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UN Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai told a UN panel on civil society yesterday that governments must give as much attention to human rights and civil society issues as they do “issues of trade, security, and other strategic interests.”
The remarks, which came at a high-level event on the the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, were part of a speech titled “Sounding the Alarm: emerging threats to civil society and the need for a coordinated international response.” The event was hosted by US President Barack Obama.
Kiai said that the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association are essential to democracy and development due to the values of inclusiveness and diversity that they promote. But sadly, challenges to these freedoms have increased, despite rhetorical commitments from UN Member States.
“Tolerance of others must be harnessed,” Kiai said. “We don’t have to agree with what people do; but as long as it is done peacefully, and does not incite violence and hatred, it should be allowed.”
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and several heads of state were in attendance. Presentations were also made by Presidents Obama, Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico and Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj of Mongolia.
The full text of the speech is available here.
The pre-event press release can be found here.
A video of the full event can be found here.
