On 20 October 2016, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai, presented his last report to the United Nations General Assembly.

In his report, the rapporteur emphasizes the deteriorating labour relations across the world but insists that labour rights are human rights!

Since they enable people to voice and represent their interests, “Freedom of peaceful assembly and association are foundational rights precisely because they are essential to human dignity, economic empowerment, sustainable development and democracy. They are the gateway to all other rights; without them, all other human and civil rights are in jeopardy.”

The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association are expressly recognized in all major international and regional human rights instruments. Among others, the report underlines the obligation for States to respect, protect and facilitate the enjoyment of the right of association for the purpose of joining trade unions – as underscored by the Special Rapporteur in his presentation.

Finally, the report contains important recommendations to States, businesses, civil society including trade unions, ILO, UN and multilateral financial institutions that should be adopted and implemented by all involved stakeholders.

Mr. Kiai is the first Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and held the position from 2011 to 2016. The mandate was however renewed in September 2016 for three years. The new mandate-holder has been invited “to consider addressing (…) the topic of professional associations, including the role of professional associations in the promotion and protection of all human rights, the realization of development efforts, and building and maintaining a democratic society, and also including how States and other relevant stakeholders may promote, create and maintain conditions conducive to the development and activities of professional associations”. 

EUROMIL recalls that as a “Citizen in Uniform”, a soldier is entitled to the same rights and obligations as any other citizen and should fully exercise this right to set up and join trade-unions and professional associations. Once appointed, the new Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association will certainly be informed by the organisation about the important role professional military associations play as human rights defenders!