Human Rights House Foundation statement
HRC56 – Item 3 – Interactive Dialogue – SR peaceful assembly and association
27 June 2024
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Thank you.
We welcome the new mandate holder into her position. Human Rights House Foundation, together with our civil society partners across the wider European region, will do our utmost to continue to support the mandate of the Special Rapporteur. We also urge the Special Rapporteur to continue the approach of previous mandate holders, in conducting regular consultations with civil society, including at a regional level.
President.
In recent years, there has been a marked resurgence of authoritarianism in various parts of the world, as identified in the Special Rapporteur’s latest report. This rise has been characterised by restrictive legislation aimed at reducing civil society space, increased threats against human rights defenders, including their portrayal as enemies of the state, the erosion of democratic institutions, and attempts to silence dissent.
In Georgia, the Georgian Parliament adopted the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence in May, inspired by the Russian authoritarian-style “foreign agent” legislation, accompanied by the use of violence against largely peaceful protestors and repressions against human rights defenders. International civil society organisations decried the development as one that could stifle the essential and legitimate work of Georgia’s civil society and media, including the exercise of freedom of association.
Baia Pataraia, Director of the Georgian organisation Union Sapari, in calling for international attention and support for the situation in Georgia argued recently that “the importance of timing right now cannot be understated. We need support now. Not in six months, one year. Georgian civil society needs support now.”
President.
We ask the Special Rapporteur how the Human Rights Council can best ensure freedom of peaceful assembly and association is upheld, even in contexts such as Georgia, that are witnessing rising authoritarian tendencies?
Thank you.
