A/HRC/22/39 security forces or of reacting to serious human rights violations, including those committed on 28 September 2009. In addition, excessive use of force and the large number of arbitrary arrests during public demonstrations remain a major concern. Regarding economic and social rights, Government efforts to fight financial crime and foster good economic governance have had little effect on the population’s standard of living in terms of access to basic social services and essential products, such as water, electricity and food. A. Right to peaceful assembly, freedom of association, and excessive use of force by security forces 11. Despite greater freedom to engage in political and trade union activities and join associations, restrictions on the right of peaceful assembly are a cause for concern. The tense political situation led to a resurgence of demonstrations which were at times put down by security forces. 12. Guinean law permits peaceful public gatherings on prior notification of municipal authorities. They can be banned only for reasons of public order and security owing to their effects on the enjoyment of other fundamental freedoms, especially during elections. 13. On 31 May 2012, by a decision of the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, the Government prohibited marches of a political nature until further notice. The decision, although justifiable given the possibility of unrest arising from the opposition party marches, in fact amounted to a breach of the right to peaceful assembly as it was general, non-specific and not time-bound. The prohibition was lifted on 12 September following talks between the Government and the various parties, in response to the President’s plea to observe freedoms during protests, and the right to demonstrate. 14. The administrative authorities in Conakry banned other demonstrations, contrary to the recommendations Guinea had accepted at the universal periodic review to guarantee the unfettered exercise of the right to peaceful assembly during elections. Banned demonstrations included those planned for 10 May and 27 August in Conakry. 15. OHCHR observed that some opposition marches were infiltrated by violent agitators, obliging security forces to intervene to restore order. Demonstrators were seen throwing objects at security forces and erecting barricades in the streets, and violent clashes erupted between opposition militants and those loyal to the President, for example during the marches in Conakry on 20 and 21 September. 16. These interventions by the forces of law and order have been labelled as excessive use of force owing to their frequency, their scale and the methods used, in particular the use of lethal weapons to control public demonstrations. The disproportionate use of force, often not justified by the circumstances, has in some cases led to death or serious injury, including from gunfire. The student protest held in Kindia on 26 February following the death of one of their peers, for example, was violently put down by the gendarmerie and two people were injured by gunfire. On 10 May, a banned opposition protest in Conakry was violently broken up by security forces using live ammunition; according to medical sources at least 22 were wounded, including several by gunfire. At least six people were shot dead and several more injured in a clash between security forces and local people in Zoghota on 4 August. On 7 August in Siguiri, one person died of injuries from a lethal weapon, incurred during a protest against rising crime. On 21 September, one demonstrator was killed and two others seriously wounded when security forces opened fire on an opposition protest in the Ratoma district of Conakry. 17. Although the Government accepted the recommendation of the universal periodic review to take all necessary measures to end the excessive use of force by security forces, 6 GE.13-10258