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 fourteen offices and conducts programs in over thirty 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—Canada, the EU, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden—and from private foundations, including the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Ford Foundation.

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Featured Programs

Grants for New and Innovative Independent Media Initiatives in Ukraine

Freedom House invites applications for participation in a multi-year independent media funding, capacity-development, and technical-assistance program for innovative media initiatives in Ukraine that focus on accountability and transparency of government and society.

Issues:

Civil Society, Democratic Governance, Freedom of Expression, Internet Freedom, Media Freedom

Regions:

Eurasia

Global Internet Freedom Program

Internet Freedom

Issues:

Civil Society, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights Defense, Internet Freedom

Regions:

Asia-Pacific, Eurasia, Middle East and North Africa

Practitioners' Dialogues on Transitional Justice

Freedom House held a series of practitioners dialogues in 2013 where practitioners, experts, and human rights defenders and victims shared best practices and their lessons learned in the transitional justice processes they have taken part. The series linked practitioners and provided space to strategize about how to advance access to truth and justice. Each dialogue results in a report of the findings to present in international, regional, and national forums and programs.

Issues:

Civil Society, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights Defense, Intergovernmental Bodies, Media Freedom, Rule of Law

Regions:

Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia-Pacific, Eurasia, Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Americas

Ukraine

Freedom House works in Ukraine to protect professional and citizen journalists, to empower and support their efforts to impartially cover developments in Ukraine, and to uncover corruption.

Issues:

Civil Society, Democratic Governance, Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression, LGBTI Rights, Media Freedom

Regions:

Eurasia

LGBTI Rights in Southeast Asia

Freedom House helps LGBTI rights groups in Southeast Asia to push back against the tide of intolerance.

Issues:

Civil Society, Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights Defense, LGBTI Rights, Media Freedom

Regions:

Asia-Pacific

Kyrgyzstan

Freedom House enhances the capacity of local civil society groups to rapidly respond to human rights violations, to provide advocates with the skills to defend the right to freedom of assembly, and to equip local groups with the tools to combat gender-based violence and bride-kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan.

Issues:

Civil Society, Human Rights Defense

Regions:

Eurasia

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, Eurasia, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, 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, Eurasia, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe

Freedom of Expression Mission to South Africa

In September 2012, Freedom House led an International Freedom of Expression Mission to South Africa in order to address ongoing concerns about the passage of the repressive Protection of State Information Bill and the implementation of a government-controlled Media Appeals Tribunal. T

Issues:

Freedom of Expression, Media Freedom

Regions:

Sub-Saharan Africa