UNGA79: Special Rapporteur Reports Alarming Rise in Harmful Narratives Restricting Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association

The Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Gina Romero, presented her report ‘Protecting the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association from Stigmatization’ in an interactive dialogue with States at the 79th Third Committee session of the UN General Assembly. The report highlights the growing number of harmful narratives that stigmatise civil society groups and activists engaged in association and peaceful assemblies, labeling them as ‘enemies or threats to security and values.’

During the dialogue, the Special Rapporteur highlighted an alarming trend of harmful narratives that undermine the legitimacy of peaceful activism and target human rights defenders, and the public, for exercising their rights to freedom of assembly and association. The Special Rapporteur  discussed how activists and organisations face stigmatising labels and accusations, for organising peaceful protests, forming associations, and bringing urgent issues to the attention of authorities and the international community. In her report, the Special Rapporteur has listed specific narratives and language used in various countries to stigmatise the work of civil society organisations and activists.

Particularly vulnerable to these harmful attacks are advocates for ethnic and religious minorities, women, children, young activists, LGBTIQ+ people, environmental and Indigenous activists, and defenders of democracy, transparency, and fair elections, with trade unions and labor rights groups also being targeted frequently.

These narratives result in the restriction of human rights. While most States participating in the interactive dialogue welcomed the report, some rejected  the references to  their country in the report such as China, India, Iran, and Russia. Several States posed questions to the Rapporteur on best practices and concrete examples to support and protect the right to peaceful assembly and association. The Rapporteur responded that States should avoid stigmatising protesters and civil society, facilitate peaceful assembly and association, and ensure any restrictions are evidence-based and meet the requirements of legality, necessity and proportionality. She also responded to criticism from China, India, Iran and Russia by emphasising the challenges faced when there are no responses from States to inquiries, denial of requests for country visits, or lack of clear information about state actions and called on states to engage more openly with her mandate. 

 The Rapporteur noted that harmful narratives from both State and non-state actors restrict access to freedoms of assembly and association, leading to rights violations and shrinking civic space. She called on States to detect, monitor, and counter such cases to ‘prevent undue legal restrictions and repression of these freedoms, which create a cycle of repression and stigmatization’ and implement legal and policy reforms.