Freedom House (Washington, D.C.) | advocacy, non-governmental organization (NGO)

 advocacy, non-governmental organization (NGO)

Freedom House is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and human rights. Freedom House was founded in October 1941, and Wendell Willkie and Eleanor Roosevelt served as its first honorary chairpersons. It describes itself as a "clear voice for democracy and freedom around the world".

The organization is known for its annual Freedom in the World report, which assesses each country's degree of political freedoms and civil liberties, is frequently cited by political scientists, journalists, and policy-makers. Other annual publications include Freedom of the Press and Freedom of the Net, which monitor censorship, intimidation and violence against journalists, and public access to information.

Grants awarded from the US government accounted for most of Freedom House's funding; the grants were not earmarked by the government but allocated through a competitive process. Freedom House is widely regarded as a reliable source; nonetheless, some critics have accused Freedom House’s reports of bias or of promoting U.S. government interests, accusations that Freedom House strongly refutes.


www.freedomhouse.org