Report of the United Nations high Commissioner for Human Rights on the impact of new technologies on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of assemblies, including peaceful protests (A/HRC/44/2)

Summary

In the present report, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights focuses on new technologies, including information and communications technology, and their impact on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of assemblies, including peaceful protests. Given the importance of the enjoyment of the right of peaceful assembly for democracies, it is concluded in the report that every effort should be made to ensure full enjoyment of this right. Certain new technologies can be enablers for the exercise of the right of peaceful assembly. At the same time, the use of some such technologies to surveil or crack down on protesters can lead to human rights violations, including infringement of the right to peaceful assembly. Regulatory frameworks that are in line with human rights norms and standards are needed to avoid unlawful limitations by Governments on the right of peaceful
assembly and related rights.