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Hundreds of protesters with signs and flags in front of a capital building.
The 2017 women's march takes place in downtown Washington D.C. with the Trump Hotel and the Capitol Building in the background. Editorial credit: G. Midford / Shutterstock.com.

Freedom of Assembly

The right to assemble peacefully is a fundamental prerequisite for any open and self-governing society. While most countries’ constitutions promise freedom of assembly, far fewer governments uphold this basic right without undue restrictions.  

hong kong anti extradition protests

Protests Erupt Around the Globe

A striking number of new citizen protest movements have emerged over the past year, reflecting the inexhaustible and universal desire for fundamental rights. However, these movements have in many cases confronted deeply entrenched interests that are able to endure considerable pressure and are willing to use deadly force to maintain power. The protests of 2019 have so far failed to halt the overall slide in global freedom, and without greater support and solidarity from established democracies, they are more likely to succumb to authoritarian reprisals. To learn more about how protests impacted the state of global freedom, read the Freedom in the World 2020 report. 

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Freedom in the World 2020 protests erupt around the globe

Freedom House in the Media:

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China's Olympian Atrocity opens in new tab

February 16, 2021

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The long arm of the authoritarian state opens in new tab

February 3, 2021

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Biden’s Uphill Battle to Hold the Internet Together opens in new tab

December 23, 2020

News & Perspectives:

Protest rally against Lukashenko, 20 September 2020. Minsk, Belarus

Belarus: Freedom House Condemns Intensifying Attacks on Human Rights Defenders and Lawyers

Press release

February 16, 2021

Protest in Lipetsk Russia January 2021

Russia: Freedom House Condemns Imprisonment of Navalny; Crackdown on Peaceful Protesters and Journalists

Press release

February 2, 2021

Hong Kong mass arrest of prodemocracy advocates

Hong Kong: Human Rights Groups Condemn Mass Arrests

Joint statement

January 8, 2021

Hong Kong Police in riot gear arrests

Hong Kong: Freedom House Condemns Mass Arrest of Prodemocracy Activists, Politicians

Press release

January 6, 2021

FIW Hong Kong hero photo

Freedom House Presents 2020 Freedom Award to Hong Kong and Sudan Protesters

Press release

September 16, 2020

belarus post-election protests

Belarus: Freedom House Condemns Violence and Election Irregularities

Press release

August 10, 2020

Featured Analysis:

Civil activists demonstrate in Nairobi outside parliament buildings over two recent parliamentary bills they say will curb hard-won freedoms and muzzle government critics. Credit: TONY KARUMBA/AFP/Getty Images.

The Spread of Anti-NGO Measures in Africa: Freedoms Under Threat

Special Report

Voices in the STreet hero photo boniface mwangi

Voices in the Streets

Special Report

Featured Experts

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Allie Funk

Senior Research Analyst, Technology and Democracy

alfunk

Jon Temin Expert Photo

Jon Temin

Director, Africa Programs

JonTemin

If you would like to interview a Freedom House expert on this topic, please email [email protected].

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