Around the world, people are raising their voices against injustice. However, a rise in authoritarian populism, deep societal divisions and weak institutions are all contributing to a disturbing trend: increased violence against peaceful protests.
Specialised law enforcement equipment is increasingly used to suppress dissent. A lack of understanding about both this equipment and the legal frameworks that govern its use hinders efforts to hold authorities accountable.
The consequences of the unlawful use of force against peaceful protesters include:
- Physical and psychological harm: Though frequently referred to as ‘less lethal’ or ‘non-lethal’, the weapons used to suppress protests can cause serious injury (potentially amounting to torture or other ill-treatment) or even death.
- Chilling Effect: People stay away from future protests due to fear, undermining freedom of speech and assembly.
- Erosion of Trust: Excessive police violence weakens public confidence in law enforcement and tarnishes the good work of lawful officers.
- Impunity: Unpunished incidents create a culture of impunity, where abusive practices become entrenched and victims are deterred from coming forward to report abuse.
- Weakened Democracy: By stifling public discourse, governments prevent citizens from holding them accountable, which is a cornerstone of democracy.
We work with a range of groups, including civil society organisations, journalists and judicial actors to protect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly:
- Empowering Journalists: We collaborate with journalists to ensure accurate reporting on the use of force during protests.
- Training Independent Monitors: We enable protest monitors to objectively document law enforcement crowd control tactics and identify potential abuses.
- Monitoring Missions: We join forces with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and participate in protest monitoring missions, contributing to stronger international oversight.
- Justice Through Law: We support strategic litigation efforts with expert reports, helping achieve justice for protestors and deterring future human rights violations.
