A/HRC/22/28 Training and guidance 72. A number of States32 and national human rights institutions indicated that they provide human rights training to administrative authorities and/or the police as a measure to promote and protect human rights in the context of peaceful protests. 73. Azerbaijan mentioned that its training programmes included such topics as the role of the police during demonstrations; demonstrations as manifestation of the principle of democracy; cooperation among organizers and police; chain police activity; strategies for decreasing tension; managing various gatherings; managing mass disorder; regulating roads and other places; and respect for and protection of human dignity. 74. Paraguay reported that the Manual on the Use of Force, issued by the National Police in 2011, was an important action to promote and protect the right of peaceful protest. Slovenia indicated that it provides training to the police with the objective of giving law enforcement officers an advanced knowledge of constitutional law and human rights, including human rights protection when police powers are used. It also has a special training programme entitled “Awareness of stereotypes, overcoming prejudice and prevention of discrimination in a multi-cultural society.” 75. Turkey stated that the Directive on the Procedure and Principles Relating to the Conduct of Personnel in Charge during Assembly and Demonstration Marches was adopted in 2011 with a view to providing nationwide uniformity, including with respect to the degree of force used to ensure proportionality. Research activities 76. Hungary’s Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights has undertaken a project on the freedom of assembly which includes an investigation of how law enforcement handles reports and how far the measures taken during events meet the requirements set by the Constitution and applicable legal regulations. Since its launch, more than 150 events have been investigated. It found that demonstrations are more often crossing national boundaries, and demonstration tactics are changing and developing. Based on the conclusion that police expertise needed to become international, a project was initiated with 20 partner organizations from 11 countries, including law enforcement organs, research and educational institutions, the national police and the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights. V. Conclusions 77. Peaceful protests are a fundamental aspect of a vibrant democracy. States should recognize the positive role of peaceful protests as a means to strengthen human rights and democracy. They should guarantee the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of association and freedom of opinion and expression, which are essential components of democracy and indispensable to the full enjoyment of all human rights. 78. The promotion and protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protests require not only an adequate legal framework, but also continuous efforts for their effective implementation. Dialogue between protest organizers, administrative authorities and the police, as well as human rights training programmes for police 32 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Estonia, India, Madagascar, Mauritius, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Spain and Turkey. 17