Governments must embrace and enable social movements as key partners in “Building Back Better”: UN expert

NEW YORK (28 October 2022) – Faced with multiple and compounding crises, governments must embrace and enable social movements as essential partners as they ‘build back better’, a UN expert said today.

“In a time of unprecedented global crisis, the world needs new approaches and more inclusive governance,” said Clément Voule, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.

Voule, who presented his report to the General Assembly said social movements were at the forefront of efforts to foster social engagement, democratic participation and responsive governance. “As drivers of change, these movements have made invaluable contributions to individual, collective and societal wellbeing,” the expert said.

Voule’s report explained that the Occupy movement fought for more egalitarian socioeconomic policies worldwide, while the #MeToo global movement has empowered victims of sexual harassment and increased calls for accountability and the Black Lives Matter movement has drawn attention to racist policies and widespread, systematic abuse around the world. The youth-led Fridays for Future movement has drawn international attention to climate change, the report said.

“Still, too many States are hindering these movements, through restrictive legislation, harassment against their leaders and responding excessively to large-scale protests, including by declaring emergency or martial law,” the UN expert said.

The Special Rapporteur urged States to treat social movements as partners, recognising the essential contributions they make to the functioning of healthy, prosperous and safe societies.

“Now is a time when their potential is needed most to help combat and overcome the many grave challenges the world faces,” Voule told the General Assembly. He said social movements were crucial actors for the attainment of inclusive and sustainable development, and the 2030 Agenda.

“I am deeply concerned by the growing suppression of social movements by both State and non-State actors. Participants in these movements are being targeted and silenced, unlawfully convicted or tortured for their work in support of the construction of more just and egalitarian societies,” Voule said.

The Special Rapporteur urged governments to guarantee the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association at all times and in all contexts in order to foster the essential contribution of social movements to address contemporary challenges.

“States must create a safe and enabling space, develop inclusive policy processes and develop partnerships with such movements in order to enable members of these movements to effectively advocate for change at every level,” Voule said.