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Around the World

South Africa
A Protection of Information Bill being pursued by the African National Congress would threaten press freedom by allowing the government to classify broad categories of information in the “national interest.” Read more on South Africa at Freedom in the World 2010: South Africa

Somalia
Journalist Barkhad Awale Adan was killed in Mogadishu when he was caught in the crossfire between the government and the Islamist group Al-Shabaab. Growing violence in the city has reduced the ability of the media to function. Read more on Somalia at Freedom in the World 2010: Somalia

Uganda
The Constitutional Court scrapped the law on sedition, thus protecting the population’s basic right to freedom of speech and expression, including the right to criticize those in power. Read more on Uganda at Freedom in the World 2010: Uganda

Iran
Three judiciary officials have been suspended due to the mistreatment of detainees at a holding center following last year’s disputed presidential election. Read more on Iran at Freedom in the World 2010: Iran

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Analysis

Through its standard-setting publications, Freedom House calls attention to global trends in freedom and democracy, and shines a public light on dictatorship and abuse. Beginning with Freedom in the World in 1972, Freedom House has actively published comparative surveys and special reports focused on the state of democracy and human rights around the world. Freedom House's annual publications include Freedom in the World, an assessment of the state of political rights in 192 countries and 14 related and disputed territories; Freedom of the Press, an annual report on journalistic independence around the world; Nations in Transit, which examines 29 countries from Central Europe to Eurasia; and Countries at the Crossroads, a first-of-its-kind survey of democratic governance that evaluates performance in 30 key countries that are at a crossroads in determining their political future. In addition, Freedom House produces a number of special reports focusing on issues of import. Freedom House's publications are widely used by policy-makers, journalists, and scholars, and can be read for free on this website.

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Freedom in the World Historical Rankings
Comparative scores for all countries from 1973 to 2009

Historical Trends in Media Freedom
Historical maps which graphically demonstrate trends in media freedom over the past quarter century

Freedom in the World News
 
On January 12, Freedom House released the reports from the latest edition of Freedom in the World, the annual survey of global political rights and civil liberties. According to the survey’s findings, the year 2009 was marked the fourth consecutive year in which global freedom suffered a decline—the longest consecutive period of setbacks for freedom in the nearly 40-year history of the report.

Nations in Transit News

On June 30, Freedom House launched the 2009 edition of Nations in Transit in Prague in a joint event with Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty. To view full country reports and data please continue here.

Freedom of the Press News

Release materials for the 2009 edition of Freedom of the Press-- including country scores, draft reports, the overview essay, and the methodology-- are now available.


All Freedom House publications are available for purchase from Rowan & Littlefield Publishers.  Click here to visit their website.