Mr. Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, Special Rapporteur on the rights of freedom of peaceful assembly and of association is in Sri Lanka
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of freedom peaceful assembly and of association, Mr. Clement Nyaletsossi Voule is in the official country visit to Sri Lanka from July 18 to 26, 2019.
The purpose of the visit to assess issues related to the exercise of the rights of freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the country and to present a report to the 44 th session of the Human Rights Council in 2020.
During the visit the Special Rapporteur will be paying his attention to a number of issues, including the legal framework in place to guarantee the exercise of the rights of freedom of peaceful assembly and of association including the cases at the Supreme Court and Circuit Court. Procedural and practical measures for holding peaceful assembly. The manner in which the law enforcement officials manage and facilitate the assemblies and the protests which includes the issues of authorization versus notification and access to public space, legal and practical limitations to the exercise of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. Effective remedy and accountability for violations of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. Possible instances of surveillance of associations, protests or social movements working on human rights, environmental, labour, economic issues. Human rights monitoring of assemblies and protests. Situation of groups often most at risk when exercising or seeking to exercise the rights to freedom of peaceful assemblyand of association.
The main focus of the visit is to understand the good practices in relation to the exercise of the rights of peaceful assembly and association. Key issues and challenges when existing the rights of peaceful assembly and association. Potential areas to visit in the country to get an idea of the purpose of the visit and to meet the relevant organizations on this regard.
At the same time the civil society actors and all other interested stakeholders are encouraged to submit general inputs and specific proposals in relation to the above mentioned points before July 25, 2019 to the rapporteur. The [email protected] is the email to which the suggestions should be sent to. The visit of the special rapporteur will be with the civil society organizations, independent institutions working on human rights, human rights defenders and other stakeholders working on the rights of freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
The visit of the special rapporteur is being permitted by the Sri Lankan government.