Human rights and policing peaceful protests

Introduction

States have a responsibility to facilitate and protect the right to peaceful assembly while safeguarding the rights, safety and security of all those affected. This includes participants in protests, bystanders, local residents, businesses, journalists and other observers, human rights defenders, medical personnel, and law enforcement officials.

Law enforcement has a duty to enable peaceful protests regardless of its form or type of participants (including protests that are: spontaneous, unnotified, simultaneous, long-term, or led by/involving children) and must plan for safe facilitation, adopt a content-neutral approach and apply restrictions only when strictly necessary, proportionate and well justified; peaceful protesters should not be treated as threats to public order simply because their views are critical, controversial, or unpopular.

Support

OHCHR stands ready to support States and law enforcement agencies by tailoring human rights advice and capacity-building assistance to meet the requirements and needs of these institutions, thereby strengthening their ability to respect, protect and fulfil human rights. For tailored support please contact your local OHCHR office.

The Model Protocol for Law Enforcement Officials to Promote and Protect Human Rights in the Context of Peaceful Protests is developed by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 50/21. The Model Protocol which is based on international human rights laws, standards and good practices, is an important practical tool for states to enhance the capacity and practices of law enforcement agencies to fulfil their duty to promote and protect human rights in the context of peaceful protests.

The OHCHR "Human Rights and Law Enforcement" Guidance and Training Package includes chapters, in the Manual and Training Guide, on policing assemblies that provides further guidance on how to operationalize human rights standards in the context of protests, including how to design training sessions to build skills, knowledge and attitudes to help law enforcement officials to facilitate protests and protect protests participants and law enforcement officials through a human-rights.-based approach with a focus on communication, de-escalation and building trust with stakeholders.

Policing assemblies- Manual on Human Rights and Law enforcement

The Policing assemblies chapter of the Manual on Human Rights and Law Enforcement provides practical guidance for law enforcement officials at all levels, trainers, advisers, policymaking officials and government authorities involved in ensuring effective and human rights-compliant institutions with staff who have the skills, knowledge and attitudes to respect, protect and fulfil human rights when policing assemblies, including peaceful protests. The Manual comprehensively sets out important human rights norms and standards for law enforcement officials in the context of policing assemblies and explains how these officials can apply these standards for the professional and effective performance of their functions. It also outlines recommendations for senior officers and law enforcement institutions to put in place an institutional structure that allows law enforcement officials to effectively apply the standards and good practices..

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Policing assemblies- Training Guide on Human Rights and Law Enforcement

The Training Guide chapter on policing assemblies provides methodology and guidance for trainers developing training activities aimed at strengthening skills, knowledge and attitudes of law enforcement officials in the context of assemblies. The Training Guide chapter on policing assemblies includes advice and support for trainers in designing training courses for integration of international human rights standards in public ordre management. The chapter provides examples of training objectives, sample session plans, questions and exercises with indicative answers.

Model protocol on peaceful protests

The Model Protocol for Law Enforcement Officials to Promote and Protect Human Rights in the Context of Peaceful Protests is developed by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 50/21. The aim of the Model Protocol which is based on international human rights laws, standards and good practices, is to enhance the capacity and practices of law enforcement agencies to fulfil their duty to promote and protect human rights in the context of peaceful protests.

Last updated: September 11, 2026