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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.

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. 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:

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

Ethiopians wave national flags and celebrate in the streets of Addis Ababa the return of Berhanu Nega, the leader of the former armed movement Ginbot 7, after 11 years in exile, on September 9, 2018. Credit: YONAS TADESSE/AFP/Getty Images.

Reform in Ethiopia: Turning Promise into Progress

Policy Brief

Freedom House in the Media:

Final Politico logo

POLITICO’s most-read stories of 2020 opens in new tab

December 28, 2020

bloomberg logo

Biden’s Uphill Battle to Hold the Internet Together opens in new tab

December 23, 2020

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Which is The Economist’s country of the year? opens in new tab

December 19, 2020

News & Perspectives:

presidential trump pardons

United States: President Trump Must Leave Office Immediately

Press release

January 7, 2021

Donald Trump and Joe Biden

United States: Freedom House Calls on Lawmakers to Accept the Presidential Election Result

Press release

January 4, 2021

President Trump

United States: No More Excuses for Trump’s Election Claims

Press release

December 3, 2020

Protests against police brutality in Nigeria

Nigeria: Freedom House Condemns Attacks on Peaceful Protesters

Press release

October 21, 2020

Mining in Venezuela

Illegal Mining in Venezuela is Exacerbating Violence, Ecocide, and Global Corruption. The International Community Must Act.

Perspectives

October 1, 2020

Joint Statement Cuba Human Rights Orgs logos

Cuba: Authorities Must Cease Harassment of UNPACU Activists and Organization’s Leader Jose Daniel Ferrer

Joint statement

September 23, 2020

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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