amicus briefs in relevant cases, where he can highlight international norms and principles. The Special Rapporteur recognizes the importance of involving all arms of government, and in particular, the judiciary in … Continue reading Using litigation to advance the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association