...Of all the civic space violations recorded on the CIVICUS Monitor, close to 44.8 per cent, over 1,350 civic space incidents, related to freedom of expression. Over 900 violations, 29 per cent of total violations, were recorded in the area of freedom of peaceful assembly, while violations of freedom of association constituted 26.6 per cent, with more than 800 incidents recorded.

The top global civic space violations are the detention of protesters, documented in at least 82 countries, followed by the detention of journalists, reported in at least 73, and the detention of human rights defenders (HRDs), documented in at least 71...

In 2025, people took to the streets in countries around the world to demand action and denounce government inaction on issues including the climate crisis, corruption, electoral fraud and irregularities, the high cost of living and poor basic services. And around the world, governments reacted by detaining protesters, a repressive tactic documented in over 200 protests in at least 82 countries.

Other tactics included protest disruption, documented in at least 70 countries, and the use of excessive force against protesters, in at least 67. Climate change protests and protests showing solidarity with Palestinian people continued to be targeted with repression, including detentions, prosecution, protest bans and the introduction of restrictive laws limiting peaceful assembly (see Restrictive Laws), particularly in Europe, North America and Australia...