Maina Kiai and two other United Nations independent human rights experts today expressed serious concern at the “obstructive, intimidating and stigmatizing effects” brought about by the current implementation in the Russian Federation of the law on ‘non-commercial organizations’ (NCOs), adopted on 21 November 2012 by the Duma. The UN Special Rapporteurs on freedom of association, human rights defenders and freedom of expression urged the Russian authorities to revise the law due to its lack of compliance with international law and standards and its adverse consequences on the important work of hundreds of organizations and human rights defenders. “Unfortunately, our fears seem to have been confirmed,” said the Special Rapporteur on the rights to peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai. In July 2012, the three experts warned that the law could brand as ‘foreign agents’ all foreign-funded NCOs engaging in political activities and impose severe penalties for non-compliance with the established requirements. They also raised alarm about the use of the term ‘foreign agents’, which can be associated with ‘spy’ and lead to increased stigmatization and vulnerability to acts of violence against those targeted. “Since the law was passed, we now witness an unprecedented... Continue reading →
