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Underground station in Tehran Metro has separate compartments for women only (2007, Tehran, Iran). Editorial credit: Vladimir Melnik / Shutterstock.com

Equality & Human Rights

Democracy depends on the guarantee of equal rights under law and freedom from discrimination for all individuals in a society. If the rights and freedoms of one segment of the population are violated with impunity, the same sorts of abuses are likely to be visited on others. Those forced to endure a subordinate status have less incentive to play by the rules, creating a vicious circle of defiance and repression.

Freedom House supports frontline activists in their efforts to defend fundamental rights, including to document abuses, advocate for justice, end impunity, and fortify the self-protection of human rights defenders. We also provide emergency assistance to human rights defenders who come under threat and work with activists to broaden public support for upholding human rights and the fight for equality. 

Featured Analysis:

Demonstrators gather on the National Mall to protest racial injustice. An image of George Floyd is held up in front of the Washington Monument.

From Crisis to Reform: A Call to Strengthen America’s Battered Democracy

Special Report

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COVID-19 & the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Southern Africa

Special Report

Syria diaspora activism

The Importance of Defending Diaspora Activism for Democracy and Human Rights

Special Report

Freedom House in the Media:

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Is Authoritarianism the New Normal for Asia? | Opinion opens in new tab

May 13, 2022

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Why Biden’s Anti-Putin Democracy Crusade Is Failing opens in new tab

May 11, 2022

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Why risk for violence in U.S. rises without Roe opens in new tab

May 10, 2022

News & Perspectives:

Maykel Castillo Pérez (known as Maykel Osorbo) and Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, recipients of the 2022 Freedom Award

Freedom House to Present Annual Awards to Cuban Activists, Founding President of the National Endowment for Democracy

Press release

May 4, 2022

Freedom House

UN High Commissioner must uphold principled and coherent response to China’s human rights crisis

Joint statement

April 19, 2022

Rows of body bags in Ukraine's Bucha (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Russia: Hold the Regime Accountable for War Crimes in Ukraine

Press release

April 12, 2022

Freedom House

New alliance to protect human rights in Afghanistan

Joint statement

March 3, 2022

An officer of the Nicaraguan National Police stands guard at a polling station during the citizen verification process in Managua. (Image credit: Oswaldo Rivas /AFP via Getty Images)

Fighting for Democracy in Exile: My Story as a Nicaraguan Activist

Perspectives

March 2, 2022

Freedom House

Egypt: Rights Defender’s Imprisoned Father At Risk

Joint statement

February 16, 2022

Featured Human Rights Work:

Guatemala City, Guatemala. Editorial credit: Lucy Brown - loca4motion / Shutterstock.com

Our Work in Guatemala

In the face of increased government pressure on Guatemalan human rights defenders and civil society organizations, Freedom House is working with activists to enhance their documentation and to raise awareness of human rights abuses and build coalitions in support of anti-impunity measures in Guatemala.  Visit our Latin America and the Caribbean program page to learn more. 

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Human Rights Support Mechanism

The Human Rights Support Mechanism is a project of the PROGRESS consortium, which provides technical assistance and support to partners and beneficiaries in developing countries around the world to protect and promote human rights.

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Our Work in Southern Africa

Freedom House’s Advancing Rights in Southern Africa program aims to improve the recognition, awareness and enforcement of human rights in the region, with a focus on select rights and a crosscutting emphasis on protecting the region’s most vulnerable and marginalized groups, including indigenous peoples, women and youth. Visit our Sub-Saharan Africa programs page to learn more. 

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Dignity for All

The Dignity for All: LGBTI Assistance Program provides emergency assistance; security, opportunity, and advocacy rapid response grants (SOAR grants); and security assessment and training to human rights defenders and civil society organizations  under threat or attack due to their work for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex human rights.

Learn More
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Supporting Human Rights Defenders Around the World

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.

Learn More

Featured Experts

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Allie Funk

Research Director for Technology and Democracy

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Marc Behrendt

Director, Europe and Eurasia programs

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

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