A/HRC/32/36/Add.3 523. The Special Rapporteur reminds the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic of its obligation “to respect and fully protect the rights of all individuals to… associate freely, online as well as offline… including human rights defenders… seeking to exercise or to promote these rights, and to take all necessary measures to ensure that any restrictions on the free exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association are in accordance with their obligations under international human rights law (A/HRC/RES/24/5, operative para. 2). 524. In connection with the case of Ms. Mihra Rittmann, the Director of Human Rights Watch’s Bishkek Office, the Special Rapporteur regrets that he has not received a response from the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (KGZ 4/2015). The case concerns a refusalof-entry order imposed on Ms. Rittmann for her human rights work, including at Human Rights Watch. The Special Rapporteur calls on the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic to respond to the Joint Allegation Letter sent on 22 December 2015 and in addition requests further information on whether Ms. Rittmann has subsequently been granted access to the country. 525. In relation to the case of religious minority groups, the Elchilik Jiyini Church and Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Special Rapporteur acknowledges the reply of the Government of 18 January 2016 (KGZ 3/2015). He requests the Government to provide additional information about any investigations or inquiries conducted regarding the criminal prosecutions against Jehovah’s Witnesses or their associations, as well as information on developments in ongoing cases. The Special Rapporteur reminds the Government that minority groups, such as religious groups, are persons most at risk of discrimination, unequal treatment and harassment in the context of the exercise of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association (A/HRC/26/29). 526. He recalls that the term “association” denotes “any groups of individuals or any legal entities brought together in order to collectively act, express, promote, pursue or defend a field of common interests” and that the term refers to, among others, “civil society organizations, clubs, cooperatives, NGOs, religious associations, political parties, trade unions, foundations or even online associations” (A/HRC/20/27, paras. 51 and 52). He urges the Government to recognize that the rights to both freedom of peaceful assembly and association play a significant role in the development and survival of meaningful democratic systems since they allow for an environment where minority or dissenting views or beliefs are respected and enable dialogue, pluralism, tolerance and broadmindedness. 527. The Special Rapporteur takes this opportunity to remind the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic of its positive obligation to ensure to promote a safe and enabling environment for individuals and groups to exercise their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, of expression and of association, recalls that all States have the responsibility in all circumstances, to promote, respect and protect human rights and to prevent human rights violations, including extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, arbitrary arrest and detention, enforced disappearances, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and sexual violence (A/HRC/RES/31/37, para. 1). Country visit 528. The Special Rapporteur thanks again the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic for its invitation to conduct an official visit to the country. 76