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Underground station in Tehran Metro has separate compartments for women only (2007, Tehran, Iran). Editorial credit: Vladimir Melnik / Shutterstock.com

Equality & Human Rights

Democracy depends on the guarantee of equal rights under law and freedom from discrimination for all individuals in a society. If the rights and freedoms of one segment of the population are violated with impunity, the same sorts of abuses are likely to be visited on others. Those forced to endure a subordinate status have less incentive to play by the rules, creating a vicious circle of defiance and repression.

Freedom House supports frontline activists in their efforts to defend fundamental rights, including to document abuses, advocate for justice, end impunity, and fortify the self-protection of human rights defenders. We also provide emergency assistance to human rights defenders who come under threat and work with activists to broaden public support for upholding human rights and the fight for equality. 

Featured Analysis:

Demonstrators gather on the National Mall to protest racial injustice. An image of George Floyd is held up in front of the Washington Monument.

From Crisis to Reform: A Call to Strengthen America’s Battered Democracy

Special Report

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COVID-19 & the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Southern Africa

Special Report

Syria diaspora activism

The Importance of Defending Diaspora Activism for Democracy and Human Rights

Special Report

Freedom House in the Media:

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Foreign governments are aggressively targeting dissidents on U.S. soil opens in new tab

June 2, 2022

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Early Edition: June 2, 2022 opens in new tab

June 2, 2022

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Elon Musk’s Twitter plans would mean less free speech for many opens in new tab

May 31, 2022

News & Perspectives:

Taliban fighters in Kabul in August, 2021

“A Constant State of Fear”: An Afghan Human Rights Defender Describes Her Life Under Taliban Rule

Perspectives

June 30, 2022
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“It Started as a Protest”: How Pride Month Sparks Hope Amid Global Attacks on LGBTQI+ Rights

Perspectives

June 23, 2022
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End Violence and Serious Human Rights Violations Against Afghan Refugees

Joint statement

June 20, 2022

Marc Behrendt, director of Europe and Eurasia programs at Freedom House, speaks at the Armenian Forum for Democracy in Yerevan, Armenia.

Armenian Officials and Civil Society Representatives Tackle Democratization, Human Rights, and Disinformation at Freedom House–hosted Forum

Testimony and remarks

June 9, 2022

President Biden must set preconditions for meeting with Saudi crown prince

Joint statement

June 9, 2022

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Transnational Repression Threatens Freedom Worldwide

Perspectives

June 2, 2022

Featured Human Rights Work:

Guatemala City, Guatemala. Editorial credit: Lucy Brown - loca4motion / Shutterstock.com

Our Work in Guatemala

In the face of increased government pressure on Guatemalan human rights defenders and civil society organizations, Freedom House is working with activists to enhance their documentation and to raise awareness of human rights abuses and build coalitions in support of anti-impunity measures in Guatemala.  Visit our Latin America and the Caribbean program page to learn more. 

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Human Rights Support Mechanism

The Human Rights Support Mechanism is a project of the PROGRESS consortium, which provides technical assistance and support to partners and beneficiaries in developing countries around the world to protect and promote human rights.

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Our Work in Southern Africa

Freedom House’s Advancing Rights in Southern Africa program aims to improve the recognition, awareness and enforcement of human rights in the region, with a focus on select rights and a crosscutting emphasis on protecting the region’s most vulnerable and marginalized groups, including indigenous peoples, women and youth. Visit our Sub-Saharan Africa programs page to learn more. 

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Dignity for All

The Dignity for All: LGBTQI Assistance Program provides emergency assistance; security, opportunity, and advocacy rapid response grants (SOAR grants); and security assessment and training to human rights defenders and civil society organizations  under threat or attack due to their work for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex human rights.

Learn More
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Supporting Human Rights Defenders Around the World

Freedom House administers several funds which offer emergency assistance to organizations and individuals around the world who are under threat because of their human rights work.

Learn More

Featured Experts

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Allie Funk

Research Director for Technology and Democracy

alfunk

Farishta Sakhi

Farishta Sakhi

Senior Program Manager

@farishtasakhi

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Marc Behrendt

Director, Europe and Eurasia programs

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

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