108 Resource book on the use of force and firearms in law enforcement Types of assemblies This resource book will adopt the definition of assemblies as presented by the Special Rapporteur on the rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of association: “an assembly is an intentional and temporary gathering in a private or public space for a specific purpose. It therefore includes demonstrations, inside meetings, strikes, processions, rallies or even sits-in. Assemblies play a vibrant role in mobilizing the population and formulating grievances and aspirations, facilitating the celebration of events and, importantly, influencing States’ public policy”.233 There are many different types of assemblies. Planned assemblies, for example massive rallies to protest a political decision, sometimes with hundreds of thousands of participants, marches and protests against international summits, which are usually fairly well-organized with a clear structure of the organizing group and their leaders. On the other side of the spectrum are spontaneous protests, often caused by strong and immediate emotions against a decision or action taken by the authorities or in response to an event or incident. Spontaneous protests, by their very nature, are usually less organized, lacking an organizing structure and coordinators or leaders. These are typically characterized by more intense emotions and bear a higher risk of violence. Sometimes protests attract counter-protests, where people wish to express their disagreement with the message from the original protest group. As long as the messages are within the law, both are equally entitled to assemble peacefully and express their opinions freely. The authorities should make a reasonable effort to facilitate each assembly, and do so within sight and sound of each other. The authorities should also facilitate assemblies that are unrelated but take place simultaneously. If assemblies are planned for the same place and time, law enforcement bodies should undertake an assessment of risks and develop strategies to mitigate them. If it is necessary to impose restrictions on one or more simultaneous assemblies, such restrictions should be determined through mutual agreement or, where this is not possible, through a process that does not discriminate between the proposed assemblies.234 GUIDELINES ON FREEDOM OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has issued Guidelines on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly, which provide detailed guidance on this issue. The guidelines are regularly updated; the latest version is from 2014. They are available in English, French, Russian and Arabic at: http://www.osce.org/odihr/73405 Ibid., para. 24. Joint report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions on the proper management of assemblies, A/HRC/31/66, para. 28 (f). 233  234