A/HRC/31/66 I. Introduction 1. Assemblies in various forms play a prominent role in the world today, presenting new opportunities and challenges. A clear understanding of the applicable international human rights law and standards, and of the lessons learned in the management of assemblies over time, can help to protect the legitimate interests of everyone involved — assembly participants, bystanders, monitors and authorities. 2. The Human Rights Council has dedicated increasing attention to the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of assemblies. 1 In March 2014, it adopted resolution 25/38, in which it requested the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions to prepare a compilation of practical recommendations for the proper management of assemblies.2 3. In developing those recommendations, the special rapporteurs consulted extensively with relevant stakeholders, as requested by the Council, via questionnaire and participatory consultation. The special rapporteurs held four consultations with State representatives, 3 and four regional consultations with civil society, national human rights institutions, regional human rights mechanisms and policing and other experts. 4 A nine-member advisory panel was convened and has provided feedback to the special rapporteurs at various stages of the process.5 4. This compilation is aimed at providing guidance on how applicable international human rights standards may be operationalized in domestic law and practice to ensure greater protection of the rights involved. The recommendations are organized around 10 overarching principles, and in each section are preceded by a summary of applicable international standards. The recommendations have been developed with reference to global experience and lessons learned. II. The proper management of assemblies 5. The ability to assemble and act collectively is vital to democratic, economic, social and personal development, to the expression of ideas and to fostering engaged citizenry. Assemblies can make a positive contribution to the development of democratic systems and, alongside elections, play a fundamental role in public participation, holding governments accountable and expressing the will of the people as part of the democratic processes. 1 2 3 4 5 See A/HRC/19/40, A/HRC/22/28, and A/HRC/25/32 and Corr.1. The assistance of Eleanor Jenkin and Kathleen Hardy in writing this report is acknowledged with gratitude. The first meeting was held in Geneva in June 2015. As a result of a request made by States during that meeting, regional consultations were held for States from Africa and the Middle East (Pretoria) and the Asia and Pacific region (Istanbul, Turkey). A final consultation for all States was convened in Geneva in October 2015, which 54 States attended. These consultations took place in Santiago (Americas and the Caribbean), Pretoria (Africa and Middle East), Istanbul, Turkey (Asia and the Pacific) and Geneva (Europe and Central Asia). More than 90 experts participated in the consultations. The members of the advisory panel are: Otto Adang; Stuart Casey-Maslen; Gastón Chillier; Anara Ibraeva; Asma Jahangir; Neil Jarman; Nicholas Opiyo; Ambiga Sreenevasan; and Jürg Wichtermann. 3