Protest

The right of all people to express their ideas and opinions through the medium of protest, in any form, is guaranteed through a number of core international human rights provisions, including the right to free expression. Protests are an essential way for individuals to express dissent and grievances, to share views and opinions, to expose flaws in governance and to publicly demand that the authorities and other powerful entities are accountable for their actions. Protests provide people with an opportunity to have a say in public life.

They have historically inspired positive social change and improved protection of human rights. They continue to form an essential part of public debate and expression in all parts of the world and can take many forms both in the physical and online space.  Yet governments around the world too often treat protests as either an inconvenience to be controlled or a threat to be extinguished. Despite their obligations to promote, protect and respect the right to protest, governments frequently use excessive force, arbitrary arrest and detention and other forms of intimidation and harassment to prevent or crack down on protest rights, particularly those critical of government actions.

Human Rights Council: states must reject proposed amendments to resolution on peaceful protest
27.03.2014 4 min read

Human Rights Council: states must reject proposed amendments to resolution on peaceful protest

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Venezuela: Government must take concrete actions to enable dialogue
21.03.2014 3 min read

Venezuela: Government must take concrete actions to enable dialogue

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15.03.2014 32 min read

Kazakhstan UPR: ARTICLE 19 & PEN International Joint Submission

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15.03.2014 20 min read

ARTICLE 19 Individual Submission to the UPR of Egypt

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Myanmar: Need for permission dropped in assembly amendment
14.03.2014 3 min read

Myanmar: Need for permission dropped in assembly amendment

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11.03.2014 3 min read

Joint Statement: On the promotion and protection of civic space

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Russia: Crackdown starts as Sochi ends
24.02.2014 2 min read

Russia: Crackdown starts as Sochi ends

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Venezuela: Government must put an end to the repression of protesters and guarantee free flow of information
21.02.2014 2 min read

Venezuela: Government must put an end to the repression of protesters and guarantee free flow of information

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Cambodia: UN human rights review as protest crackdown continues
27.01.2014 5 min read

Cambodia: UN human rights review as protest crackdown continues

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