Global Freedom Summit
Fostering New Dialogue, Innovative Ideas to Energize Support for Global Freedom
Date
اکتبر 24
– 26, 2025
Location
Sea Island, Georgia
Norman Willox, Freedom House Board of Trustees Chair, delivers welcoming remarks at the Global Freedom Summit.
Senior leaders from US and foreign governments, business, civil society, and philanthropy gathered at the Global Freedom Summit convened by Freedom House to explore innovative strategies to counter authoritarianism, expand and defend democracy, and foster conditions for lasting security and prosperity.
The discussions, held at Sea Island, Georgia, culminated in a Declaration of Principles, a framework outlining practical steps to renew freedom and support prodemocracy initiatives around the world. These include the goal of launching a Global Freedom Fund—a public-private endowment to provide sustained, flexible support for democratic institutions, civil society organizations, and independent media worldwide.
Read the full declaration here.
Freedom House Presidents Gerardo Berthin and Annie Boyajian speak with Freedom House trustee Félix Maradiaga.
“The Global Freedom Summit is a major milestone in efforts to turn the tide against the nearly two-decade decline in global freedom,” said Gerardo Berthin and Annie Boyajian, presidents of Freedom House. “The world faces significant challenges—and we continue to see partners in government, the private sector, and philanthropy tackle them with clear-eyed urgency and purpose. We look forward to future collaboration and discussion with our partners as we take concrete steps to invest in a durable new infrastructure that accelerates efforts to support critical democracy initiatives around the world.”
Freedom House Board of Trustees Vice Chair Mark D. Goodman and Atlantic Council Non-resident Fellow John Raidt discuss the state of global democracy during the Global Freedom Summit.
Held October 24–26 in Sea Island, Georgia, under the Chatham House Rule to encourage candor and innovative ideas, the Global Freedom Summit is the first in a series of high-level convenings aimed at generating new approaches and commitments to renewing democracy and reversing the near-20-year decline in global freedom documented by Freedom in the World. Opening remarks were delivered by Norman Willox and John Raidt. White papers were prepared and shared with attendees, including: When Business Meets Autocracy, the Stakes Rise for Everyone by Gerardo Berthin, Worldwide Democratic Development and American National Security by Admiral Dennis Blair (ret.), and The Landscape of Freedom by Rachel Kleinfeld.
Planning for additional regional summits is underway and details will be announced at a future date.
For inquiries about the Global Freedom Summit or upcoming regional summits, please contact: Michael Gallagher at [email protected].
Freedom House is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to create a world where all are free. We inform the world about threats to freedom, mobilize global action, and support democracy’s defenders.
