There are any number of words that could be used to describe the events of 2015 - inspiring, uplifting, informative, moving, even maddening. But there is one word that cannot be used: satisfying. That is unfortunate, because the year was filled with stirring tales of courage, dedication and passion from activists all over the world: Burundi, the Maldives, Malaysia, Brazil, Bahrain, Venezuela, Russia and more. Some made lonely stands for justice in the face of daunting odds. Others stood shoulder-to-shoulder to demonstrate with tens of thousands of their compatriots. And in a few cases, some of these individuals even spurred rapid, remarkable change – as was the case in Guatemala, where protests played a key role in forcing the President to resign in the face of corruption allegations. The problem is that far too many of these stories had the wrong ending in 2015. One of Burundi’s leading activists, Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, narrowly escaped assassination for standing up for his beliefs; his son and son-in-law were not so lucky. Citizens who took to the street calling for an investigation into a US $700 million corruption case against the Malaysian Prime Minister found some of their numbers arrested; yet no one implicated in the scandal has been charged. In Russia, an opposition activist was... Continue reading →
GENEVA – Special Rapporteurs Christof Heyns and Maina Kiai have held three final consultations in Geneva on their joint project to develop practical recommendations for the proper management of assemblies, as requested by the Human Rights Council in resolution 25/38. Heyns, who is the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, and Kiai, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, are scheduled to present the recommendations to the Council at its 31st session in March 2016. On October 22, the Special Rapporteurs met with representatives of Member States to provide an opportunity for the exchange of perspectives and experiences on the proper management of assemblies, and to raise issues of specific interest or concern with the Special Rapporteurs. Representatives of 54 States attended the meeting. This was followed on October 23 by a consultation with experts from across Europe and Central Asia. The consultation brought together experts from a range of backgrounds, including serving and retired law enforcement officers, UN bodies, academics, members of civil society, and representatives of NHRIs and ombudsmen. The meeting addressed a broad range of issues relating to the management of assemblies, including the importance of... Continue reading →
SANTIAGO, Chile – Over 20 experts from throughout the Americas joined Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai in Santiago, Chile, last week for the first consultation in a project to develop practical recommendations for the proper management of assemblies. The recommendations were mandated by the UN Human Rights Council in resolution 25/38, and are due to be presented in March 2016, at the Council’s 31st session. They will be drafted jointly by Kiai, who is the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, and Christof Heyns, who is the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. Heyns was represented at the consultation by his research team. “Peaceful assemblies play a central role in any democracy – allowing people to express their grievances and giving governments a chance to take the pulse of public opinion,” Kiai said. “The goal of these recommendations is to give States a roadmap on how to manage peaceful assemblies in an effective way that also fully respects participants’ fundamental rights.” Participants at the consultation, who came from over a dozen countries throughout the Americas, emphasized that the recommendations should not be limited to managing protests themselves, but should also look at what happens before and... Continue reading →
(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 – will run throughout 2015, with the final report being presented to the Human Rights Council at its 31st session in March 2016. The recommendations will be drafted jointly by Kiai, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, and Heyns, who serves as the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. In developing the recommendations, the two UN experts will convene a series of regional consultations in 2015 to gather information on best practices and lessons learned. Input will also be sought via a detailed questionnaire that will be distributed to UN Member States, UN agencies, civil society, intergovernmental organizations, other Special Rapporteurs, and national human rights... Continue reading →
(Press release provided by InformAction) (NAIROBI/WASHINGTON, DC) - InformAction is proud to announce that Co-Director Maina Kiai will receive the prestigious Freedom Award, in Washington DC, on Oct. 1, 2014, in recognition of his ‘invaluable contribution to the cause of freedom and democracy’. The award from Freedom House honors his work in Kenya as a prominent civil society leader, and as an internationally renowned human rights defender. It comes at a time when Kenya’s civil society – demonized as ‘evil society’ – faces increased government hostility, and legislation that threatens to restrict its freedoms and funding. Previous recipients of the award include Maryam Al Kharwaja of Bahrain 2012, Aung San Suu-Kyi of Burma, 2011, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and Czech dissident and later president Vaclav Havel 1991, and US President Lyndon Johnson 1966. Maina Kiai is currently the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of peaceful Assembly and Association. In his latest InformAction film, ‘A Guidebook to Impunity,” he says that as an activist ‘I am not in the business of being popular. My job is to push boundaries’. He has faced personal threats, intimidation and demonization over a long human rights career. ‘This award is an incredible honour, and it... Continue reading →
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... Continue reading →
United Nations Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai will address a high-level UN panel hosted by US President Barack Obama on Sept. 23, 2013. The panel, which will be held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, is focused on supporting civil society in the face of shrinking space globally. Kiai is the UN special rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, a position he has held since May 2011. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and several heads of state are expected to be in attendance. Presentations will also be made by Presidents Obama, Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico and Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj of Mongolia. “It is a great honor to be invited to address this distinguished group,” Kiai said. “It is also a great opportunity – a chance to directly address these leaders on the most pressing issues confronting civil society globally. “This is an ideal forum to urge the governments of the world to recognize and cement the role that civil society plays in political, civic, economic and social development. ” Kiai’s speech, titled “Sounding the Alarm: emerging threats to civil society and the need for a coordinated international response,” is expected to focus on emerging areas of concern, particularly governmental restrictions on funding for... Continue reading →
On August 12, 2012, Maina Kiai participated in a discussion panel sponsored by the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, DC, entitled "Understanding and Responding to Attacks on Civil Society: The Roles of Politics and Law." The panel also featured Nilda Bullain (International Center for Not-for-Profit Law), Carl Gershman (National Endowment for Democracy) and Kent Hughes (Public Policy Scholar, former director Program on America and the Global Economy). The panel is available via YouTube... Continue reading →
In this video, produced by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Maina Kiai UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, discusses the need to have practical guidelines to these... Continue reading →
Seven human rights experts dealing with the freedom of peaceful assembly and association; discrimination against women in law and practice; and the particular situation of people of African descent began work this week on the mandates handed to them by the Human Rights Council. Freedom of peaceful assembly and association In September 2010, the Human Rights Council created a new post of Special Rapporteur to emphasize the importance of the freedom of peaceful assembly and of association towards the full enjoyment of all human rights. The Council recognized that these rights are essential components of democracy and called upon States to respect and fully protect the rights of all individuals to assemble peacefully and associate freely, including in the context of elections, and including persons espousing minority or dissenting views or beliefs, human rights defenders, trade unionists and others, including migrants, seeking to exercise or to promote these rights. Among other tasks, the Special Rapporteur is called on to gather all relevant information, including national practices and experiences relating to the promotion and protection of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, to study trends, developments and challenges in relation to the exercise of these rights, and to make... Continue reading →
