Freedom Now organizes domestic and international opposition to human rights violations overseas and conducts legal and political advocacy to free and rehabilitate individuals deprived of liberty for exercising human rights guaranteed under international law. 1
Activities
Freedom Now works to release individuals detained by their governments in violation of human rights as described in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 2 or international legal instruments recognized by the countries concerned. 3 It does so by confronting authorities that are wrongfully imprisoning opponents through a variety of channels, labeling such cases “wrongful detention” and those detained as “prisoners of conscience.” 4
Freedom Now’s network of five law firms, law schools, and individual attorneys prepare and submit cases pro bono to international human rights complaint bodies such as the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, 5 the European Court of Human Rights, 6 and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. 7 If these bodies determine that an international law violation has occurred, they publicly issue findings to hold the offending government to account. 8
Freedom Now notes that prisoners once released often still face travel, employment, and banking restrictions and suffer from untreated physical and mental health conditions. 9 It works to motivate the governments concerned to rehabilitate released prisoners including providing a full restoration of civil rights and medical and mental health treatment. In selected cases, Freedom Now facilitates financial support. 10
Since its founding in 2002, Freedom Now has represented 212 illegally detained clients and submitted 65 cases to the UN. 11
To advocate for the release of individual prisoners and to call out general violations of human rights in countries where they occur, Freedom Now mobilizes members of the U.S. Congress, Nobel laureates, the general public, and nonprofits such as the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights (RFK Center), Amnesty International USA (AIUSA), and Human Rights Watch. As part of this effort, Freedom Now documents “attempts to restrict civil society” and trains local activists to oppose governmental actions deemed harmful to human rights. 12
After the withdrawal of the U.S. military from Afghanistan, the organization began organizing grassroots groups to oppose the Taliban’s removal of women from public life. 13 Its latest report, Oppression by Design: Authoritarian Governance and Obstacles to Human Rights Reform in Eurasia, documents threats to “independent civil society” in five Central Asian countries. 14
Funding
Freedom Now’s income is derived from gifts, grants, and contributions. Its donations declined from $1,206,231 (2021) to $346,484 (2022) 15 despite grant contributions from the Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program ($400,000), the National Endowment for Democracy ($165,000), and five additional funders. 16 Freedom Now was formerly supported by the left-of-center philanthropies the Open Society Foundations (Open Society Institute) and the Oak Foundation USA. 17
Leadership
Andrea J. Prasow became the executive director of Freedom Now in December 2023. 18 Her previous positions include executive director of Freedom Initiative, 19 deputy Washington director of Human Rights Watch, and senior counsel in Human Rights Watch’s Terrorism and Counterterrorism Program which investigates and analyzes U.S. counterterrorism policies and practices. She earlier served as a defense attorney with the Office of Military Commissions 20 representing Guantanamo Bay detainees. 21 22
References
- “Freedom Now | Protecting Individuals and Communities from Government Repression.” Accessed June 13, 2024. Accessed June 7, 2024. https://www.freedom-now.org/
- Nations, United. “Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” United Nations. Accessed June 7, 2024. https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights
- KKIENERM. “Counter-Terrorism Module 7 Key Issues: Limitations Permitted by Human Rights Law.” Accessed June 8, 2024. https://www.unodc.org/e4j/zh/terrorism/module-7/key-issues/limitations-permitted-by-human-rights-law.html
- “About Us | Freedom Now.” Accessed June 4, 2024. https://www.freedom-now.org/about-us/
- United Nations Human Rights. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Accessed June 6, 2024. https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/wg-arbitrary-detention
- European Court of Human Rights. Council of Europe. Accessed June 7, 2024.
- African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. “Welcome,” June 9, 2024. Accessed June 10, 2024. https://achpr.au.int/en
- United Nations Human Rights. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Accessed June 6, 2024. https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/wg-arbitrary-detention
- “Rehabilitation of Former POCs | Freedom Now.” Accessed June 10, 2024. https://www.freedom-now.org/issues/rehabilitation-of-former-pocs/
- “Rehabilitation of Former POCs | Freedom Now.” Accessed June 10, 2024. https://www.freedom-now.org/issues/rehabilitation-of-former-pocs/
- “Freedom Now | Protecting Individuals and Communities from Government Repression.” Accessed June 13, 2024. Accessed June 7, 2024. https://www.freedom-now.org/
- “About Us | Freedom Now.” Accessed June 4, 2024. https://www.freedom-now.org/about-us/
- “Women’s Rights in Afghanistan | Freedom Now.” Accessed June 11, 2024. https://www.freedom-now.org/issues/womens-rights-in-afghanistan/
- “Supporting Civil Society and International Action | Freedom Now.” Accessed June 11, 2024. https://www.freedom-now.org/issues/supporting-civil-society-and-international-action/
- Roberts, Andrea Suozzo, Alec Glassford, Ash Ngu, Brandon. “Freedom Now Inc, Full Filing – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica, May 9, 2013. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/522362033/202321869349301162/full
- “Freedom Now | Washington, DC | Cause IQ.” Accessed June 11, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/freedom-now,522362033/
- “About Us | Freedom Now.” Accessed June 4, 2024. https://www.freedom-now.org/about-us/
- “Freedom Now | Protecting Individuals and Communities from Government Repression.” Accessed June 13, 2024. Accessed June 7, 2024. https://www.freedom-now.org/
- MEDC. “Home.” Accessed June 12, 2024. https://mideastdc.org/
- Office of Military Commissions | Fairness Transparency Justice. Accessed June 12, 2024.
- Prasow, Andrea J. “When Targeted Killings Become ‘Tragic Mistakes.’” Progressive.org, September 30, 2021. Accessed June 12, 2024. https://progressive.org/api/content/2d4a7e8a-2201-11ec-acde-12f1225286c6/
- The Daily Beast. “Andrea J. Prasow,” May 7, 2011. Accessed June 12, 2024. https://www.thedailybeast.com/author/andrea-j-prasow