Human rights and policing peaceful protests

Introduction

A fundamental task of any law enforcement agency is the maintenance of public order. It can be a particularly challenging situation for law enforcement officials when individual persons or groups engage in protests or other types of display of discontent that may challenge public order. In such situations law enforcement officials must carefully assess the circumstances, including any human rights-related issues. States are responsible for ensuring the rights and security of everyone within their jurisdiction, including those who express their demands or publicly display other types of discontent. The response to public assemblies in terms of legislation and procedures, including law enforcement, must conform to international human rights standards.

Participants in public assemblies have a number of protected rights, including rights to: freedom of peaceful assembly, expression, association and belief; participation in the conduct of public affairs; bodily integrity, which includes the rights to security, to be free from cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and to life; dignity; privacy; and an effective remedy for all human rights violations. Moreover, these rights collectively serve as a vehicle to a series of other rights and serve as essential components of any democracy by empowering people, including minority and marginalized groups who may otherwise be restricted from expressing themselves, to express their political or other opinions and engage in religious, cultural, economic, social and other activities.

Law enforcement officials must actively facilitate and protect the rights and freedoms of participants while also ensuring the rights and safety of the public. This entails protecting peaceful participants from others who may wish to interrupt them and ensuring that even spontaneous peaceful assemblies are supported, if they do not infringe on the rights of others. Law enforcement officials must take measures to ensure that assemblies remain peaceful, and do not induce fear, intimidation or any serious disruptions that could negatively impact on the rights of others. This balance between rights must be carefully considered and approached by law enforcement officials and local governance officials through transparency and impartial dialogue with all involved stakeholders.

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 or contact: Johan Olhagen, Adviser on human rights and security forces, OHCHR Headquarters, Geneva - email: johan.olhagen@un.org)

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..

manual-hr-for-law-enforcement-officials-ch9.pdf

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: March 13, 2026