Western Europe

Western Europe has traditionally maintained an exemplary level of respect for democratic standards and human rights, and has generally continued to do so in recent years despite serious economic turmoil. Nevertheless, many countries have developed problems related to their treatment of immigrants and minorities, and freedom of expression faces threats in several states. Through its presence in Brussels, Freedom House works to address these issues and to increase Western Europe’s role in supporting democratic progress abroad.

Countries & Territories: 26
489 million people
85% free
Press:
72% free

Percent computed by population. Population source data.

News & Updates

Press Release

Freedom House Anuncia un Nuevo Programa para Ayudar a Personas LGBTI Amenazadas

Dec 10 2012 - 9:00am

Dado que activistas de todo el mundo conmemoran el Día de los Derechos Humanos, Freedom House se complace en anunciar el lanzamiento de su nuevo programa global: Dignity for All: Programa de Asistencia a personas LGBTI, que ofrece ayuda de emergencia para defensorxs de Derechos Humanos y organizaciones de la sociedad civil que trabajan para promover los derechos de las personas LGBTI que son amenazadas o atacadas por su trabajo.

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
Press Release

Freedom House Announces New Program to Help LGBTI People Under Threat

Dec 10 2012 - 12:00am

Freedom House is proud to announce the launch of its newest global program: Dignity for All: LGBTI Assistance Program, which provides emergency support for human rights defenders and civil society organizations working to advance the rights of LGBTI people who are under threat or attack for their 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
Statements

Seeking a More Free Internet through Multi-­Stakeholder Dialogue

Nov 14 2012 - 4:20pm

Freedom House led a delegation of civil society leaders and online activists from around the world to Baku, Azerbaijan last week for the 7th Internet Governance Forum (IGF), the UN's flagship conference for discussing global Internet policy. Following the IGF, 17 organizations and individuals signed on to a joint statement to highlight the concerns they raised throughout the Forum, and to offer recommendations to governments, internet companies, and international organizations on how to better protect internet freedoms.

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

U.N. Elects Human Rights' Foes to the Human Rights Council

Nov 13 2012 - 2:38pm

The reelection of the United States to the United Nations Human Rights Council was a positive development in a largely disappointing election by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) yesterday, in which seven countries with poor human rights records—Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela—were also elected.

Issues: 
Human Rights Defense, U.S. Foreign Policy, United Nations
Regions: 
Americas, Asia-Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe/Eurasia, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Europe

Experts

Arch Puddington

Vice President for Research

Issues: 
Democratic Governance, Elections, Internet Freedom, Media Freedom, Religious Freedom, Rule of Law, U.S. Foreign Policy
Regions: 
Western Europe
Austria
8.5 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Belgium
11 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Cyprus
1.2 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Denmark
5.6 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Finland
5.4 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
France
64 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Germany
82 million people
Internet:
Free
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
15 / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Greece
11 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Iceland
320 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Ireland
4.7 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Italy
61 million people
Internet:
Free
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
23 / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Malta
399 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Netherlands
17 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Norway
5 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Portugal
11 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Spain
46 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Sweden
9.5 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Switzerland
8 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Turkey
75 million people
Internet:
Partly Free
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
46 / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
United Kingdom
63 million people
Internet:
Free
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
25 / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Greenland
Scores Overview

Countries and Territories

Andorra
Austria
Belgium
Cyprus
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Malta
Monaco
Netherlands
Northern Cyprus
Norway
Portugal
San Marino
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom

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