Geneva Academy
26 June 2018
In the framework of the Geneva Human Rights Platform and its focus on human rights and freedoms in the digital age, the Geneva Academy hosted an informal consultation with the new United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association Clément Voule and civil society.
During this meeting, around 30 civil society representatives discussed the challenges pertaining to freedom of association and assembly online, including matters related to surveillance, the role of host providers, recent restrictions that result to the shrinking of civic space, and whether it’s still necessary to maintain the online-offline dichotomy.
The Geneva Human Rights Platform provides a dynamic forum for all stakeholders in the field of human rights – experts, practitioners, diplomats and civil society – to discuss and debate topical issues and challenges. Relying on academic research and findings, it aims at enabling various actors to become better connected, break down silos and, hence, advance human rights.
In this context, we notably focus on human rights and freedoms in the digital age and support the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.

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