The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai, recently released his second thematic report, which will be presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council in May 2013.
The report focuses on the ability of civil society organizations to seek, secure, and utilize financial resources from international, foreign and domestic sources. The report also outlines practical guidelines to facilitate peaceful assemblies.
ECNL is working with ICNL and other partners to organize a side-event at the UN on May 31, to highlight the report and to provide information that will help both states and civil society strategize and counter restrictions related to funding.
From ICNL's website:
ICNL played a key role in the preparation of the report, both in the development of the report’s theoretical framework and in the drafting process. In the initial preparation stages of the report, ICNL co-organized a consultation in Kenya between the UN Special Rapporteur and key stakeholders. ICNL also contributed substantive input to various sections of the report, drawing from our own previous work on CSOs and foreign funding.
“We commend the UN Special Rapporteur for this groundbreaking report” said ICNL President Douglas Rutzen. “It’s an exceptionally important report, clearly articulating a set of international norms protecting the right of civil society organizations to seek, receive, and use resources from international and foreign sources.”
ICNL and ECNL is pleased to provide ongoing support to the UN Special Rapporteur for his third thematic report, which will focus on the freedoms of association and assembly within the context of elections.