From the 8-hour workday to women being able to vote, many of the rights and liberties we enjoy today weren't given to us voluntarily. Instead, we have activists to thank, who fought tooth and nail to challenge the status quo and demand social change.

Liberties’ Rule Of law Report 2023 shows that civil society continues to be given the cold shoulder by EU governments in 2022. This hostility feeds negative public perceptions of activists and contributes to the increasing dangers they face.

Press Release

Freedom of assembly is an essential component of every democracy. It gives citizens the opportunity to get information and to express their opinions. However, in recent years it has been facing increasing pressure.

A court order finally allowed Kaunas Pride to take place, after the municipal government repeatedly refused to approve organizers' plans.

Marginalization occurs when a person or groups of people are less able to do things or access basic services or opportunities. But we have the power to create a freer, more just society.

On 3rd November 2020, the Hungarian Government declared a state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Authoritarians in Hungary, Poland and Slovenia abused the pandemic to continue eroding democratic standards, but traditionally strong democracies also disappoint.

Free assembly is vital to democracy. It shouldn't come as much of a surprise, then, that authoritarian governments in Europe are restricting this right in illegitimate ways.

If a restrictive new act on public gatherings on national holidays is accepted, the Hungarian government will have found another way to seriously restrict freedom of assembly, according to the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union.