A/HRC/44/50/Add.2 (e) Ensure that all law enforcement officers receive systematic training on the proper management of assemblies and use of force, especially in the context of demonstrations, and the employment of non-violent means for crowd control; (f) Ensure that all allegations of excessive use of force against protesters by the security forces are promptly, thoroughly and independently investigated, that the alleged perpetrators are prosecuted and sanctioned and that adequate remedy is provided to the victims; (g) Ensure that those monitoring assemblies, including journalists, media workers and human rights defenders, are allowed to do so and are protected at all times during assemblies and that violations are duly investigated; (h) Take the necessary measures to address online hate speech; (i) Refrain from introducing restrictions on access to and the use of the Internet, including shutdowns. 125. With regard to the right to freedom of association, the Special Rapporteur recommends that the Government: (a) Amend the Private Voluntary Organizations Act in full consultation with civil society and other relevant stakeholders and avoid enacting regressive legislation in the future. In particular to: (i) Adopt a regime of declaration or notification whereby an organization is considered a legal entity as soon as it has notified its existence to the regulating authorities; (ii) Ensure that the registration procedure for national and international organizations is more simple and expeditious; (iii) Abolish the practice of using memorandums of understanding that render the operation of associations burdensome and limit their autonomy and independence; (iv) Avoid interference in the activities of organizations through the use of inspectors; (v) Alleviate reporting requirements; (vi) Facilitate the ability of organizations to access funding and resources without interference; (vii) Avoid the use of excessive sanctions, particularly incarceration, for omissions in law; (b) Ensure that all administrative authorities at the national and local levels that are responsible for implementing the right to association receive training on international human rights standards in order to create a favourable and enabling environment for civil society; (c) Engage in meaningful consultation with civil society on all relevant legislation, including at the policy, drafting, review and implementation stages, particularly when such initiatives could affect the rights or obligations of associations, including trade unions; (d) Avoid interfering with the functioning of organizations and ensure that they are able to hold private meetings without the need to inform the police or any other authority about the holding of such meetings and without the presence of any government authority; (e) Increase efforts to ensure that a meaningful proportion of public funds is allocated, in an accessible, transparent and inclusive way, to a wide range of civil society organizations representing diverse views of society; (f) Continue enlarging the civic space for a wide range of civil society actors by combating hate speech and incitement to hatred, and condemn the use of 19

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