is a fundamental human right that empowers individuals to voluntarily group together to pursue common goals, interests, or beliefs. It is a cornerstone of democratic societies and a prerequisite for the exercise of many other civil, cultural, and political rights. Core Definition and Scope
: Individuals have the autonomy to choose which groups to belong to. freedom of association
While freedom of association is a fundamental right, it is not absolute. States may impose certain restrictions on the exercise of this right to protect other important interests, such as: is a fundamental human right that empowers individuals
Like most rights, freedom of association is not absolute. Democratic societies place specific, narrow limits on this freedom to protect the rights of others. Groups can generally be restricted or banned if they: While freedom of association is a fundamental right,
However, these restrictions must be . A government cannot ban an environmental group simply because they protest government policy; that is an abuse of power, not a legitimate restriction.