Freedom House

?? NEW: #FreedomInTheWorld 2025 is now LIVE! https://lnkd.in/gYub4DZv Violence and repression around elections, ongoing armed conflicts, and the spread of authoritarian practices contributed to the 19th consecutive year of global freedom in decline. 60 countries saw the deterioration of their political rights and civil liberties in 2024, and only 34 secured improvements. El Salvador, Haiti, Kuwait, and Tunisia were among this year’s largest declines, while Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Syria recorded the largest gains. During an unprecedented year of elections, many contests were marred by violence and authoritarian efforts to curb the competition. In over 40% of the 66 countries and territories that held national elections last year, candidates were targeted with assassination attempts, polling places were attacked, or postelection protests were suppressed with undue force. Conflicts spread instability and thwarted democratic progress around the world. Nonstate armed groups—including militias, mercenaries, and criminal organizations—played an outsized role in destabilizing global security and obstructing fundamental rights, in addition to conflicts in Sudan, Gaza, Myanmar, and Ukraine. Despite the overall global decline in freedom, positive developments demonstrated the potential for democratic breakthrough. New governments in Bangladesh, Senegal, Syria, and elsewhere will now face the difficult task of building and strengthening democratic institutions while also protecting individual rights. Democratic solidarity will be crucial in the coming year. Global freedom faces serious challenges in 2025, and it is in the vital interest of all those who believe in representative government to invest in democratic institutions at home, call out attacks on rights abroad, work together to promote lasting peace, and support human rights defenders wherever they operate. Explore this year’s full analysis and our recommendations: https://lnkd.in/gYub4DZv

The daunting challenges facing global freedom require bold solutions. Which of our 2025 #FreedomInTheWorld policy recommendations do you most want to see implemented in your country in the coming year? Vote or comment below what other paths forward you’d like to see. ? Review our recommendations: https://lnkd.in/gHrsasaC

Because traditional diplomatic solutions are ill-suited to resolve conflict with nonstate armed actors, the democratic community must think creatively about how to bolster safety and security. Our recommendations from #FreedomInTheWorld 2025: https://lnkd.in/gHrsasaC

Free media, anticorruption mechanisms, and independent judicial bodies are paramount for sustaining a strong democracy. Checks and balances should be bolstered and embraced to overcome many of the challenges documented by #FreedomInTheWorld 2025: https://lnkd.in/gHrsasaC

? NOW ONLINE: We’re pleased to announce a new template to report surveillance technologies used to violate human rights. #FreedomOnTheNet 2024 recorded that governments in at least 42 countries were suspected of having access to sophisticated spyware or data extraction technology—a grave threat to human rights and security around the world. Learn more about this tool to protect human rights defenders and journalists and hold perpetrators accountable: https://lnkd.in/gr7mjR57

The threats to freedom documented by #FreedomInTheWorld 2025 are not new, but they are worsening. It's clear that new solutions—and far more vigorous and comprehensive efforts—are needed to address these growing challenges. Our recommendations: https://lnkd.in/gYub4DZv

Last year’s events in Bangladesh, Senegal, and South Korea showed, not for the first time, that ordinary citizens have the power to reject authoritarianism. In 2025, #FreedomInTheWorld charges democracy's allies to unite to in defense of global freedom. https://lnkd.in/gYub4DZv

Reconciling with the past is crucial for a peaceful and democratic future. Moving forward should include reforms to security forces, the dismantling of units involved in rights violations, and holding individuals to account. More from #FreedomInTheWorld: https://lnkd.in/gHrsasaC

The rule of law is essential to address past abuses and secure the gains of any positive momentum. Domestic reformers and the international community must help newly elected governments deliver tangible benefits for their people. Our #FreedomInTheWorld recs: https://lnkd.in/gHrsasaC

New governments in Bangladesh, Senegal, and Sri Lanka must not only bring about promised reforms, but confront long-standing socioeconomic problems and uproot the entrenched legacies of repression past. Here's what they can learn from #FreedomInTheWorld: https://lnkd.in/gYub4DZv