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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

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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:

Volunteers clean up the rubbles from a destroyed residential building in Borodyanka. Following the recapture of Borodyanka by the Ukrainian forces, the city was heavily devastated and turned into ruins under intense fighting and shelling.

War Deepens a Regional Divide

Nations in Transit

Irpin, Ukraine – March 4, 2022 – Civilians rush to board a train as the sounds of battle draw closer to the city of Irpin. Image credit: Marcus Yam / Contributor, Getty Images

From Democratic Decline to Authoritarian Aggression

Nations in Transit

April 20, 2022

People in Budapest protest for the independence of Hungary's University of Theatre and Film Arts (SZFE) following changes that threaten the university's autonomy. (Image credit: Marton Monus/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

The Antidemocratic Turn

Nations in Transit

Freedom House - Transnational Repression 2022

Transnational Repression

Transnational Repression

Serbians protest against Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić’s presidential win in Belgrade in April 2017. MILOS MISKOV/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Confronting Illiberalism

Nations in Transit

A migrant stands inside an abandoned train wagon used as a makeshift shelter near the main rail station in Belgrade, Serbia. Andrej Isakovic, AFP/Getty Images

The False Promise of Populism

Nations in Transit

News & Perspectives:

Freedom House

Guatemala: Sin libertad de prensa no hay democracia

Joint statement

May 17, 2023
Freedom House

Guatemala: No press freedom, no democracy

Joint statement

May 17, 2023
Freedom House

‘We demand the torture cease’ Michael Abramowitz, Margaret Atwood, Jude Law, Salman Rushdie, and more than 100 other public figures call for Alexey Navalny’s release

Advocacy letter

April 28, 2023
Freedom House

Alliance for Human Rights in Afghanistan Joint Statement - Afghanistan: Taliban de-facto authorities must end chilling crackdown on dissent

Joint statement

April 26, 2023
Freedom House

United States: Indictment of Former President Trump Is One Step in a Crucial, Independent Legal Process

Press release

March 30, 2023

Freedom House

Summit for Democracy: Six Countries Join United States in Pledging to Strengthen the Fight against Transnational Repression

Press release

March 30, 2023

Freedom House in the Media:

Voice of America logo

How Myanmar’s Junta Uses Telecom Companies to Target Journalists opens in new tab

May 16, 2023

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Turkish opposition accuses Russia of election interference days before vote opens in new tab

May 12, 2023

Axios logo

Democracy isn't ready for its AI test opens in new tab

May 11, 2023

Featured Experts

Annie Boyajian Expert Photo

Annie Wilcox Boyajian

Vice President for Policy and Advocacy, Mark Palmer Distinguished Fellow

AnnieBoyajian

NBS

Nicole Bibbins Sedaca

Executive Vice President, Freedom House; Kelly and David Pfeil Fellow, George W. Bush Institute

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Yana Gorokhovskaia

Research Director, Strategy and Design

@gorokhovskaia

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

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