Cubans do not believe they will benefit from Raul Castro's economic reforms, and many fear that their personal situation will become worse, according to a special report - Real Change for Cuba? How Citizens View Their Country's Future - released today by Freedom House.

Freedom House expresses deep concern over the latest attack on a Russian human rights activist, this time against Bakhrom Khamroyev outside his home in Moscow. Freedom House calls for a full and transparent investigation so that the perpetrators are held accountable - in this and in all other instances where activists have been attacked.

Freedom House is pleased to announce that Susan Corke has joined the organization as the new head of its Eurasia programs.

Freedom House welcomes the decision taken by members of the Organization of American States (OAS) to adopt a resolution on freedom of association that recognizes the importance of respecting this fundamental right for democracy. The resolution was passed on June 8 by all 34 states of the Organization of American States (OAS), in its 41st OAS General Assembly held in El Salvador. This is the first time that Latin American states have formally addressed the issue of freedom of association in the region.

The brutal death of Pakistani journalist, Saleem Shahzad, is a shocking illustration of the deteriorating environment for journalists in Pakistan. Freedom House calls upon Pakistani authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into his death and to take decisive measures to ensure the protection of journalists.

Freedom House today released Worst of the Worst 2011: The World's Most Repressive Societies, its annual report identifying the world's most flagrant human rights abusers, at a press conference during the 17th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Freedom House condemns Kazakhstan's decision to deport Ershidin Israil, a Uyghur schoolteacher who fled China in the summer of 2009 after ethnic riots in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Freedom House condemns the ever-deepening cycle of repression directed by the Syrian government against peaceful protesters throughout the country. Today, security forces opened fire on demonstrators in Hama, killing at least 40, according to Syrian human rights observers. Attacks on protesters were also reported in the southern town of Jassim and the northeastern city of Deir al-Zour, as well as other locations. The demonstrations on 'Children's Friday,' which appeared to be the largest of the 10-week uprising against the regime of Bashar al-Assad, were mainly provoked by the circulation of graphic videos documenting the murder and mutilation of a 13-year-old boy, Hamza al-Khatib, by Syrian security forces.

Freedom House condemns the death sentences of two Bahraini citizens upheld by a special appeals court on Sunday, and calls upon authorities to take measures to ensure the rights of citizens to due process and to end its efforts to persecute those who have demonstrated for political reform.

The recent murders of two journalists amid ongoing violence against the media in Honduras, as well as the failure of Honduran authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice, are further indications of the country's alarming decline in press freedom, according to Freedom House.

Yesterday's detention of former Ukrainian prime minister and leader of the oppositionist Fatherland party, Yulia Tymoshenko, confirms Freedom House's concerns regarding increased selective prosecution of political opponents in Ukraine, highlighted in its recent report, 'Sounding the Alarm: Protecting Democracy in Ukraine.'

Freedom House today expresses solidarity and support for Iranian political prisoners Nasrin Sotoudeh and Abdollah Momeni, who are celebrating their birthdays on Monday and Tuesday respectively, in squalid and inhumane conditions in Iran's notorious Evin prison.

Freedom House condemns President Ali Abdullah Saleh's continued efforts to thwart the transition process in Yemen and calls upon him to begin the process of turning over power to an interim government until elections can be called.

Freedom House condemns the brutal tactics employed by the government of Swaziland against the country's peaceful pro-democracy movement and calls upon authorities to respect the constitutional rights of Swazi citizens to freedom of expression and assembly.

Freedom House supports President Obama's 2012 request for the international affairs budget and cautions against steep cuts to foreign assistance in Investing in Freedom: Analyzing the FY 2012 International Affairs Budget Request, a new report released on Thursday.

As Uganda prepares to inaugurate Yoweri Museveni, its president of twenty-five years, to yet another term tomorrow, the human rights situation in Uganda grows increasingly grave.

EG Justice and other civil society organizations today credited UNESCO's Executive Board for soundly rejecting a petition by the government of Equatorial Guinea to reinstate a prize funded by and named after its president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. In a decision on May 9, 2011, the Executive Board declined to consider a May 4 request by the Obiang government to reverse its prior decision and award the prize without delay.