(NAIROBI/PRETORIA) – UN Special Rapporteurs Maina Kiai and Christof Heyns have embarked on a new joint project aimed at compiling a set of practical recommendations for the proper management of assemblies worldwide. Public assemblies are a central feature of the modern world but often boil over and lead to bloodshed. Societies are often not sure how best to deal with such protests and the United Nations Human Rights Council wants to provide guidance in this regard. The project – which was mandated by Human Rights Council Resolution 25/38 in 2014… Continue reading →
Issue No. 11 of the Assembly and Association Briefing, the newsletter of Maina Kiai, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. In this issue: • Special Rapporteur in Geneva to launch ‘landmark’ freedom of association guidelines on sidelines of HRC session • ‘Two legal reform projects undermine the rights of assembly and expression in Spain’ – UN experts • Mass death sentences in Egypt a profound disgrace, UN human rights experts say • UN rights experts urge release of Bahrain… Continue reading →
GENEVA – United Nations Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai today welcomed the introduction of a bill by the Victoria State’s government in Australia into the lower house of the Parliament to repeal restrictive laws regulating protests. “In my previous thematic reports, I identified a series of best practices that provide valuable advice for compliance of State authorities with international law,” the expert stated. “Authorities not only have the duty to protect public safety and order as well as the rights and freedoms of others, but also the… Continue reading →
GENEVA – United Nations Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai will be in Geneva this week to participate in several events on the margins of the 28th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, including the launch of landmark joint guidelines on the right to freedom of association. The guidelines – which were developed by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE-ODIHR) and the Venice Commission – are the first of their kind in the field on association rights. They were adopted and… Continue reading →
GENEVA – A group of United Nations human rights experts urged Spain today to reject two projects of legal reform that “threaten to violate individuals’ fundamental rights and freedoms.” The experts’ call comes after the Congress fast-tracked the approval of a proposal to reform of the Penal Code, regarding crimes of terrorism. “We trust that Spain will take all necessary steps to guarantee the exercise of fundamental rights and public freedoms in its national legislation, in accordance with international standards,” the experts said in… Continue reading →
