The extremist threat must be confronted, but we cannot win by abandoning our democratic values.

Sheltering refugees is not just a moral duty. All countries, including the United States and its fellow democracies in Europe, are also legally bound to assist those fleeing war and oppression.

More aggressive tactics by authoritarian regimes and an upsurge in terrorist attacks contributed to a disturbing decline in global freedom in 2014. 

In a dangerous world, the United States and its allies must offer moral clarity and principled leadership in defense of democratic values.

Freedom House joins with key civil society organizations to urge Ambassador Nikki Haley to ensure that U.S. engagement with the United Nations Human Rights Council advances universal values and our nation’s interests worldwide.

The United States should not extend unjustifiable blanket visa bans for entire countries.

Freedom in the World 2015 found that the main factors driving the decline were the passage and use of restrictive laws against the media and and limits on the ability of local and foreign journalists to report freely within a given country.

The United Nations Human Rights Council has proven it can add value to the lives of those whose dignity is under threat — but it needs greater solidarity of the democracies across regions and across the North-South divide.  

Representatives of Russia, China, and the United States all called for peace and cooperation at the UN General Assembly last week, but their rhetoric revealed key differences on democracy and human rights.

If exiled dissidents can be attacked even in the strongest democracies, none of us are safe.