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Hundreds of protesters with signs and flags in front of a capital building.
Beirut, Lebanon - November 22, 2019: Lebanese marching for Lebanon's Independence Day in a Civil Parade while protesting against the current government and corruption in the country. Editorial credit: Hiba Al Kallas / Shutterstock.com.

Government Accountability & Transparency

A well-functioning democracy requires strong safeguards against official corruption, which erodes public services as well as public faith in the democratic system. Corruption can also give unfair advantages to incumbent politicians and create pathways for malign interference by foreign powers.

Government accountability and transparency ensure that malfeasance is exposed—and that failed or harmful policies are swiftly corrected.

Freedom House research, including Freedom in the World, has documented the global decline in government accountability, transparency, and rule of law, as authoritarian leaders ignore the most basic elements of due process, misuse the justice system to persecute their critics, and perpetuate impunity for corruption and abuses of power. Freedom House supports local efforts to strengthen the rule of law, including to end torture, hold human rights abusers to account, and promote judicial reforms.

Featured Freedom House Programs:

Moldova program civil society meeting

Supporting Judicial Integrity in Moldova

In cooperation with local partners, Freedom House promotes the rule of law in Moldova by engaging civil society, media, and the public in the country’s justice sector reform efforts. Freedom House implements the multi-year Mobilizing Civil Society to Support Judicial Integrity in the Republic of Moldova project, funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).  

Getty image South Africa protest

Our Work in South Africa

Freedom House’s Promoting Civic Education and Participation in South Africa program seeks to strengthen the ability of civil society and community-based organizations to conduct civic education activities in their communities and to support their efforts to strengthen citizen participation in political processes. The program aims to facilitate engagement between citizens and their local and national representatives, increasing the use of tools that improve citizens’ ability to hold government officials accountable.

judicial integrity africa

Our Work in Uganda

Freedom House works with Ugandans to promote rule of law and protect human rights by supporting national-level structures and civil society organizations that uphold respect for human rights, child justice, and rule of law.  The program combines technical assistance and financial support to Ugandan partners to improve judicial independence and strengthen promotion of human rights protection by civil society organizations. 

Featured Analysis:

Freedom House - Transnational Repression

Out of Sight, Not Out of Reach

Transnational Repression

Russian Ilyushin Il-76, carrying the first batch of equipment of S-400 missile defense system, arrives at Murted Air Base in Ankara, Turkey. Photo by Turkeys National Defense Ministry / Handout/Anadolu Agency/Getty Image.

Turkey’s Missile Diplomacy: Recommendations for US Sanctions

Policy Brief

Photo: Grzegorz Żukowski

Hostile Takeover: How Law and Justice Captured Poland’s Courts

Analytical Brief

News & Perspectives:

Young woman at protest facing state police in Venezuela

Venezuela: Maduro debería implementar las recomendaciones de la ONU sobre la protección de los derechos humanos

Joint statement

March 3, 2021

Young woman at protest facing state police in Venezuela

Venezuela: Maduro Must Implement UN Recommendations on Protecting Human Rights

Joint statement

March 3, 2021

Freedom in the World 2021

New Report: The global decline in democracy has accelerated

Press release

March 3, 2021

Freedom House

مصر: تصاعد الانتقام والاعتقالات بحق عائلات المنتقدين

Joint statement

February 25, 2021

Freedom House

Egypt: Escalating Reprisals, Arrests of Critics’ Families

Joint statement

February 19, 2021

Transnational Repression report cover collage

New Report: Transnational Repression Is a Growing Threat to Global Democracy

Press release

February 4, 2021

Freedom House in the Media:

the bulwark

The World’s Dictators Are Defeating Democracy opens in new tab

March 4, 2021

the washington post logo

Democracy is eroding around the world. Biden has his work cut out for him. opens in new tab

March 3, 2021

the washington post logo

The ‘Free World’ Keeps Shrinking opens in new tab

March 2, 2021

Featured Experts

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Annie Wilcox Boyajian

Director of Advocacy

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Sarah Repucci Expert Photo

Sarah Repucci

Vice President of Research & Analysis

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If you would like to interview a Freedom House expert on this topic, please email [email protected].

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