[Skip to main content](#main-content)
[Accessibility](/accessibility)
Expanding and Defending Freedom Around the World
================================================
Caption
A large number of people gather in Umayyad Square in Damascus, Syria to celebrate the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime. (Photo Credit: Juma Muhammad/Alamy Live News)
PERSPECTIVES
These 11 Champions of Democracy Faced Prison Over Their Work
----------------------------------------------------------------
[Read More](/article/these-11-champions-democracy-faced-prison-over-their-work)
[](/#facebook "Facebook")[](/#twitter "Twitter")[](/#email "Email")
Freedom House is founded on the core conviction that freedom flourishes in democratic nations where governments are accountable to their people.
Explore Freedom in the World 2025
---------------------------------
[### Read the Report](https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2025/uphill-battle-to-safeguard-rights)
Violence and the repression of political opponents during elections, ongoing armed conflicts, and the spread of authoritarian practices contributed to the 19th year of declining freedom. In the year to come, all those who understand the value of political rights and civil liberties must work together in the defense of democracy.
[### Policy Recommendations](https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2025/policy-recommendations)
Democratic governments, donors, and the private sector must deepen their solidarity with front-line allies, hold dictators accountable for rights abuses and corruption, and invest in democratic institutions at home and abroad.
[### Explore the Map](https://freedomhouse.org/explore-the-map?type=fiw&year=2025)
Explore the interactive _Freedom in the World 2025_ map, where you can see country scores, Freedom Status, and trends.
Tracking Freedom Around the World
---------------------------------
[Explore Our Interactive Map](/explore-the-map)
Latest Research
---------------
[### No Way In or Out: Authoritarian Controls on the Freedom of Movement](/report/transnational-repression/2024/no-way-or-out-authoritarian-controls-freedom-movement)
Authoritarian governments around the world are restricting freedom of movement in retribution for political activism and dissent, subjecting people to a variety of repressive tactics, including travel bans, revocation of citizenship, confiscation of passports. Read our latest report, _No Way In or Out: Authoritarian Controls on the Freedom of Movement._
[### Election Watch](/report/election-watch-digital-age)
Freedom House’s Election Watch project offers in-depth analysis ahead of key elections around the world, including those in Partly Free and Not Free countries. Each assessment informs technology companies, policymakers, and civil society organizations about the risks of human rights violations and digital interference ahead of an election.
[### Free Them All: The Fred Hiatt Program to Free Political Prisoners](/report/free-them-all)
Entrenched autocratic leaders are intensifying efforts to silence human rights defenders and democracy activists. **Free Them All: The Fred Hiatt Program to Free Political Prisoners** aims to document and study the cases of the thousands of activists who have been imprisoned or otherwise deprived of their liberty, and to advocate for their immediate release.
Mapping Freedom House's Impact in 2024
--------------------------------------
In what was a consequential year for freedom around the globe, Freedom House championed free and independent media, monitored elections worldwide, and published groundbreaking research. Here's how we worked to expand and defend freedom across the world over the past year.
[Learn More](/impact/2024)
News & Updates
--------------
[](/article/guatemala-international-organizations-demand-freedom-jose-ruben-zamora-and-urgent)[
### Guatemala: International organizations demand freedom for Jose Rubén Zamora and urgent guarantees of due process
](/article/guatemala-international-organizations-demand-freedom-jose-ruben-zamora-and-urgent)
Joint statement
March 12, 2025
[](/article/these-11-champions-democracy-faced-prison-over-their-work)[
### These 11 Champions of Democracy Faced Prison Over Their Work
](/article/these-11-champions-democracy-faced-prison-over-their-work)
Perspectives
March 13, 2025
[](/article/joint-statement-bahrain-must-immediately-free-detained-human-rights-defender-ali-alhajee)[
### Joint Statement: Bahrain must immediately free detained human rights defender Ali AlHajee
](/article/joint-statement-bahrain-must-immediately-free-detained-human-rights-defender-ali-alhajee)
Joint statement
March 5, 2025
In the Media
------------
[
### Leaked CCP Files Expose Global Crackdown on Dissent opens in new tab
](https://thediplomat.com/2025/02/leaked-ccp-files-expose-global-crackdown-on-dissent/)
February 24, 2025
[
### Digital Rights Activists in Taiwan Driven by Memory and Threat of Authoritarianism opens in new tab
](https://www.techpolicy.press/digital-rights-activists-in-taiwan-driven-by-memory-and-threat-of-authoritarianism/)
February 23, 2025
[
### Tajikistan's Descent Into Despotism opens in new tab
](https://www.rferl.org/a/majlis-podcast-tajikistan-despotism/33324939.html)
February 23, 2025
6E55EA53-B09E-4B49-9355-9E2A3E37B765
Protect the Future of Freedom in the World
For over 50 years, _Freedom in the World_ has been widely used by policymakers, researchers, students, international organizations, and investors. **Donate today** to help us ensure the future of this vital resource.
Donate
Be the first to know what's happening.
--------------------------------------
Join the Freedom House weekly newsletter
[Subscribe](/manage-subscriptions)
Top
Copy link
✓
Thanks for sharing!
Find any service
[AddToAny](https://www.addtoany.com "Share Buttons")
[More…](#addtoany "Show all")