Protect Protest
Let's defend the right to protest peacefully and support movements for human rights.
Amnesty International's 'Protect Protest' campaign fights for freedom of peaceful assembly and expression. The right to protest is protected by international human rights law, regardless of the cause. Authorities have a duty to respect, protect, and facilitate peaceful demonstrations.
The right to protest is a human right
The right to protest is intrinsically linked to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, both fundamental human rights. Protests are protected by international law, regardless of the reason for the demonstration. Authorities must ensure that people can exercise this right safely and without fear of retaliation.
State authorities' obligations
State authorities play a crucial role in ensuring the right to peaceful protest. They have a duty to respect, protect, and facilitate demonstrations. This means refraining from undue interference with protests and adopting measures to protect demonstrators from any threats or violence.
Amnesty International's demands
Amnesty International calls for an end to illegal mass surveillance and targeted surveillance that violates the right to privacy and restricts freedom of expression. The organisation also urges the amendment of overly restrictive legislation that limits civic space, particularly that which illegally limits freedom of expression rights. It is essential to end arbitrary detention and the criminalisation of demonstrators, as well as the illegal use of force by police forces.
What you can do
- Support Amnesty International's 'Protect Protest' campaign.
- Call on authorities to respect, protect, and facilitate peaceful protests.
- Oppose illegal mass surveillance and targeted surveillance.
- Sign Amnesty International petitions calling for an end to arbitrary detention of demonstrators.
- Call on private companies to respect the right to protest by opposing online censorship.
Protecting the right to protest in Italy
Amnesty International Italia launches an appeal to "Protect the right to protest in Italy", highlighting how the government is dismantling piece by piece the right to peaceful protest.
On 4 June 2025, the Senate approved the final text of the Security Decree (ddl Sicurezza), converted into law on 9 June 2025, n.80, after approval by the Chamber on 29 May. This follows the "Rave party decree" of December 2022 and Law n.6 of 22 January 2024 against eco-vandals, which tightened rules on gatherings and introduced administrative sanctions. "Foggi di via" (leave-town orders) are used in an intimidatory manner, and the new decree incorporates provisions contested by Amnesty International Italia, such as body cameras without identification codes, criminal liability for road blockades with imprisonment and fines, the extension of urban DASPO (sport bans), and the introduction of the crime of revolt in prison, pre-removal centres (CPR), and hotspots.
What Amnesty asks
Amnesty International Italia demands that police forces use force as a last resort and proportionately, that alphanumeric identification codes be introduced for officers, and that adequate training be ensured. It further demands that accusations of human rights violations be investigated promptly and impartially, that 'less lethal' weapons be used only in situations of widespread violence, and that advance notification for demonstrations be treated as notice, not a requirement, protecting also spontaneous protests.
Content reported from amnesty.it.
Take action now
Join the campaign with your Amnesty group in Lazio.
AI-generated content verified against Amnesty International's official sources. Last updated: 2026-04-19
