Programs

Freedom House's programs support human rights and democracy advocates in their efforts to promote open government, defend human rights, strengthen civil society and facilitate the free flow of information and ideas. Freedom House primarily offers assistance through trainings, international exchange programs, grant giving and networking activities. In addition, Freedom House offers symbolic and moral support through advocacy and visible demonstrations of solidarity on behalf of counterparts abroad.

Freedom House currently has ten offices and conducts programs in over two dozen countries in all regions of the world. Primary funding for Freedom House’s programs comes in the form of grants from USAID and U.S. State Department, as well as from other democratic governments—U.K., Ireland, Sweden, and the Netherlands—and from private foundations, including the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, and the National Endowment for Democracy.
 

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Featured Programs

Cuba

Cuba is the only country in the Americas that consistently makes Freedom House’s list of the Worst of the Worst: the World’s Most Repressive Societies for widespread abuses of political rights and civil liberties. Freedom House has conducted in-depth public opinion surveys and supported efforts by local activists to promote freedom of expression and respond to human rights abuses.

Issues: 
Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights Defense
Regions: 
Americas

Southeast Asia Human Rights

Freedom House supports civil society groups’ efforts to actively engage ASEAN’s human rights mechanism, the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and provides opportunities for strategic exchanges and knowledge-sharing sessions among activists.

Issues: 
Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression, Intergovernmental Bodies, Media Freedom
Regions: 
Asia-Pacific

Cambodia

In Cambodia, Freedom House enhances indigenous expertise in conducting policy research and analysis on critical issues through targeted trainings and on-going capacity building.

Issues: 
Democratic Governance
Regions: 
Asia-Pacific

Sub-Saharan Africa

Throughout the continent, Freedom House works to strengthen elections and civic mobilization, good governance, defense of human rights, rule of law and judicial independence, and media.

Regions: 
Sub-Saharan Africa

Rule of Law in Southern Africa

To counter a general slide toward undemocratic rule, lack of accountability, and impunity for corrupt leaders and human rights abusers, Freedom House with its regional partners advocates strongly for an effective SADC (Southern African Development Community) Tribunal, builds the capacity of independent judges, and has introduced key strategies and tools that human rights lawyers can then use for public interest litigation.

Issues: 
Human Rights Defense, Rule of Law
Regions: 
Sub-Saharan Africa

Africa Institute for Governing with Integrity

The Africa Institute empowers young professionals in government and civil society to lead with integrity and provides on-going support for their initiatives to catalyze reform in their home institutions and communities.

Issues: 
Democratic Governance
Regions: 
Sub-Saharan Africa

Support to Human Rights Defenders in Central Africa

Through technical assistance and direct financial support, Freedom House is working to strengthen the capacity of the network of human rights organizations in Central Africa.

Issues: 
Human Rights Defense
Regions: 
Sub-Saharan Africa

Kenya and Uganda

Freedom House is working to empower civil society to advance domestic justice and put an end to impunity, while also strengthening intra- and inter-regional networks of advocates working to advance this issue.

Issues: 
Human Rights Defense, Rule of Law
Regions: 
Sub-Saharan Africa

Ethiopia

Freedom House has been providing training, technical assistance and moral support to help build credible and independent human rights institutions.

Issues: 
Human Rights Defense
Regions: 
Sub-Saharan Africa

Sudan

In an attempt to address this gap and to promote respect for human rights in Sudan, Freedom House is working on ensuring continuous monitoring of human rights abuses in Sudan and supports domestic, regional and international advocacy activities for adherence to international human rights commitments.

Issues: 
Human Rights Defense
Regions: 
Sub-Saharan Africa

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