Spotlight on Freedom — Celebrating Pride Month🌈

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Spotlight on Freedom: Weekly Newsletter

Dear John,

Welcome to Spotlight on Freedom, Freedom House's weekly newsletter on our work around the globe.

June is LGBTQI+ Pride Month, and in celebration we interviewed Urooj Arshad, Senior Program Manager of our Dignity for All program. Dignity for All provides emergency funds, support, and security assistance to LGBTQI+ human rights defenders and organizations fighting for liberation.

Urooj reflects on the current state of human rights for LGBTQI+ people around the world—and its implications for freedom and democracy more broadly.

“A Constant State of Fear”: An Afghan Human Rights Defender Describes Her Life under Taliban Rule

Nearly a year after the US military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, women have been forced out of the public sphere and isolated from networks of support. A human rights defender in Afghanistan describes how the return of the Taliban is impacting her career, safety, and freedom.

The January 6 Hearings are a Call to Action

The true measure of success for our collective response to January 6 will not be found in the television ratings or reviews of the House committee’s hearings, but in how we as a nation use this moment to repair our battered democracy and safeguard its benefits for future generations. Freedom House President Michael J. Abramowitz reflects on the historic January 6 hearings.

New Report: Transnational Repression - Defending Democracy in Exile

Our new report on transnational repression examines what is being done to protect exiles and diaspora members who are being intimidated and attacked by the governments from which they fled. The report assesses the responses mounted by host governments, international organizations, and technology companies.

Updates on the Invasion of Ukraine

Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine is an attack on democracy. Democratic societies everywhere must support the Ukrainian people in their struggle for peace and freedom. Freedom House is tracking the human impact of the war every week.

Twitter Spaces: Pushing Back Against Digital Transnational Repression

Freedom House researchers joined partners at Citizen Lab for a Twitter Spaces conversation on how governments weaponize digital spaces and tools to commit acts of transnational repression.

Listen In

Upcoming Events

Freedom House is hosting, moderating, and participating in various upcoming events.

Click the links below to register:

#SOSCuba: One Year Without Justice
July 7, 2022, 2:00pm ET

Freedom House in the News

Michael J. Abramowitz on the future of democracy (American Purpose)

Paul Kagame is seen by some as a liberator. But critics say Rwanda is only safe for those who toe the line (CNN)

Hong Kong Is Unrecognizable After 2 Years Under the National Security Law (The Diplomat)

Hundreds of civilians missing, taken or simply gone: The untold toll of the Ukraine war (Washington Post)

Hong Kong press freedom bruised a year after Apple Daily shutdown (Nikkei Asia)

Stay Informed

We encourage you to subscribe to Freedom House's other newsletters, including:

The China Media Bulletin
A monthly newsletter that offers unique insight on censorship, media freedom, and internet freedom issues related to the People's Republic of China, drawing on both English and Chinese-language sources

All our newsletters are available for subscription here.

Defend Democracy,

Champion Freedom.

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