Americas

The Americas are second only to Western Europe in levels of freedom and respect for human rights.  Nonetheless, a rise in violent crime and in populist governments with authoritarian tendencies has led to backsliding in several countries. Among other serious human rights issues, parts of the region suffer from  threats to freedom of the press, including violence against journalists, and infringements on freedoms of association and assembly. Throughout the Americas, Freedom House enables human right defenders and democracy activists to play a prominent role in counteracting these restrictions on fundamental rights, both domestically and through intergovernmental bodies.

Countries & Territories: 36
943 million people
71% free
Press:
41% free

Percent computed by population. Population source data.

News & Updates

In the News

Putting Freedom Back on the Agenda

Jan 15 2013 - 6:00pm

Now is no time for America to go wobbly on democracy, write Arch Puddington and David J. Kramer for Foreign Policy.

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

Freedom House Condemns Venezuela’s Indefinite Delay of Chavez Inauguration as Unconstitutional

Jan 10 2013 - 2:56pm

Freedom House condemns as unconstitutional the decision of the Venezuelan Supreme Court and National Assembly to delay indefinitely the inauguration of Hugo Chavez to a fourth presidential term, and urges the government to provide the Venezuelan people with a clear way forward consistent with Venezuelan law.

Issues: 
Civil Society, Democratic Governance, Elections
Regions: 
Americas
Press Release

Retraso indefinido de la investidura de Chávez es inconstitucional

Jan 10 2013 - 2:56pm

Freedom House condena el retraso indefinido de la toma de posesión de Hugo Chávez por considerarlo inconstitucional, y exhorta al gobierno Venezolano a que provea un camino claro para la salida de este impasse, consistente con las leyes Venezolanas.

Issues: 
Civil Society, Democratic Governance, Elections
Regions: 
Americas
Press Release

Decision on Chavez Inauguration Must Strictly Follow the Constitution

Jan 7 2013 - 3:49pm

Freedom House calls on the government of Venezuela to ensure transparency and to strictly follow the constitutional process in the event that Hugo Chavez cannot be sworn in for a fourth presidential term on Inauguration Day.

 

Issues: 
Democratic Governance, Elections
Regions: 
Americas

Experts

Viviana Giacaman

Director for Latin America Programs


Regions: 
Americas
Antigua and Barbuda
87 thousand people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Argentina
41 million people
Internet:
Free
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
26 / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Bahamas
362 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Barbados
277 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Belize
326 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Bolivia
11 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Brazil
194 million people
Internet:
Free
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
27 / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Canada
35 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Chile
17 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Colombia
47 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Costa Rica
4.5 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Cuba
11 million people
Internet:
Not Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
6.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
86 / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Dominica
71 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Dominican Republic
10 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Ecuador
15 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
El Salvador
6.3 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Grenada
115 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Guatemala
15 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Guyana
796 thousand people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Haiti
10 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
4.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Honduras
8.4 million people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
4.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Jamaica
2.7 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Mexico
116 million people
Internet:
Partly Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
37 / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Nicaragua
6 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
4.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Panama
3.6 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Paraguay
6.7 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Peru
30 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
St. Kitts and Nevis
54 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
St. Lucia
169 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Suriname
542 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Trinidad and Tobago
1.3 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
United States
314 million people
Internet:
Free
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
12 / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Uruguay
3.4 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Venezuela
30 million people
Internet:
Partly Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
5.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
48 / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Falkland Islands
Scores Overview
French Guiana
Scores Overview

Countries and Territories

Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Jamaica
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Puerto Rico
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and Grenadines
Suriname
Trinidad and Tobago
United States
Uruguay
Venezuela

Programs

The Lifeline: Embattled CSO Assistance Fund

The Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund provides emergency financial assistance to civil society organizations (CSOs) under threat or attack and advocacy support responding to broader threats to civil society. 

Issues: 
Civil Society, Human Rights Defense
Regions: 
Americas, Asia-Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe/Eurasia, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Europe

Dignity for All: LGBTI Assistance Program

The Dignity for All: LGBTI Assistance Program provides emergency funds, advocacy support, and security assistance to human rights defenders and civil society organizations under threat or attack due to their work for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) human rights.

Issues: 
Civil Society, Human Rights Defense, LGBTI Rights
Regions: 
Americas, Asia-Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe/Eurasia, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Europe

Emergency Assistance Programs

Freedom House administers several funds which offer emergency assistance to organizations and individuals around the world who are under threat because of their human rights work. The targeted, rapid-response aid we provide enables those at risk to protect themselves and continue their important work.

Issues: 
Civil Society, Human Rights Defense, LGBTI Rights
Regions: 
Americas, Asia-Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe/Eurasia, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Europe

Derecho a Voz (The Right to a Voice) - International Advocacy

Freedom House promotes civil society engagement with the Organization of American States and the United Nations by preparing and bringing activists from different countries to international forums to raise awareness on restrictions and to collectively push for reforms to strengthen human rights and democratic practices.

Issues: 
Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression, Intergovernmental Bodies, United Nations
Regions: 
Americas

Venezuela

Freedom House works to enhance civil society’s efforts to promote political participation and to strength democratic institutions in order to improve democratic governance.

Issues: 
Democratic Governance, Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression
Regions: 
Americas

Nicaragua

In partnership with local groups, Freedom House leads an advocacy strategy promoting greater protection for freedom of assembly and association.

Issues: 
Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression
Regions: 
Americas

Mexico

Freedom House works to improve efforts by both local activists and the Mexican government to prevent and respond to attacks to the press, and enhance the availability of emergency assistance for at-risk journalists and activists.

Issues: 
Freedom of Expression
Regions: 
Americas

Ecuador

In less than five years since taking office, President Rafael Correa has turned Ecuador into one of the more restrictive countries for freedom of expression in Latin America and taken steps to assault freedom of association.

Issues: 
Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression
Regions: 
Americas

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

Bolivia

Freedom House works with local organizations to assess the state of freedom of assembly and association in the country and to promote greater awareness of the need to respect these freedoms.

Issues: 
Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression
Regions: 
Americas