Human Rights Council

Thirt y- second session

Agenda item 3

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 1 July 2016

32/32.The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other relevant human rights instruments,

Reaffirming Human Rights Council resolutions 15/21 of 30 September 2010, 21/16 of 27 September 2012 and24/5 of 26 September 2013, and recalling Council resolutions 22/10 of 21 March 2013, 25/38 of 28 March 2014 and 26/13 of 26 June 2014, and relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights,

Recalling Human Rights Council resolutions 5/1,on institution-building of the Council,and 5/2,on the Code of Conduct for Special Procedures Mandate Holders of the Council,of 18 June 2007,

Recognizing that the effective exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, as enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is essential for the enjoyment of other human rights and freedoms and constitutes a fundamental pillar for building a democratic society and strengthening democracy, bearing in mind that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated,

Aware of the crucial importance of the active involvement of civil society in processes of governance that affect the life of people,

Taking note of the report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association submitted to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-second session,

Acknowledging that professional associations are among the manifestations of the right to freedom of association,

1.Decides to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, as established by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 15/21, for a period of three years;

2.Calls upon States to continue to cooperate fully with and assist the Special Rapporteur in the performance of the mandate, to respond promptly to his or her urgent appeals and other communications, and to consider favourably his or her requests for visits;

3.Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue to report annually to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly;

4.Invites the Special Rapporteur to consider addressing, in his or her future reporting, the topic of professional associations, including the role of professional associations in the promotion and protection of all human rights, the realization of development efforts, and building and maintaining a democratic society, and also including how States and other relevant stakeholders may promote, create and maintain conditions conducive to the development and activities of professional associations;

5.Requests the Secretary-General to provide the assistance necessary to the Special Rapporteur to fulfil the mandate, in particular by placing adequate human and material resources at his or her disposal;

6.Decides to continue its consideration of the issue of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in accordance with its programme of work.

46th meeting

1 July 2016

[Adopted without a vote.]