A/HRC/DEC/17/120 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; 3. Also requests the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a report on the outcome of the panel discussion in the form of a summary.” 35th meeting 17 June 2011 [Adopted without a vote.] 2