Regional Programs

Freedom House's programs support human rights and democracy advocates in their efforts to promote open government, defend human rights, strengthen civil society and facilitate the free flow of information and ideas. Freedom House primarily offers assistance through trainings, international exchange programs, grant giving and networking activities. In addition, Freedom House offers symbolic and moral support through advocacy and visible demonstrations of solidarity on behalf of counterparts abroad.

Freedom House currently has fourteen offices and conducts programs in over thirty countries in all regions of the world. Primary funding for Freedom House’s programs comes in the form of grants from USAID and U.S. State Department, as well as from other democratic governments—Canada, the EU, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden—and from private foundations, including the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Ford Foundation.

Current Regional Programs

Asia-Pacific Programs

In Asia, Freedom House programs enable citizens to assert their rights and supports their efforts to gain a greater say in how they are governed. Learn More>>

Europe Programs

Freedom House works in Europe to educate policy makers about critical threats to fundamental rights and freedoms in individual countries, across the region, and beyond; to protect activists, journalists, academics and other defenders of freedom; and to bolster the resilience and advocacy capacity of civil society organizations. Learn More>>

Eurasia Programs

Through a robust portfolio of projects on the ground, emergency assistance, international advocacy, and special research Freedom House supports citizens and civic groups across the Eurasia region to actively participate in reforms, seek accountability for injustice, and implement meaningful ways to engage citizens.  Learn More >>

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 activists from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Cuba in documenting and presenting evidence of their governments’ abuses to international organizations. Learn More>>

Middle East and North Africa Programs

Freedom House supports democracy and human rights leaders across the Middle East and North Africa region in exposing abuses and pressing for reform. Learn More>>

Sub-Saharan Africa Programs

Freedom House works to resist these trends through a combination of on-the-ground programs in more than a dozen countries directly supporting civil society and human rights defenders, regional advocacy initiatives, research and policy engagement in Washington and other capitals. Learn More>>

Past Programs

Below is a selection of past Freedom House programs in countries around the globe. 

Advocating for Free Expression in Tunisia

Freedom House has worked to strengthen freedom of expression and human rights in Tunisia, where the country’s recent revolution and efforts at democratic consolidation have created an opportunity to adopt new laws protecting freedom of expression and belief and granting access to information rights. In an effort to encourage fair, open debate surrounding issues of freedom of expression, Freedom House partnered with Munathara, an independent, non-profit, Arab debate initiative that brings together liberals, conservatives, and those who typically go unheard. In addition to this partnership, Freedom House joined the International Freedom of Expression Exchange Tunisia Monitoring Group (IFEX-TMG), a coalition that monitors freedom of expression rights in Tunisia through broad engagement with civil society. 

Advocating for Free Expression in Uganda

In September 2010, Freedom House led a four-day International Joint Partnership Freedom of Expression mission to Uganda to examine the country’s freedom of expression environment in light of a proposed amendment to the Press and Journalism Bill and upcoming general elections. The mission sent President Museveni a letter in advance about its concerns, and although the mission did not meet with the president, the government did provide wide access to speak with officials. In its report, the group made 13 recommendations including repealing laws that do not adhere to constitutional protections for free speech; fully implementing and funding the Access to Information Act; ensuring the Broadcasting Council follows due process in sanctioning media outlets and re-open CBS radio without further delay; and all cases against journalists be carried out in accordance with due process and the presumption of innocence. Just weeks later, CBS was allowed to resume broadcasting.

Azerbaijan: Freedom of Expression Under Fire

Freedom House joined eight other leading media freedom organizations as part of the International Partnership Group for Azerbaijan’s freedom of expression mission in September 2010. As a result of the three-day mission the group produced a report,  Freedom of Expression Under Attack: Azerbaijan’s Deteriorating Media Environment, that details the many challenges that Azerbaijan’s bloggers, and journalists must endure to carry out their work, including hurdles both legal and societal. 

LGBTI Rights in Southeast Asia 

Freedom House’s Southeast Asia programming was designed to build the capacity of national LGBTI rights organizations that lack the technical and financial resources to effectively advocate for LGBTI rights in the region. Freedom House provided grants to several local LGBTI organizations to support core regional programming activities and targeted advocacy initiatives in Burma and Thailand. These advocacy projects influenced public opinion and ultimately helped shape important legislation that impacted the LGBTI community in Burma, Thailand, and the broader Southeast Asian region.

Rule of Law in Southern Africa

To counter a general slide toward undemocratic rule, lack of accountability, and impunity for corrupt leaders and human rights abusers, Freedom House with its regional partners advocated strongly for an effective SADC (Southern African Development Community) Tribunal, built the capacity of independent judges, and  introduced key strategies and tools that human rights lawyers could then use for public interest litigation. Freedom House primarily focused on three countries in Southern Africa: Lesotho, Swaziland, and Zambia, while also keeping a watchful eye on developments in neighboring Malawi.