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Asia-Pacific

Countries & Territories: 43

3.9 billion people

44% free

Press:

5% free

Percent computed by population. Population source data.

Central and Eastern Europe/Eurasia

Countries & Territories: 33

408 million people

28% free

Press:

15% free

Percent computed by population. Population source data.

Middle East and North Africa

Countries & Territories: 20

392 million people

2% free

Press:

2% free

Percent computed by population. Population source data.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Countries & Territories: 50

882 million people

12% free

Press:

5% free

Percent computed by population. Population source data.

Americas

Countries & Territories: 36

937 million people

71% free

Press:

39% free

Percent computed by population. Population source data.

Western Europe

Countries & Territories: 26

487 million people

85% free

Press:

72% free

Percent computed by population. Population source data.

Release of "Freedom of the Press 2012" Findings

Freedom House released the findings of Freedom of the Press 2012, its annual press freedom survey, at a press conference held in front of the World Press Freedom map at the Newseum.

Freedom of the Press 2012: Breakthroughs and Pushback in the Middle East

Freedom House hosted a panel to discuss the findings of its 2012 press freedom survey at the National Press Club on May 3. See event photos on Facebook.

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News & Updates

Press Release

Freedom House Welcomes Long-Needed Visit to Zimbabwe by UN Human Rights Chief

May 18 2012 - 2:07pm

Freedom House welcomes the timely visit of U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay to Zimbabwe, the first ever mission by a U.N. human rights chief to the troubled southern African country, and urges her to use this high-profile mission to call attention to ongoing and escalating human rights
issues.

Issues:

Democratic Governance, Human Rights Defense, United Nations

Regions:

Sub-Saharan Africa

Freedom Alert

Freedom House Applauds Global Action on International Day to End Homophobia

May 18 2012 - 2:01pm

Freedom House applauds international efforts to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity exemplified by global events on May 17 marking the International Day to End Homophobia (IDAHO). The coordination of events in more than 100 countries worldwide, including countries with poor human rights records like Burma, Algeria, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, is a positive step forward in the struggle for equal rights for LGBTI. Despite these positive events, a number of troubling attacks on the day’s supporters illustrates the continuing need for vigilance in acknowledging rights abuses and ending discrimination.

Issues:

Civil Society, Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression

Regions:

Americas, Asia-Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe/Eurasia, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Europe

Policy Briefs

Exercising U.S. Leadership: Democracy Funding in a Time of Global Change

May 15 2012 - 10:21am

The U.S. Congress should fully fund the Administration’s request for $56 billion to support international affairs for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013, a 2% increase over FY 2012.[1] This budget is one of the primary tools the United States uses to maintain leadership abroad, pursue its international priorities and promote American values.

As Americans display growing fatigue over costly military interventions abroad, the Obama Administration has appropriately placed greater emphasis on diplomacy and development to advance U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives. In order to do so effectively, a robust foreign assistance budget is needed, along with carefully targeted use of available funds.

Issues:

Human Rights Defense, U.S. Foreign Policy

Freedom Alert

Brazilian Truth Commission Begins Investigating Human Rights Abuses

May 17 2012 - 11:53am

Freedom House applauds Brazilâ€™s launch of a national truth commission, which will investigate serious human rights violations committed during the period 1964 through 1988.

Issues:

Human Rights Defense, Rule of Law

Regions:

Americas

Latest Blog Post

The Pigs Are Flying in China

May 16, 2012

Earlier this month, Chinese authorities were forced to temporarily suspend trading of shares in the online unit of the People’s Daily newspaper, the official mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party. The price had soared so rapidly since the website’s April debut on the Shanghai Stock Exchange—giving it a greater market value than the New York Times—that it triggered regulatory rules aimed at halting speculative manipulation. This development is just the sort of absurd extreme that comes shortly before an economic bubble bursts.

Issues:

Civil Society, Internet Freedom, Media Freedom, U.S. Foreign Policy

Regions:

Asia-Pacific

China Media Bulletin

China Media Bulletin: Issue No. 58

May 18 2012 - 3:20pm

Freedom House’s weekly update of press freedom and censorship news related to the People’s Republic of China

HIGHLIGHTS
* State media fuel nationalism in China-Philippines standoff
* In online letter, party veterans urge sacking of security, propaganda officials
* Chinese state-owned paper to launch African edition
* Chinese blogger makes cross-strait comparisons after Taiwan visit
* Perry Link, Freedom House blog warn against assumptions of regime stability

Issues:

Internet Freedom, Media Freedom

Regions:

Asia-Pacific

Freedom Alert

Positive steps made on Secrecy Bill but reform still needed

May 11 2012 - 5:37pm

Freedom House is encouraged by the proposed changes to South Africa’s controversial Protection of State Information Bill. Amendments to the bill will provide better protections for journalists but do not go far enough to prevent retribution against journalists who report on official corruption. Moreover, the increasingly restrictive legal environment for independent media in South Africa remains a cause for serious concern.

Issues:

Media Freedom, Rule of Law

Regions:

Sub-Saharan Africa