Freedom House is an independent nongovernmental organization that supports the expansion of freedom in the world. The United States’ oldest human rights organization, Freedom House was founded in 1941 by a prominent and bi-partisan group of journalists, labor and business leaders, journalists, academics and former political figures to respond to the threats to freedom posed by fascism. In its early years, Freedom House was active in building support for the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Eleanor Roosevelt and Wendell Willkie served as the organization’s first honorary co-chairs. Currently, Freedom House promotes freedom and human rights through international advocacy efforts, reports and analysis on the state of freedom and human rights in the world, and programs that provide training and support to democracy activists and human rights defenders throughout the world.