HRC44 - NB8 statement - SR on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association

Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur

on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association

10 July 2020

Statement by Lithuania on behalf of the Nordic & Baltic countries

Thank you President.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Norway, Sweden and my own country Lithuania.

We thank the Special Rapporteur for his valuable work and express our full support for his mandate.

We firmly believe that the fundamental freedoms of peaceful assembly and of association, both online and offline, are indispensable pillars of democratic governance and open societies.

As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the mandate, we are pleased to note the important achievements during last decade, including setting out progressive standards, providing practical assistance and engaging with civil society.

We are deeply concerned by the shrinking civil society space in some parts of the world both before and during Covid-19.

As rightly pointed out in your report, the effectiveness of measures to defeat the pandemic depends on the ability to secure people’s participation and trust. Regrettably, many governments around the world choose to use the crisis to silence independent voices and increase their own power. We urge governments to follow your recommendation to collaborate with civil society to counter the negative effects of the pandemic.

Could you please elaborate on possible steps that are needed to maintain and strengthen the openness of civic space?

Thank you.