Freedom Magazine Investigative Journalism
in the Public Interest

Amplifying the Voices of Human Rights

Freedom of speech is arguably the best known and most debated of human rights. It is protected by every major international human rights instrument and articulated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. An essential element of a democratic society, it includes the right to protest peacefully but vocally against both governmental and non-governmental policies and practices, especially those that oppress and that violate the spirit of democracy and freedom.

Freedom Magazine’s hallmark has been its voice for those whose rights have been trampled upon.

In 1976, Simon Wiesenthal was the target of a defamation campaign in Austria for exposing the Nazi past of a prominent right-wing politician. A barrage of outrageous accusations against Dr. Wiesenthal, generated by politicians and media, created an international controversy. Recognizing that falsehoods were fuelling the opposition, Freedom published an exclusive interview with Dr. Wiesenthal that helped to set the record straight. As a result of the truth being made known through Freedom, together with other media, Dr. Wiesenthal was able to resolve the dispute and continue his vital work to bring Nazi war criminals to justice.

Wherever Freedom is published, it has become recognised as a force for human rights, tolerance and respect.

Social reformers, particularly, have used Freedom as a springboard for change.

Says Cedric Hendriks, associate director of the Court Services & Offender Supervisory Agency in Washington, D.C., “Freedom is an important publication that serves the cause of human rights by bringing to the public issues that need to be thought through, thought out, debated and resolved. Freedom’s influence in society has been that of a constant organ for the expression of ideas that are provocative, that are interesting, that are challenging....”

But such praise has not come without a price; Freedom has had to withstand many efforts to block its human rights investigations by vested interests seeking to silence critics and protect the status quo.

Yet Freedom persists, for as Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. declared when championing civil rights in 1960s America, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Acknowledging Human Rights Leadership

To further support and advance human rights and freedoms, Freedom’s editors initiated a feature in the U.S. edition in 1987 to acknowledge leaders in human rights. Its Human Rights Leadership Profiles—a regular department of the magazine ever since—have highlighted the exemplary and, at times, extraordinary work and accomplishments of many individuals in a wide range of fields.

As a result of the positive reader response to the human rights leadership profiles, Freedom in 1989 instituted its Human Rights Leadership Awards. Recipients are selected from among those leaders profiled in Freedom and nominated by readers.

Notable awardees in recent years include Irving Sarnoff, founder of Friends of the United Nations, for promoting the spirit and vision of the U.N. Charter and encouraging participation from all sectors of society in the U.N.’s goal of a peaceful, flourishing planet; the Honourable Derek Lee, Canadian Member of Parliament, for his efforts to reduce political and religious strife and improve human rights in the India-Pakistan conflicts; Dr. Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika, Zambian Ambassador to the United States, for her tireless efforts throughout Africa on behalf of women’s and children’s rights and against war, genocide and corruption; Dr. Sayyid Muhammad Syeed, the Kashmir-born Secretary General of the Islamic Society of North America, for his international work to bring about greater respect for religious diversity, tolerance and human rights; and Hungarian-born Dr. Thomas Szasz, Professor of Psychiatry Emeritus at the State University of New York, for his advocacy of human liberty against the influences of psychiatry, and his dedication and outspokenness in reforming the profession and its legion abuses.