A/HRC/32/36/Add.1 I. Introduction 1. Pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 24/5, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai, conducted an official visit to Chile from 21 to 30 September 2015, at the invitation of the Government. The purpose of the visit was to carry out an in-depth assessment of the situation relating to the freedoms of peaceful assembly and of association in the country. 2. The Special Rapporteur would like to thank the Government of Chile for its exemplary cooperation in organizing this visit — his first to the Americas — particularly in the light of the earthquake that struck Chile on 16 September 2015. This demonstrates the Government’s willingness to engage in a constructive dialogue on issues pertaining to the mandate. He also commends the Government for extending a standing invitation to all special procedures mandate holders and for having accommodated the visits of four special procedures mandate holders since July 2013. 3. During his visit, the Special Rapporteur travelled to Santiago, Valparaiso, Temuco and Copiapo. He had fruitful exchanges with the President of Chile, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Defence, the Minister Secretary-General of the Presidency, representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, the Interior and Public Security, Education, and Labour and Social Security, as well as with the Public Prosecutor, the General Director of the Carabineros de Chile (the national police), the General Director of the Investigations Police of Chile, the President of the Supreme Court, the Vice-President and representatives of the Senate, representatives of the Chamber of Deputies, and the Chairs and representatives of the Commission for the Constitution, Legislation and Justice, and the Commission for Human Rights and Indigenous peoples of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies respectively. He had similar exchanges with local authorities in Temuco and Copiapo. 4. The Special Rapporteur also met with the Director of the National Institute for Human Rights (Instituto Nacional de Derechos Humanos) (INDH) and her team, whose assistance in the framework of this visit and expertise on issues pertaining to the mandate was greatly appreciated. 5. In addition, the Special Rapporteur met with brave and committed human rights activists, including members of civil society organizations, Mapuche leaders, student leaders and members of trade unions who are engaged in critically important work to strengthen democracy and human rights in Chile. He also met with farmers and truck owners in Temuco. 6. Finally, the Special Rapporteur met with representatives of the diplomatic community and the United Nations country team. A. Historical and political background 7. From 1973 to 1990, Chile was ruled by the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet — an era marked by brutal State-sponsored atrocities. During that period, over 30,000 individuals were killed, forcibly disappeared, imprisoned and/or tortured. The Special Rapporteur pays tribute to all the victims and their loved ones who lived through this ordeal. During his trip, he visited the Museum of Memory and Human Rights and was deeply moved and humbled by the heroism of the people of Chile during this dark chapter of the country’s history. 8. The Special Rapporteur commends Chile for the enormous strides it has made since its return to democracy 25 years ago. The country epitomizes the “democracy dividend” — 3