Articles by Freedom House
Internet freedom deteriorates worldwide, but activists push back
Broad surveillance, new laws controlling web content, and growing arrests of social-media users drove a worldwide decline in Internet freedom in the past year, according to a study by Freedom House.
Morocco urged to release editor arrested for reporting on Al-Qaeda video
Over 60 organisations signed a joint appeal to Moroccan authorities to free editor Ali Anouzla, jailed on 17 September for posting a link to an Al-Qaeda video on his news website alongside an article critical of the video.
Venezuela opts out of American Convention on Human Rights
Venezuela’s withdrawal from the American Convention on Human Rights removes Venezuela from the jurisdiction of the Costa Rica-based Inter-American Court of Human Rights, leaving Venezuelans with limited recourse when they suffer abuses.
Rights groups face a withering assault in Egypt
Unlike previous crackdowns on civil society in Egypt, the current attack is drawing strong backing from the Egyptian public, large segments of which either support or do not oppose the efforts of military leader Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, whose stated aim is to preserve national security and unity against an imminent threat.
G20 leaders urged to denounce discriminatory laws, human rights abuses in Russia
On the eve of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in St. Petersburg, human rights organisations are calling on world leaders to denounce Russian laws that discriminate against LGBTI people and prevent non-governmental organisations from doing their work.
A year after long time leader’s death, NGOs, opposition groups and journalists still repressed in Ethiopia
The death of Ethiopian prime minister Meles Zenawi in August 2012 sparked hope that the ruling party would undertake reforms to loosen restrictions imposed on civil society, the media, and opposition parties. However, one year into the administration of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, Meles’s successor, not much has changed.
Pattern of abuses continues in Egypt despite leadership changes
Harassment of journalists and opposition activists has been a common feature of all post-Mubarak governments, and impunity has remained the norm for officials responsible for the use of excessive force against Egyptian citizens.
Dictators bask in spotlight of international sporting events despite rights abuses
Russia recently passed a law banning LGBT “propaganda” six months before the opening of the 2014 Winter Olympics; this has reignited the debate over whether it is acceptable for repressive, nondemocratic countries to host international sporting events.