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Statement by Permanent Representative of Lithuania H.E. Ambassador Rytis Paulauskas 20th Session of the Human Rights Council Geneva, 19 June, 2012 ID with the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of associationThank you, Madam President, Lithuania welcomes Special Rapporteur Mr. Maina Kiai and would like to express our appreciation for his first report to this Council. It was a great honor for my country jointly with the Czech Republic, Indonesia, the Maldives, Mexico and Nigeria and the United States to participate in elaboration and introduction of the resolution on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association at the 15th session of the Human Rights Council.

As true foundations of democracy, the right to assemble and the right to freedom of association are guaranteed by major human rights treaties, national constitutions and laws. Protection of these rights is crucial for creating a tolerant society in which groups with different beliefs, practices, or policies can exist peacefully together.

We fully concur with the position stressed in the report that States have both positive and negative obligations to ensure the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. However, implementation of these obligations often faces challenges in practice.

In many regions people have marched to the streets to voice their concern, to express their standpoint, simply to say that they do not want to be removed from decision-making. In many cases peaceful protesters have been met with brutal force. Police frequently disperse – sometimes using unnecessary or excessive force – peaceful public rallies by civil society activists and the political opposition. New laws have been established to create severe obstacles for peaceful protesters. New and restrictive laws are being justified by the authorities in the name of security. We are witnessing increasing attacks on the right to freedom of assembly. We are witnessing disregard both for freedom of assembly and civil society.

We share the Special Rapporteur’s concerns about restricted rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association in Belarus. Since the December 2010 elections, the human rights situation in this country has further deteriorated, particularly the rights to freedoms of association, assembly and expression. Authorities constantly refused to authorize peaceful demonstrations, “silent protests” and other peaceful protest actions were cracked down, their participants sentenced to fines and prison sentences. Freedom of association and assembly was further tightened by adoption of the restrictive amendments to the laws on mass event and public associations.

Our delegation believes that this report will initiate the discussion on the basic guiding principles in relation to the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association as it was suggested in one of the recommendations by the Special Rapporteur.

Overall, Lithuania strongly supports excellent work of the Special Rapporteur and urges the international community to continue highlighting the significant human rights concerns about the violation of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.