A/HRC/17/2 17/120 Panel on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protests At its 35th meeting, on 17 June 2011, the Human Rights Council decided to adopt the following text: “The Human Rights Council, Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and relevant international human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Reaffirming also that, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, States Members of the United Nations have pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, Recognizing that, pursuant to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, of expression and of association are human rights guaranteed to all, while their exercise may be subject to certain restrictions, in accordance with the State’s obligations under applicable international human rights instruments, Stressing therefore that everyone must be able to express their grievances through public and peaceful protests without fear of being injured, beaten, detained, tortured or killed, Stressing also that peaceful protests should not be viewed as a threat, and therefore encouraging States faced with peaceful protests to engage in an open, inclusive and meaningful national dialogue, Recalling that when peaceful protests occur, States have the responsibility to promote and protect human rights and to prevent human rights violations, in particular extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Recognizing therefore the need to reflect on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protests, 1. Decides to convene, within existing resources, at its eighteenth session, a panel discussion on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protests, with a particular focus on the ways and means to improve the protection of these rights in such contexts in line with international human rights law; 2. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to liaise with relevant special procedures, States and other stakeholders, including relevant United Nations bodies and agencies, with a view to ensuring their participation in the panel discussion; GE.12-13630 87