Freedom House

Description

Freedom House is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization devoted to the support and defense of democracy and freedom worldwide. It was founded in 1941 to rally policymakers and the American public around the fight against Nazi Germany, and to raise awareness of the fascist threat to American security and values. Since then it has become a leading American organization advocating for democracy and human rights through research, advocacy and direct support to activists.

Its headquarters are in Washington, DC, with offices in New York and field offices around the world, and programs in nearly 20 countries. Freedom House tracks threats to democracy and freedom around the globe, publishing detailed research on more than 200 countries and territories, including the Freedom in the World assessments of political rights and civil liberties, Freedom on the Net on internet freedom, and research on transnational repression tactics used by authoritarian governments. Policymakers, activists, civil society groups and business leaders rely on this research and analysis.

The organization also works closely with policymakers to protect human rights and oppose dictatorship. It helps political dissidents and rights defenders reach the US Congress, executive branch, news media and the United Nations, and forms partnerships with peer groups to build support for democracy globally.

Since 2007, Freedom House has assisted tens of thousands of activists, victims of human rights abuses and their families across 150 countries. It provides support for relocation, legal representation, trial monitoring, technical equipment, and medical and living expenses, and campaigns for the release of imprisoned activists. It is a 501(c)(3) organization funded through donations.