Joint Statement: Expression of support to the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association
Theundersigned oganisations express their support to Mr. MainaKiai theUnited Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assemblyand association and welcomes his statement at the UN Human Rights Council.
On 17June 2015, at the 29th session of the UN Human Rights Council Mr. MainaKaia made a statement and presented his report on his visit to Oman inSeptember 2014. He expressed his dismay at alleged reprisals against civilsociety members, who had engaged with him during his visit and stated ‘ I amdisappointed that the authorities did not take my observations in the spirit inwhich they are offered, that of constructive dialogue’.
Duringthe mission he met with Government bodies and members of civil society and raisedconcerns regarding restrictions on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly.To date however, the Omani Government has failed to address these concerns andhas attempted to intimidate the Special Rapporteur and civil society members.
Inhis statement Mr. Maina Kiai outlined how broadly worded legal provisions giveexcessive discretion to Omani authorities and create uncertainties about whatactions attract penalties. He also noted that peaceful assemblies weredispersed without explanation and activists targeted. In terms of the right to freedom of associationhe expressed concern regarding the registration of organisations and theauthorities power to restructure associations to ‘promote efficiency’.
On amore global level the Special Rapporteur said that despite reporting littleimprovement in the exercise of the rights of freedom of peaceful assembly andassociation he remains optimistic due to the ‘ incredible courage anddetermination of activists and ordinary people who refuse to be cowed ordefeated, even if it means paying with their lives’.
The undersignedorganisations once again express their on-going support for the work of theSpecial Rapporteur and his team and calls on the Government of Oman to fullyco-operate with him and the UN mandate on the rights to freedom of peacefulassembly and association in addition to implement the recommendations set outin the country report.
Signatories:
Arabic Network forHuman Rights Information (ANHRI)
Cairo Institutefor Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)
CIVICUS WorldAlliance for Citizen Participation
Front Line Defenders (FLDs)
Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR)
International Federationfor Human Rights (FIDH), within the framework of the Observatory for theProtection of Human Rights Defenders
InternationalService for Human Rights (ISHR)
World OrganisationAgainst Torture (OMCT), within the framework of the Observatory for theProtection of Human Rights Defenders
