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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

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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.  

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

August 15, 2022

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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

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

August 9, 2022

News & Perspectives:

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Afghanistan: Call for justice, accountability, and effective response to ongoing violations and gender persecution

Joint statement

August 15, 2023
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On World’s Indigenous Peoples Day, NGOs Renew Call for Release of Nasser Zefzafi from Detention in Morocco

Joint statement

August 9, 2023
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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

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

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Voices in the Streets

Special Report

Featured Experts

Allie Funk

Allie Funk

Research Director for Technology and Democracy

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