(Español) SANTIAGO DE CHILE - I would like to thank the Government of the Republic of Chile for inviting me to undertake this official mission here, my first to the Americas. I view this as a positive sign of the Government’s willingness to engage in a constructive dialogue on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, among other human rights. I am the fourth UN Special Rapporteur to visit Chile since July 2013, which I believe is an indication that the Government is serious about meeting its obligations under international human rights law. I would also like to thank the Government for its exemplary cooperation in organizing the mission, particularly in light of the earthquake that struck Chile on 16 September. The resulting emergency situation could have led to the cancellation of this mission, but the Government pushed forward. I have had fruitful exchanges with the members of the executive, legislative and judicial branches in Santiago, Valparaiso, Temuco and Copiapo. I also benefitted immensely from the assistance of Chile’s excellent national human rights institution, the National Institute for Human Rights (Instituto Nacional de Derechos Humanos – INDH). I am grateful for everyone’s tenacity in making sure this mission went through as scheduled. In addition, I... Continue reading →
Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai undertook an official mission to the Republic of Chile Sept. 21-30, 2015. The visit was carried out pursuant to his mandate to assess the situation of freedoms of peaceful assembly and association in the country. The Special Rapporteur concluded his visit by urging the Government of Chile to eliminate “vestiges of dictatorship” that are detrimental to the freedom of peaceful assembly in the country, and continue reforms so that the country can “take its rightful place as a global leader in human rights.” “Chile has made enormous strides since its return to democracy 25 years ago,” Kiai said at the end of his visit. “However, there are still remnants of yesteryear that have no place in the Chile of today. The ghost of this era looms particularly large over the security sector, chiefly the police—and specifically the Special Forces—and their function in policing social conflicts and assemblies.” The expert's most pressing concerns centered around Chile’s practical management of protests. During his visit, he was informed of numerous and varied examples of violations perpetrated by police during protests, including excessive force and harassment of activists. The Special Rapporteur raised concerns over the use of identification checks by the... Continue reading →
(Inglés) GINEBRA – El Relator Especial de Naciones Unidas, Maina Kiai, visitará Chile del 21 al 30 de septiembre de 2015, en la que será la primera visita al país de un experto independiente encargado por el Consejo de Derechos Humanos de la ONU de monitorear y promover la realización del derecho a la libertad de reunión pacífica y de asociación en todo el mundo. “En primer lugar, quisiera expresar mi solidaridad con el pueblo de Chile, tras el terremoto de esta semana. Mis sentimientos acompañan a todos aquellos que fueron afectados por este trágico evento,” dijo el Sr. Kiai. “El Consejo de Derechos Humanos ha exhortado a los Estados a respetar y proteger plenamente los derechos de todas las personas a reunirse pacíficamente y a asociarse libremente”, señaló el experto. “Esta visita me dará la oportunidad de evaluar en profundidad el disfrute de estos derechos en el país – como componente esencial de la democracia”. El Relator Especial, quien visita el país a invitación del Gobierno, tiene planeado viajar a Santiago, Temuco y Copiapó, pendiente de confirmación debido a la situación de emergencia provocada por el terremoto. Durante su visita de diez días, el Sr. Kiai se reunirá con funcionarios del Estado, incluyendo con la Presidenta Bachelet, con... Continue reading →
(Español) GENEVA – United Nations Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai will visit Chile from 21 to 30 September 2015, in what will be the first information-gathering visit 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. “I wish to first express my solidarity with the people of Chile following this week’s earthquake. My thoughts are with all those who were affected by this tragic event,” Mr. Kiai said. “The Human Rights Council has called upon States to respect and fully protect the rights of all individuals to assemble peacefully and associate freely,” the expert noted. “This visit will give me an opportunity to evaluate in-depth to what extend both rights – as essential components of democracy – are enjoyed in the country.” The Special Rapporteur, who visits the country at the invitation of the Government, is scheduled to travel to Santiago, Temuco and Copiapo, pending confirmation following the emergency situation caused by the earthquake. During his ten-day visit, Mr. Kiai will meet with State officials, including President Bachelet, with members of the judiciary and of Parliament, as well as representatives of the National Human... Continue reading →
Issue No. 15 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: • UN releases Kiai’s next report to the General Assembly: Comparing States’ treatment of business and civil society • Mexico: Special Rapporteur weighs in on case challenging constitutionality of protest laws • ‘Stop the erosion of democracy’ – UN experts urge Governments across the world • Peaceful protest recommendations project: Asia and Africa meetings • Ecuador: UN and IACHR experts condemn moves to dissolve prominent organization • Mauritania: UN rights expert urges repeal of NGO Bill that threatens civil society • Human rights defender stories from Kazakhstan, Burundi and Azerbaijan • Freedom of association and assembly: By the numbers - sectoral equity edition • Special Rapporteur news in brief: July-August 2015 • World briefing: Freedom of assembly and association in the news For a link to the newsletter, click on the image at right or click here (1.5MB file) or here (4.5MB full resolution file). To subscribe to our newsletter, please drop us a line at info@freeassembly.net with the subject line “subscribe to newsletter.” For other recent... Continue reading →
Issue No. 12 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: • Experts in Chile to shape UN recommendations on managing peaceful assemblies • Vibrant civil society fundamental to Latin America’s successes thus far – and equally important going forward, Kiai says in Chile • UN experts: continued detention of Ethiopian journalists unacceptable • Pre-election violence endangers Burundi’s young democracy • Contribute to the UNSR's next report on "sectoral equity" • Freedom of association and assembly: By the numbers • Special rapporteur news in brief: March-April 2015 • World briefing: Freedom of assembly and association in the news For a link to the newsletter, click on the image at right or click here (2.3MB file) or here (13MB full resolution file). To subscribe to our newsletter, please drop us a line at info@freeassembly.net with the subject line “subscribe to newsletter.” For other recent newsletters, see the links below: The Assembly and Association Briefing, Vol. 1, No. 9 (December 2014) The Assembly and Association Briefing, Vol. 2, No. 1 (Issue 10) (January 2015) The Assembly and Association Briefing, Vol. 2, No. 2 (Issue 11)... Continue reading →
SANTIAGO, Chile – UN Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai met with regional government and civil society leaders here this week, telling them that civil society is “necessary in any society” – and that access to resources is equally essential for the sector’s very existence. “Not a single country in Latin America that can say it accomplished what it has without the help of civil society,” said Kiai, who is the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. “And it is equally important going forward.” “Civil society is critical in combatting extremism, and in channeling dissent and frustrations in a legitimate way through the system. Civil society gives States a legitimate and open partner that it can work with, and it channels people’s views in an open and transparent way.” The UN expert’s remarks came during meetings with government officials and civil society members from the Latin America and Caribbean regions, which were convened as part of a joint project with the Community of Democracies designed to strengthen civil society’s ability to access to resources. Roughly a dozen representatives from across the region participated in the government consultation on April 27, while more than 25 civil society representatives attended a separate... Continue reading →
