In March, Belarusian authorities arrested dozens of peaceful protesters and journalists in a massive crackdown on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The protesters were marching under the slogan of ‘We are not spongers’. They were demonstrating against a so-called ‘social parasite’ tax imposed on unemployed people in the country.

In April, an overnight chemical attack on the Syrian city of Idlib killed more than 80 people and injured hundreds more as they slept in their beds. Survivors of the attack, including many children, bravely gathered in in Idilb’s town square to protest against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Demonstrators took to the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in May to protest against the government of President Michel Temer and to demand an end to austerity reforms. After nationwide strikes and riots, protesters across the country called for change. The flag reads, “General Elections now!”

President Adama Barrow was inaugurated in Gambia in February. Jubilant supporters gathered at the Independence Stadium in Bakau. President Barrow has made big promises to free political prisoners, remove repressive laws and bring Gambia back to the International Criminal Court.

President Trump sparked controversy in September when he criticised athletes who don’t stand for the National Anthem. In response to his comments, over 200 footballers knelt, sat or prayed before their NFL games in a show of solidarity. Here, the Denver Broncos kneel before playing against the Buffalo Bills in New York.

In May, Taiwan’s highest court ruled in favour of the country legalising same-sex marriage. In October, tens of thousands of people marched in the country’s first gay pride parade – the biggest in Asia – in celebration. 

When demonstrators tried to peacefully protest on the streets of Spain and at entrances to polling stations in October, security forces used excessive force against them. The police were acting on the ruling of the High Court of Justice of Catalonia, which ordered them to stop the Catalonian independence referendum from taking place. This image is from Sant Julia de Ramis in Catalonia. The Spanish government ruled the referendum vote illegal and undemocratic.

Crowds of people, many of them refugees, protested at government buildings in Sydney in November to call for the urgent evacuation of refugees detained on Manus Island. The horrific treatment of refugees on the island continues to make headlines around the world.

Thousands of people took to the streets in protests across India in June, under the ‘Not in my name’ campaign. They were responding to a wave of deadly attacks on Muslims – including the lynching of teenager Junaid.

In August, Chile's Constitutional Court voted to ease the country's strict abortion ban by decriminalizing abortion in certain cases. The decision was met with joy from pro-choice activists, an important milestone for human rights and for the health of women and girls across the country.