In a pressing appeal issued on Friday, United Nations and other regional human rights authorities have strongly urged governments worldwide to cease the criminalization of civil society activists and peaceful protestors. This call to action comes amid increasing concerns over arbitrary arrests and the stifling of dissent across various nations.

The experts released a comprehensive joint declaration, highlighting the critical need to safeguard the freedoms of assembly and association—cornerstones of democratic societies. They warned that treating these rights as threats jeopardizes the very foundations of public participation and accountability, potentially leading to greater public mistrust and social fragmentation.

Recent legislative actions in several countries have raised alarms. Notably, in 2024, Georgia enacted the controversial "Foreign Agents" law, mandating organizations with over 20% foreign funding to register as foreign influencers. This move, mirrored in nations like Russia, Türkiye, Egypt, and Belarus, has been widely criticized for undermining civil society and curtailing press freedom under the pretext of curbing external influence.

The UN experts condemned the growing trend of labeling activists and NGOs as "enemies" or "traitors," which they argue falsely stigmatizes legitimate democratic engagement. They emphasized that such practices contravene international legal standards, specifically Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which staunchly protects the rights to peaceful assembly and association without undue restrictions.

Reports indicate a troubling surge in the repression of human rights defenders globally. Many individuals have been detained without proper legal proceedings, facing severe penalties for their non-violent and lawful activities. Moreover, numerous human rights organizations have been coerced into shutting down or losing funding.

The declaration serves as a crucial reminder of the international community's commitment under the UN Charter to uphold peace and human rights universally. The experts’ unified stance sends a clear message to all states: to maintain a resilient and inclusive democracy, the fundamental rights of freedom of assembly and association must not only be recognized but actively protected.