The Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association was established in October 2010 via Human Rights Council resolution 15/21. It was renewed for three years in September 2013 via HRC resolution 24/5 and for an additional three years in 2016 by resolution 32/32. Maina Kiai took up his duties as the first Special Rapporteur on assembly and association on May 1, 2011. (For more about the UN independent expert mandates created in 2011, see this media guide)
A Special Rapporteur is an independent expert appointed by the Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. This position is honorary and the expert is not United Nations staff nor paid for his/her work. The Special Rapporteurs are part of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. As of October 1, 2015, there were 41 thematic and 14 country mandates.
The Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association examines, monitors, advises and publicly reports on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association worldwide.
Work methods include responding to individual complaints, conducting studies, providing technical assistance to governments, and engaging in public outreach and promotional activities – all with the ultimate goal of promoting and protecting the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.
The Special Rapporteur’s full mandate can be found here.
Special Rapporteurs do not have any legally binding powers to compel governments to take action, but they can raise individual complaints with governments and raise publicity.
Individual complaints may be submitted by post, fax or e-mail, at the addresses listed on our contact page. Detailed information on how to submit a complaint to the Special Rapporteur can be found at this link. Complaints can also be submitted securely online via the United Nations at the following link: https://spsubmission.ohchr.org/
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