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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

Freedom Alert

Freedom House Welcomes Chinese Decision to Release Activist Chen

May 21 2012 - 12:33pm

Freedom House welcomes the Chinese government’s decision to allow blind Chinese activist and self-taught lawyer Chen Guangcheng to travel with his wife and two children to the United States, where he will study law and English through a New York University fellowship. Freedom House calls on the Chinese authorities to cease their harassment of Chen’s family members who remain in China, and release those being held in detention.

Issues:

Human Rights Defense, Rule of Law

Regions:

Asia-Pacific

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

Latest Blog Post

A Challenge to ‘Separate but Equal’ in Bosnia

May 21, 2012

After months of debate, a group of 20 politicians, scholars, journalists, and civic leaders gathered in Sarajevo last month to present its thoughts on where Bosnia and Herzegovina will be in 2025. The group, backed by Germany’s Friedrich Ebert Foundation, offered five scenarios to pique policymakers—not, it emphasized, to predict the future.

Issues:

Civil Society

Regions:

Central and Eastern Europe/Eurasia

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