Observatory Report: France: Dropping Out of Democracy. Obstructions to freedom of association and peaceful assembly
- A new report published on 25 September confirms an alarming deterioration of public freedoms in France.
- Hostile narratives, administrative dissolutions, reduction of public funding, and the criminalisation of mobilisations are leading to the suffocation of civil society and endangering the freedom of association and the right to protest.
- The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH-OMCT) and the Ligue des droits de l’Homme (LDH) are sounding the alarm: France is turning its back on its democratic commitments, following, like other European countries, an illiberal path.
Paris/Geneva, 25 September 2025. A report published today by the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (a joint programme of FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture – OMCT), together with the Ligue des droits de l’Homme (LDH), delivers a stark assessment: public freedoms in France are undergoing a deep and structural regression.Hostile narratives, administrative dissolutions, police repression, cuts to public funding, harassment, and violence against human rights defenders all illustrate the shrinking of civic space.
"France likes to recall its historical role in the defense of human rights; it readily presents itself as the ’homeland of human rights’ and does not hesitate to lecture other countries on democracy and respect for civil liberties," says Alice Mogwe, President of FIDH. "But today, its own democratic model is being undermined by practices that stray from the foundations of the rule of law and violate fundamental rights."
An atmosphere of defiance and stigmatisation
The report highlights several concrete cases. In 2020, the government ordered the dissolution of the Collective Against Islamophobia in France (CCIF)—an exceptional measure used as a political tool, and upheld by the Council of State despite well-founded criticism. For FIDH, OMCT, and LDH, this emblematic case illustrates how the fight against terrorism has been instrumentalized to silence critical voices.
"The dissolution of the CCIF marked a turning point," warns Nathalie Tehio, President of the LDH. "This distorted use of the dissolution power - now applied solely based on statements made by members of associations outside their official activities - creates a climate of fear and threatens civil society as a whole. Furthermore, the state fails to adequately protect associations from the virulent attacks of the far right. In addition, attempts to silence all forms of collective dissent are not limited to associations and are also visible in the streets, through a brutal law enforcement policy.”
Adopted in the wake of the dissolution of the CCIF, the so-called “Separatism” law introduced new grounds for dissolving associations and led to the creation of the “Republican Commitment Contract.” This contract imposes new compliance rules on associations seeking public funding. However, due to the lack of clear criteria, it leaves wide room for arbitrariness and fosters a climate of self-censorship.
The report also documents the growing number of political and media smear campaigns targeting associations. Threats of funding withdrawal, accusations of “ecoterrorism,” and the delegitimization of their work—these once marginal stigmatising narratives have now become systematic. They are all the more alarming given that they also come from the highest levels of the state, such as when the then Prime Minister, Ms. Borne, or her Interior Minister, Mr. Darmanin, directly targeted the LDH.
According to Gerald Staberock, Secretary General of the OMCT, "In times of political tension, the role of human rights organisations and defenders is crucial. In a democracy, organisations like the LDH must be able to raise alerts and voice their concerns. This includes the right to denounce alleged violations, particularly regarding police violence. As in the rest of Europe, it is essential to preserve this fundamental foundation of democracy and human rights."
Police repression of protests: democracy at risk
Other citizen movements targeted by authorities include environmental initiatives. Protests against the A69 highway construction and the “méga-bassines” (large water reservoirs) have been met with particularly violent police repression. Mass arrests, abusive detentions, intrusive surveillance, and disproportionate use of force are all practices contrary to France’s international commitments.
“Environmental defenders are criminalized for exercising a fundamental right: peaceful protest,” emphasises Aïssa Rahmoune, Secretary General of FIDH. “Police violence and impunity have reached a critical level, endangering democratic freedoms as a whole in France.”
Although some movements face increased repression, it now extends to all struggles: from feminism to the rights of exiles, anti-racism, and minority rights—the entire civil society is affected.
FIDH, OMCT, and LDH call on French authorities to recognize the essential role of associations and human rights defenders, to guarantee the right to protest, and to restore sincere dialogue with civil society.
“This report does not merely offer an alarming diagnosis. It calls for a wake-up call. France must choose between remaining faithful to its democratic principles or continuing to slide toward undermining fundamental rights and breaking with the rule of law, which in the long run can only lead it to authoritarianism,” concludes Alice Mogwe.