Freedom House is an U.S-based private non-government-supported non-partisan organization that conducts independent research and advocacy in support of democratic principles. It was founded in October 1941 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt as an independent organization. Its mission is to assist the United Nations in their efforts to promote democracy and peace by encouraging respect for human rights and freedoms in countries around the world. Freedom House is led by a Board of Directors headed by its executive director John Danforth.
The organization has made its way into movies by both George Clooney and Elizabeth Carlin among many others. It has even had an appearance in an episode of NBC’s Community. Freedom House operates under a strict confidentiality agreement which means that they do not publish their clients’ identities although they do permit the public to access information that is provided to them. The organization has been responsible for numerous major pieces of international policy and development. Among its many awards are the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush. Many of the individuals that have received Freedom House’s Human Rights Awards include former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos and former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Salazar.
If you wish to get involved with helping to improve human rights abuses and other issues around the globe there are numerous ways that you can go about doing this. If you choose to become a Freedom House volunteer you can volunteer your time to help with their research development projects or other activities.
