A/HRC/50/42
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
16 May 2022
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Fiftieth session
13 June–8 July 2022
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protests
during crisis situations
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful
assembly and of association, Clément Nyaletsossi Voule*
Summary
The present report is prepared by the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of
peaceful assembly and of association, pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 44/20 of
17 July 2020.
The Special Rapporteur has examined key global trends that seriously impede the
protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protests in crisis situations. They include
stigmatization, abuse of emergency measures, militarization and use of unlawful force to
stifle peaceful protests, compounded by endemic impunity for serious violations. The Special
Rapporteur reaffirms the importance peaceful protest has for democratic, just and peaceful
society and as a means to ensure people’s voices are heard and taken into account. Based on
numerous global consultations and submissions by States, law enforcement and non-State
actors, the Special Rapporteur offers practical recommendations to enhance facilitation and
protection of human rights during peaceful protests in crisis.
* Agreement was reached to publish the present report after the standard publication date owing to
circumstances beyond the submitter’s control.
GE.22-07320(E)