By A Correspondent- The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of freedom of peaceful assembly and association, Mr Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, will be in Zimbabwe on an official visit from 17 to 27 September this year.

Nyaletsossi Voule’s visit is by invitation of the government of Zimbabwe.

In a statement, The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner outlined some of the issues the Special Rapporteur will assess:

“– Legal frameworks in place to guarantee the exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association (including key cases from the judiciary);

– Procedural and practical measures for holding peaceful assemblies, including issues of authorisation versus notification and access to public spaces; legal and practical limitations to the exercise of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly;

– Facilitation and management of assemblies by law enforcement officials, including relevant guidelines and training; internal and external oversight mechanism in case of excessive use of force by law enforcement officials

… During the visit, in addition to government authorities, the Special Rapporteur wishes to meet with independent institutions working on human rights, civil society actors, human rights defenders and other stakeholders working on the rights of freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.”