Maina Kiai undertook an official mission to the United Kingdom of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from Jan. 14-23, 2013. During his ten-day visit to the UK, the expert went to London, Belfast and Edinburgh where he met senior officials, representatives of the legislature, human rights commissions and other independent monitoring institutions, and civil society. The visit was carried out pursuant to his mandate to assess the situation of freedoms of peaceful assembly and association in the country. In his report, the Special Rapporteur details positive measures by the authorities, but also documents a number of areas for concern in relation to freedom of peaceful assembly in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Kiai also details his concerns in relation to counter-terrorism measures and restrictions on trade unionism. “No matter how old a democracy, there is always space for continued improvements,” Kiai said at the conclusion of his visit. The Special Rapporteur's report was presented to the Human Rights Council at its 23rd session in June 2013, and is available in all six official UN... Continue reading →
United Nations Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai will visit the United Kingdom from 14 to 23 January 2013, in what will be the first information-gathering mission to the country by an independent expert charged 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 United Kingdom has voiced its commitment to human rights on repeated occasions, and this mission will give me an opportunity to assess in-depth to what extend the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association are enjoyed in the country,” Mr. Kiai said. The Special Rapporteur, who visits the country at the invitation of the Government, is scheduled to travel to London, Belfast and Edinburgh, where he will meet with officials, representatives of the judiciary, legislature, various human rights commissions, and civil society. The UN Human Rights Council recognized the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association as essential components of democracy, and called on States to respect and fully protect the rights of all individuals to assemble peacefully and associate freely. Mr. Kiai will share his preliminary findings and recommendations at a press conference to be held on Wednesday 23 January, at the premises of the UN... Continue reading →
