The right to dissent is under attack in Sri Lanka as the ruling regime uses repressive laws and brute force to silence protesters, finds a new global assessment by the CIVICUS Monitor, an online research platform that tracks fundamental freedoms in 197 countries and territories says.
A report, titled Global Assessment on Protest Rights 2022 by the CIVICUS Monitor, released last Wednesday says: “In Sri Lanka, more than a hundred people, involved in the mass protests over the economic crisis, have been arrested, including students, civil society activists and unionists. There have been reports of alleged torture and ill-treatment in detention and some people have been charged with ‘unlawful assembly’ and’ obstructing the duties of police officers’, among other offences. The government also used the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act to detain three student activists, in August 2022. Other tactics used to penalise protesters include travel bans.”
“Over the past year, economic, political and governance issues were key drivers of protests. The spike in the prices of fuel and food led to mass demonstrations against the rising cost of living. Inflation and shortage of essential goods, together with economic mismanagement, underpin poverty and inequality, which prompted numerous demonstrations, demanding governments to confront the economic crises and end corruption.”
The CIVICUS Monitor data shows that restrictions to freedom of peaceful assembly have occurred in at least 100 countries, from October 2021-September 2022. The research documents a timeline of frequent violations that take place before, during and after protests. In numerous countries, restrictive laws or emergency regulations have been deployed to make it difficult for people to protest, including the need for permits and levying fees. Authorities have also used outright bans to prevent protests from happening, often using grounds such as disturbing public order, security concerns, or public health reasons.
“In Sri Lanka, the government has, since April 2022, repeatedly used state of emergency regulations to curtail mass protests, related to the country’s economic crisis. This has allowed the authorities to arrest anLankan government suppresses peaceful protests

The right to dissent is under attack in Sri Lanka as the ruling regime uses repressive laws and brute force to silence protesters, finds a new global assessment by the CIVICUS Monitor, an online research platform that tracks fundamental freedoms in 197 countries and territories says.
A report, titled Global Assessment on Protest Rights 2022 by the CIVICUS Monitor, released last Wednesday says: “In Sri Lanka, more than a hundred people, involved in the mass protests over the economic crisis, have been arrested, including students, civil society activists and unionists. There have been reports of alleged torture and ill-treatment in detention and some people have been charged with ‘unlawful assembly’ and’ obstructing the duties of police officers’, among other offences. The government also used the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act to detain three student activists, in August 2022. Other tactics used to penalise protesters include travel bans.”
“Over the past year, economic, political and governance issues were key drivers of protests. The spike in the prices of fuel and food led to mass demonstrations against the rising cost of living. Inflation and shortage of essential goods, together with economic mismanagement, underpin poverty and inequality, which prompted numerous demonstrations, demanding governments to confront the economic crises and end corruption.”
The CIVICUS Monitor data shows that restrictions to freedom of peaceful assembly have occurred in at least 100 countries, from October 2021-September 2022. The research documents a timeline of frequent violations that take place before, during and after protests. In numerous countries, restrictive laws or emergency regulations have been deployed to make it difficult for people to protest, including the need for permits and levying fees. Authorities have also used outright bans to prevent protests from happening, often using grounds such as disturbing public order, security concerns, or public health reasons.
“In Sri Lanka, the government has, since April 2022, repeatedly used state of emergency regulations to curtail mass protests, related to the country’s economic crisis. This has allowed the authorities to arrest and detain suspects without warrants and due process safeguards. Under the state of emergency, curfews were imposed, internet access restricted and social media shut down.”
The detention of protesters is the most prevalent violation. Those exercising their fundamental freedoms have been detained in at least 92 countries over the past year. The detention periods can range from hours to indefinite. Peaceful protesters against the war in Ukraine, the solidarity for women’s rights in Iran and activists in Sri Lanka demanding a change of government, have all faced lengthy stays in detention.
Excessive force has also been a recurring theme of this year’s protests. Demonstrators have been met with water-cannons, batons, tear-gas and other acts of brute-force in over 40% of the countries recording protests. Police violence at protests has been the most prevalent in the Americas and the Asia-Pacific.
Most disturbing of all has been the unlawful killing of protesters, which has occurred in at least 24 countries. From Myanmar to the United States, protesters have died during protests. In too few of the countries, have independent investigations been conducted by the authorities and the perpetrators of the killings held accountable.
“In most regions this year, the story on protest rights is bleak. At a time when civic rights are needed more than ever to hold governments accountable, the space to protest is being heavily restricted. We need governments to respect the right to peaceful assembly, investigate abuses by security forces and work closely with civil society moving forward to halt this downward spiral and push back against the authoritarian forces at work,” said Julieta Zurbrigg, Research Advisor, CIVICUS Monitor.
Governments used law, policy, and practice to suppress peaceful and non-violent gatherings in the backdrop of rules and regulations, said the report released days before Human Rights Day observed by the international community every year on December 10. The report stated that freedom of peaceful assembly faced restrictions in at least 100 of the 197 countries across the globe.
d detain suspects without warrants and due process safeguards. Under the state of emergency, curfews were imposed, internet access restricted and social media shut down.”
The detention of protesters is the most prevalent violation. Those exercising their fundamental freedoms have been detained in at least 92 countries over the past year. The detention periods can range from hours to indefinite. Peaceful protesters against the war in Ukraine, the solidarity for women’s rights in Iran and activists in Sri Lanka demanding a change of government, have all faced lengthy stays in detention.
Excessive force has also been a recurring theme of this year’s protests. Demonstrators have been met with water-cannons, batons, tear-gas and other acts of brute-force in over 40% of the countries recording protests. Police violence at protests has been the most prevalent in the Americas and the Asia-Pacific.
Most disturbing of all has been the unlawful killing of protesters, which has occurred in at least 24 countries. From Myanmar to the United States, protesters have died during protests. In too few of the countries, have independent investigations been conducted by the authorities and the perpetrators of the killings held accountable.
“In most regions this year, the story on protest rights is bleak. At a time when civic rights are needed more than ever to hold governments accountable, the space to protest is being heavily restricted. We need governments to respect the right to peaceful assembly, investigate abuses by security forces and work closely with civil society moving forward to halt this downward spiral and push back against the authoritarian forces at work,” said Julieta Zurbrigg, Research Advisor, CIVICUS Monitor.
Governments used law, policy, and practice to suppress peaceful and non-violent gatherings in the backdrop of rules and regulations, said the report released days before Human Rights Day observed by the international community every year on December 10. The report stated that freedom of peaceful assembly faced restrictions in at least 100 of the 197 countries across the globe.