A NOTE FROM THE CIVICUS PROTEST LAB INNOVATORS:

Freedom of peaceful assembly is a fundamental right that enables people to come together, express collective concerns and demand accountability. Across the world, this right is increasingly restricted, minimised and eroded through repression tactics designed to deter participation such as arrests, intimidation, surveillance and torture. Yet the ability to organise and gather remains essential to democratic life and social justice. Even in restrictive environments, people and communities continue to find safe and viable ways to assemble, recognising that collective action is both a right and a necessity. We gather not only to make our voices heard, but to honour those who struggled before us, to protect the present, and to safeguard the future. And at the heart of every act of assembly is hope, hope that change is possible, hope that solidarity can overcome fear, and hope, again and again, that collective courage can shape a more just and humane world.

This guide seeks to support planning of coordinated, effective and safe protest actions. It provides practical guidance for people who want to organise or participate in peaceful assemblies across diverse political and legal contexts. It is structured in three parts: before, during and after a protest. Each section contains practical guidance, case studies and exercises drawn from real-world scenarios. Each exercise includes instructions for individual or group use and can be adapted to different contexts.