Skip to main content
Accessibility
Freedom House Logo - Torch next to words Freedom House

Primary Navigation

  • Our Issues
  • Perspectives
  • Policy Recommendations
  • Explore the Map
Expanding Freedom and Democracy

Quicklinks

  • Events
  • Perspectives Blog
  • Find A Country
  • Explore The Map
  • Careers

Mega Menu

  • Our Issues
    • Authoritarian Reach
    • Technology & Democracy
    • Promoting U.S. Leadership
    • Democracies in Decline
    • Election Integrity
    • Equality & Human Rights
    • Government Accountability & Transparency
    • Strengthening Civil Society
    • Media Freedom
    • Religious Freedom
    • Freedom of Expression
    • Freedom of Assembly
    • Democracy During Pandemic
  • Programs
    • Afghanistan Human Rights Coordination Mechanism
    • Political Prisoners Initiative
    • Regional Programs
    • Emergency Assistance and Thematic Programs
  • Countries
  • Events
    • Reimagining American Democracy
  • Policy Recommendations
    • Testimony and Advocacy Letters
  • Reports
    • Freedom in the World
    • Freedom on the Net
    • Nations in Transit
    • Beijing’s Global Media Influence
    • China Media Bulletin
    • Hong Kong Media Bulletin
    • China Dissent Monitor
    • Election Watch for the Digital Age
    • Transnational Repression
    • Archives
  • Perspectives Blog
  • News Releases & Statements
  • About Us
    • History
    • Our Experts
    • Board and Leadership
    • Ways to Give
    • Financials
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • Manage Subscriptions
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. 

Read More
Freedom in the World 2020 protests erupt around the globe

Freedom House in the Media:

South China Morning Post logo

How Beijing’s belligerence over Taiwan is connected to a Belt and Road Initiative in distress opens in new tab

August 15, 2022

forbes logo

LinkedIn Profiles Indicate 300 Current TikTok And ByteDance Employees Used To Work For Chinese State Media—And Some Still Do opens in new tab

August 11, 2022

NBC Logo

Pelosi says Taiwan trip 'worth it,' calls Xi 'a scared bully' opens in new tab

August 9, 2022

News & Perspectives:

Freedom House

China: Despite Restrictions, Citizens Conducted Hundreds of Protests Across China in Recent Months

Press release

November 14, 2022
Students of Amir Kabir university protest against Hijab and the Islamic Republic

Iranian People Deserve Freedoms of Assembly, Speech, Information

Press release

September 27, 2022

Belarus Protest

Belarus: Freedom House Stands with Citizens, Civil Society on Anniversary of Fraudulent Elections, Regime Crackdown

Press release

August 9, 2022

Tunisian president Kais Saied

Tunisia: Saied’s Draft Constitution Is an Assault on Checks and Balances, Political Pluralism

Press release

July 22, 2022

Freedom House

Joint Statement on Egypt Civic Space ahead of COP27

Joint statement

July 14, 2022

Cumartesi Anneleri / Saturday Mothers gather in Galatasaray Square, Istanbul, Turkey

Turkey: Detention of Saturday Mothers Represents Arbitrary, Unlawful Crackdown on Peaceful Dissent

Press release

June 27, 2022

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

Allie Funk Expert Photo

Allie Funk

Research Director for Technology and Democracy

alfunk

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

Be the first to know what's happening.

Join the Freedom House weekly newsletter

Subscribe

Footer Main Menu

  • Our Issues
  • Countries
  • Policy Recommendations
  • Explore the Map
  • Donate
  • News & Perspectives
  • Reports
  • Events
  • About
  • Careers

Address

1850 M St. NW Floor 11
Washington, DC 20036

(202) 296-5101

General Inquiries

[email protected]

Press & Media

[email protected]

Footer Social Menu

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Footer

  • Manage Subscriptions
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Content Permissions
  • Site Map
@2023 FreedomHouse