The Right2Protest Project (R2P) is a South African coalition dedicated to protecting and advancing the constitutional right to freedom of assembly. R2P was established to respond to increasing challenges faced by activists and communities in exercising their right to protest. The project provides legal support, advocacy, and public education to safeguard civic space and hold those responsible for violations accountable.
R2P offers a free legal advice hotline to assist activists and communities facing criminalization or suppression for participating in protests. It also engages in strategic litigation to challenge legal and procedural barriers that undermine the right to protest, such as prohibitionary interdicts and the inconsistent application of the Regulation of Gatherings Act.
Through research and reporting, R2P documents trends in the suppression of protests, including the use of excessive force by police and private security, and highlights these in publications such as the State of Protest Report. Additionally, the project organizes workshops, webinars, and dialogues to build the capacity of activists and foster solidarity within social movements.
R2P collaborates with civil society organizations, legal experts, and grassroots movements to advocate for policy reform and strengthen the right to dissent. It envisions a society where the right to protest is protected, respected, and upheld as a cornerstone of democracy.