Concept Note: Consultation on Peaceful Protests in Crisis Situations in the African Region

UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS SPECIAL PROCEDURES SPECIAL RAPPORTEURS, INDEPENDENT EXPERTS & WORKING GROUPS

UNITED NATIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS SPECIAL RAPPORTEURS, INDEPENDENT EXPERTS & WORKING GROUPS

CONCEPT NOTE

CONSULTATION ON PEACEFUL PROTESTS IN CRISIS SITUATIONS

In the African Region

Side Event to the ACHPR, 16 November 2021

• With the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Clément Voule and the ACHPR Vice Chairperson and Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and Focal Point on Reprisals in Africa, Hon. Rémy Ngoy Lumbu -

I. CONTEXT

On 17 July 2020, the Human Rights Council adopted Resolution 44/20, on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protests.

In addition to urging greater respect for the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and closely connected rights, the Resolution called on the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association to “prepare a dedicated report on the protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protests during crisis situations,” and to take account, in the course of preparing the report, of “the views of States, the Office of the High Commissioner, relevant United Nations agencies, in particular the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, United Nations human rights treaty bodies, regional human rights mechanisms, other relevant special procedure mandate holders, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations and other relevant stakeholders, such as law enforcement practitioners”.

In accordance with this resolution, the Special Rapporteur, Clément N. Voule, will present an additional thematic report to the 50th session of the Human Rights Council, addressing the protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protests during crisis situations.

In order to implement this mandate, the UN Special Rapporteur is convening regional consultations with different stakeholders to solicit and incorporate the views and insights of key stakeholders in this area.

Crisis types:

The types of crisis situations identified for the purpose of the consultations:

1. War and armed conflict;
2. Humanitarian crisis such as famines;
3. Narco-trafficking, gang violence and terrorism;
4. Natural and man-made environmental disasters such as earthquakes, oil spills or extreme weather situations (e.g. droughts, tsunamis, hurricanes, etc.);
5. Major environmental crisis such as climate change

1. Health crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic
2. Economic crisis such as an economic crash in a country (e.g. related to stock crisis, real estate crisis, etc.)
3. Political crisis such as a coup d'état, a major political contestation (e.g. to elections) or other political conflicts
4. Crisis related to poverty and inequality
5. Crisis of systemic discrimination against particular groups
6. Other priority crisis (not mentioned in the list)

Participants will be asked to select the most relevant and impactful crisis situations in their work environment, and to discuss how these impact on the right to peaceful assembly.

II. DATE AND PLACE