The yearbook revises the important events with a special focus on Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Thailand, Ukraine and Venezuela where the political turmoil backed by popular protests was followed by increased restrictions. However it is highlighted that this development is not to be linked to a special region, it is a global trend that the “space to exercise the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association is shrinking".
Besides the facts and figures regarding assembly and association rights the yearbook serves as a draft of annual report of the activities and projects of the Special Rapporteur, and presents the thematic reports developed on 2 areas which were in the focus of his work in 2014, namely Groups at most risk – exercising their right to assembly and association and the obstacles these groups face to exercise their right in the context of multilateral institutions. The report includes a personal letter from the Special Rapporteur who summarizes the year behind us as decisive in the history:
“It is still too early to tell just how 2014 will be remembered from the perspective of assembly and association rights: The year of the protest; the year of the revolution, the year of shrinking space, but one thing is certain: It will be a year that we remember.”