Latin America and the Caribbean Programs
Freedom House helps citizens defend their rights against government abuses in several countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Freedom House supports civil society in Latin America and the Caribbean to expand and defend civic space and mobilize citizens to demand the freedom to fully exercise their human rights. Freedom House works with victims of human rights abuses, local human rights defenders, civil society, and media organizations to document and expose human rights violations and press for action to protect and expand everyone’s fundamental freedoms.
The LAC team supports and mentors local initiatives to:
- Monitor and document fundamental freedoms and human rights violations according to international standards to contribute comprehensive data and reveal patterns of violations to international accountability mechanisms.
- Conduct investigative reporting and research to achieve a deeper understanding of the dynamics that foment human rights abuses, including corruption, and disseminate it to broad audiences.
- Raise awareness to inform public opinion and galvanize public response to violations through digital and in-person campaigns, public events, and art exhibitions, among others.
- Mobilize community to shed light on human rights abuses and build domestic pressure for greater respect for fundamental freedoms and rights through civic engagement and peaceful mobilization.
- Increase access to reliable information and independent news to contribute to well-informed citizens who are equipped to identify trustworthy information and inoculated against fake news and disinformation.
Supporting Political Prisoners in Latin America and the Caribbean
Arbitrary detention and torture have surged to alarming levels in Latin America and the Caribbean. Authoritarian regimes in the region are increasingly resorting to these repressive tools to instill fear in the population and cling to power. Today, there are almost 3,000 political prisoners in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. For this reason, Freedom House joined ESTÁ PASANDO DE NUEVO, a regional campaign led by Cuban, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan civil society organizations.
More on Latin America
Special Reports
Defending Latin American Human Rights and Democracy Activists
Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) promoting fundamental freedoms, rights, and democracy continue to face enormous challenges across Latin America today.
Freedom of the Press and Expression in Guatemala
In recent years, Guatemala has suffered an alarming democratic setback, especially in the fight against corruption. In May 2023, Freedom House joined seven international press freedom and freedom of expression organizations to conduct a fact-finding mission on the state of press freedom in Guatemala.
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