Freedom Forward works closely with allied organizations and communities to help end U.S. alliances with nondemocratic governments.
July 28, 2023: Freedom Forward urges Secretary Blinken to withhold Foreign Military Financing funds from Egypt over human rights abuses (letter)
Freedom Forward and over 20 NGOs have come together to urge the Biden administration to use the tools provided by Congress to withhold $320 million of Foreign Military Financing funds from Egypt. Withholding the funds would prove that respect for human rights is inextricably linked to U.S. national security interests, in Egypt and around the world.
April 6, 2023: Freedom Forward urges President Biden to support cost-free crisis relief for developing nations (letter)
Freedom Forward is one of 50 organizations urging President Biden to support the International Monetary Fund providing crisis relief for developing nations that is cost-free, debt-free, and condition-free. We are urging the IMF to do so by releasing a new issuance of at least $650 billion in Special Drawing Rights.
February 3, 2023: Freedom Forward Condemns Removal of Rep. Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee (letter)
Freedom Forward joined with Win Without War, MPower Change Action Fund, and 86 other organizations in signing a letter condemning the removal of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from the House Foreign Affairs Committee in an effort led by Speaker McCarthy.
February 2, 2023: Say no to UAE dictatorship’s top oil official as head of COP 28 climate conference (letter)
Freedom Forward has joined with Food & Water Watch, Center for Biological Diversity, Oil Change International, Friends of the Earth, and many other organizations to urge U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry to oppose the appointment of Sultan Al Jaber as President-designate of the upcoming COP 28 global climate conference. Sultan Al Jaber is the CEO of the United Arab Emirates oil dictatorship’s Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. Having Al Jaber, a major fossil fuel champion, in charge of climate negotiations would be a major blow to achieving COP 28’s goal of achieving significant progress on global climate action.
January 10, 2023: Harvard Kennedy School Palestinian Alumni Call for Resignation of HKS Dean Douglas Elmendorf and Reinstatement of Human Rights Defender Kenneth Roth (letter)
Dean Douglas Elmendorf’s recent decision to rescind Kenneth Roth’s appointment at the Harvard Kennedy School is profoundly wrong and demonstrates his hostility to academic freedom and honest human rights discourse. Dean Elmendorf has abrogated his responsibility to the HKS community and the principles underpinning free thought in a free society. As the body representing Palestinian alumni of HKS, we call for HKS Dean Douglas Elmendorf’s resignation.
October 27, 2022: Tell Biden’s Maritime Admin – Stop Approving Fossil Fuel Export Terminals (petition)
Please join us in petitioning the Biden administration’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) to stop approving deepwater port infrastructure as contrary to their mandatory “national interest” test. Every single new deepwater export project would clearly violate the national interest — ramping up fracking and dirty drilling to sell overseas, supercharging the climate emergency, and sacrificing Gulf communities by exposing them to more pollution.
October 4, 2022: Release: NBA, Atlanta Hawks, and Milwaukee Bucks Urged to Oppose UAE Dictatorship’s Human Rights Violations (letter)
A coalition of human rights, women’s rights, and peace organizations is calling on the National Basketball Association, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Milwaukee Bucks to publicly condemn the rulers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for their violence against women, homophobic laws, and brutal war in Yemen.
October 3, 2022: How to Break the Fossil Fuel Lobby (learn more)
If we want our government to move faster in the fight against climate change, we have to remove the obstacles that stand in the way.
That’s why Freedom Forward and allies are building a new campaign to break the power of Washington lobbyists who represent fossil fuel interests, including those who work for oil companies and oil dictators.
October 3, 2022: Letter urging NBA to Oppose UAE Dictatorship’s Human Rights Violations (letter)
On the eve of the #NBAinAbuDhabi games, Freedom Forward and 12 organizations urged the NBA, Milwaukee Bucks, and Atlanta Hawks to oppose the terrible human rights record of the rulers of the United Arab Emirates. This UAE record includes kidnapping, spousal abuse, homophobia, accusation of rape, and war.
September 22, 2022: Victory: Real Housewives of Dubai Suffers Poor Ratings After Human Rights Campaign and Fans’ Boycott (learn more)
Freedom Forward’s human rights campaign and a fan boycott made “Real Housewives of Dubai” the lowest ranked “Real Housewives” series in the entire Bravo franchise. As described in Screenrant, “Real Housewives of Dubai” ranked eighth out of the eight “Real Housewives” series. Ratings site TVDeets has reported on how far this series has fallen in comparison to other “Real Housewives” series’ million-plus viewers.
August 8, 2022: Freedom Forward and 20 Organizations urge Biden Administration to Stop Military Aid to Egypt’s Dictatorship (letter)
Freedom Forward joined with the Project on Middle East Democracy and 19 organizations to urge the Biden Administration “to suspend all arms transfers to Egypt in order to comply with longstanding U.S. law” and to block $300 million in specific military funding that carries key human rights conditions.
July 8. 2022: 2020 Success: Boycott of Saudi G20 Summit (learn more)
In 2020, Freedom Forward and a global coalition of organizations organized a successful boycott of Saudi Arabia as host of the 2020 G20 summit of world leaders. Our goal is to end Western support for this brutal dictatorship and to push the Saudi monarchy to end its human rights crimes.
June 22, 2022: TAKE ACTION: Tell President Biden NOT to Meet with Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman (learn more)
Right now, the Biden Administration is deciding whether or not President Biden will fly to Saudi Arabia to shake the hand of oil dictator Mohammed bin Salman – aka “MBS.” This would be a terrible idea and a big step backwards for human rights and democracy. Meanwhile, the Biden administration itself appears to be struggling with significant internal debate over whether or not Biden should go.
June 1, 2022: Freedom Forward and National Coalition Demands End to U.S. Military Support of Saudi Arabia’s War on Yemen (letter)
Freedom Forward has joined over 100 national organizations in releasing a letter urging Congress to end U.S. involvement in Saudi Arabia’s war and blockade on Yemen and to support the Yemen truce. The organizations are urging Members of Congress to cosponsor and pass the Yemen War Powers Resolution immediately.
May 25, 2022: : “Real Housewives of Dubai” and UAE Misogyny, Homophobia, and Violence Against Women (letter)
Freedom Forward and a coalition of human rights, women’s rights, and peace organizations called on Andy Cohen, Bravo TV, and the executives behind “Real Housewives of Dubai” to publicly oppose the violence against women and homophobic laws perpetrated by the rulers of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.).
May 22, 2022: Joint NGO Letter to Formula 1 on the Saudi Arabia and UAE Grand Prix (letter)
Freedom Forward joined 15 other NGOs in expressing concern regarding Formula 1’s Grand Prix that took place in Saudi Arabia on December 5, 2021 and in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on December 12, 2021.
Feb 11, 2022: Congress Urged to Cut Ties with Dictator Lobbyist and Former Member of Congress Ed Royce (letter)
Freedom Forward, MENA Rights Group, and other human rights organizations have called on UAE-based RoyalJet airline to clarify its involvement in the wrongful extradition of dissident Ahmed Jaafar Mohamed Ali to Bahrain, where he faces the risk of torture by the Bahraini dictatorship.
Dec 1, 2021: Freedom Forward Joins 15 Other Organizations in Condemning Formula 1 Races in Saudi Arabia and the UAE (letter)
Freedom Forward joined 15 other NGOs in expressing concern regarding Formula 1’s Grand Prix that took place in Saudi Arabia on December 5, 2021 and in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on December 12, 2021. F1 companies have publicly committed to respect human rights in conducting operations. Therefore, human rights should be the main focus this December in Jeddah and Abu Dhabi. Read our concerns and recommendations to Formula 1.
April 6, 2021: President Biden: End the Saudi Blockade on Yemen (letter)
Freedom Forward joined over 70 human rights advocates, celebrities, and organizations to call on President Biden to urge Saudi Arabia’s dictatorship to end its blockade of the people of Yemen.
Feb 11, 2021: European Parliament: Urge EU Member States to halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia and U.A.E. (letter)
Freedom Forward joined with 21 organizations and actor / producer Mark Ruffalo to urge the European Parliament to call on European governments to stop selling weapons to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Jan 21, 2021: Business Leaders | Business Leaders Urged to Boycott 2021 Future Investment Initiative aka Davos for Dictators
Freedom Forward and 10 organizations are calling on Mastercard, Credit Suisse, Oliver Wyman, Deloitte, KPMG, Samsung, Virgin, Ernst & Young, Bloomberg, Economist, Financial Times, Ford, Siemens, Uber, Colony Capital, Dow, DP World, EDF, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, FAI, Lockheed Martin, Mahindra Group, Moelis & Co., Morgan Stanley, Palladium Group, Reliance, Roland Berger, Sia Partners, SkyBridge, Snam, Carlyle Group, World Ocean Council, and Bridgewater to boycott the upcoming 2021 Future Investment Initiative.
September 18, 2020: Mayors of Major Cities | Mayors Urged to Boycott Saudi Arabia’s G20 and Urban 20 summit
- Freedom Forward and 15 organizations are calling on the mayors of New York, Los Angeles, Houston, London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, and Montreal to boycott Saudi Arabia’s G20 summit and “Urban 20” summits until the Saudi monarchy ends its human rights violations, war in Yemen, and environmental destruction.
August 17, 2020: World Trade Organization | WTO Urged to Reject Saudi Arabia’s Nominee for Director General (text and pdf)
- Freedom Forward and 18 organizations are urging the member nations of the World Trade Organization to reject Saudi Arabia’s nominee for WTO Director General, Mr. Mohammad Maziad al-Tuwaijri. As Saudi Arabia’s former Minister of Economy and Planning, Mr. al-Tuwaijri has long been complicit in the Saudi government’s human rights violations and has chosen to remain silent on his government’s brutal record of repression.
July 14, 2020: U.S. Congress | Letter to Democratic Congressional leaders regarding the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) (text and pdf)
- 70 organizations, including Freedom Forward, have signed this letter urging the leaders of the House Democratic Caucus to help ensure that the next HFAC Chair is someone who reflects aligned principles, priorities, and aspirations.
July 10, 2020: U.S. Congress | Letter to Congress leaders regarding FY2021 NDAA (text and pdf)
- Freedom Forward joined numerous other organizations in calling on Congressional leaders to support an amendment to the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would pause all transfers of U.S. air-to-ground munitions to the Saudi/UAE-led coalition fighting the war in Yemen.
July 7, 2020: U.S. Congress | Letter to Members of Congress regarding H.R.6581 (text and pdf)
- Over 100 organizations, including Freedom Forward, are advocating for Congress to co-sponsor the Robust International Response to Pandemic Act (H.R.6581), which will ensure that developing countries will be supported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other international financial institutions with the resources they need to confront the Coronavirus crisis.
June 30, 2020: U.S. Congress | Letter from Members of Congress regarding Israel (text and pdf)
- Freedom Forward endorsed a letter authored by 12 members of the U.S. House of Representatives and one U.S. Senator, which condemned the planned annexation of occupied Palestinian territory by the government of Israel.
June 18, 2020: U.S. Congress | Oppose New U.S. Arm Sales to Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E (text and pdf)
- Freedom Forward and a coalition of organizations released a letter urging the U.S. Congress to block all armed sales to Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. and to fundamentally downgrade the U.S. relationship with both monarchies.
June 2, 2020: Saudi Arabia| Letter to management consultant companies (text and pdf)
- Freedom Forward and a coalition of human rights organization ALQST and ten other NGOs call for McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, and Oliver Wyman to condemn Saudi Arabia’s planned megacity, NEOM, on account of the vast human rights violations involved in the project. All three companies are contracted for strategic advice on the NEOM project.
May 15, 2020: Saudi Arabia & U.A.E. | Letter to the United Nations (text and pdf)
- Freedom Forward joined a group of seven other organizations in urging the United Nations to re-list the coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for attacks on schools and hospitals – in addition to continuing to list other perpetrators in the conflict, including the Houthis / Ansar Allah – in the annexes of its forthcoming annual report on children and armed conflict.
May 15, 2020: Saudi Arabia | Joint statement on Saudi women’s rights advocates (text and pdf)
- Freedom Forward joined a coalition of sixteen other organizations in denouncing the Saudi government’s detention of Saudi women’s rights activists. May 15, 2020 marks the two-year anniversary of this detention.
May 11, 2020: USA | Letter to Trump and Biden (text and pdf)
- Freedom Forward joined a coalition of 51 organizations calling on President Trump and former Vice President Biden to adopt a new, humane foreign policy.
April 18, 2020: Saudi Arabia | Letter to Women 20 (W20) delegates (text)
- A coalition of human rights and peace organizations is urging the W20 “Women 20” and W20 delegates to end their silence on Saudi Arabia’s human rights violations. The W20 “Women 20” is one of multiple engagement groups that consult to the G20. The G20 is hosted by Saudi Arabia this year.
April 11, 2020: Yemen | Join statement on the ceasefire in Yemen (text and pdf).
- 59 NGOs from across the world released a statement cautiously welcoming the recent ceasefire of hostilities in Yemen, and calling on all parties to reach a comprehensive and inclusive political settlement to the current conflict.
February 11, 2020: Iran | Letter to U.S. Senators (text and pdf).
- Along with over forty partner organizations, Freedom Forward urged Senators to vote “Yes” on the war powers resolution by Sen. Tim Kaine, which would prohibit any use of U.S. Armed Forces against Iran unless expressly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for military action against Iran.
December 12, 2019: Yemen | Letter to U.S. Congress leaders (text and pdf).
- Along with several partner organizations, Freedom Forward urged leaders in Congress to retain Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger’s amendment (which called for an end to US support in the Yemen War) in the final version of the FY 2020 Defense Appropriations bill.
December 10, 2019: NDAA | Joint statement on the release of the FY 2020 NDAA conference report (text and pdf).
- Freedom Forward joined Win Without War, as well as dozens of other organizations, in releasing a statement criticizing the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report for its lack of oversight measures and its bloated $738 billion budget.
December 3, 2019: Yemen | Letter to Representative Adam Smith (text and pdf).
- Freedom Forward joined with various organizations and individuals (including actor and activist Mark Ruffalo) to urge House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Smith to advocate for measures to end the United States’ involvement in the Yemeni Civil War.
October 24, 2019: NDAA | Letter to Democrats in the U.S. Congress (text and pdf).
- Freedom Forward, along with dozens of other partner organizations, urged Congressional Democrats to remain firm in their commitments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) reforms outlined in H.R. 2500.
July 23, 2019: UAE | Letter to US Tennis Association (text and pdf).
- 10 organizations urged the U.S. Tennis Association to end the United Arab Emirates sponsorship of the 2019 U.S. Open. The brutal UAE monarchy is a sponsor of the US Open via its wholly-owned Emirates airline brand.
July 23, 2019: UAE | Letter to Endeavor (text and pdf).
- 10 organizations urged Endeavor to end the United Arab Emirates sponsorship of the July 2019 Silicon Valley Classic. The brutal UAE monarchy is a sponsor of the Silicon Valley Classic women’s tennis tournament via the UAE Mubadala investment fund. Endeavor company IMG owns and operates the event.
July 9, 2019: Yemen | Letter to U.S. Congress leaders (text and pdf).
- Freedom Forward and 40+ organizations urged U.S. congressional leaders to stop U.S. military support for the Saudi Arabia and U.A.E.-led Yemen war by passing important amendments to the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
June 8, 2019: Yemen | Letter to U.S. Congress leaders (text and pdf).
- 45 groups across the foreign policy and human rights sectors called on Congressional leaders to “suspend the transfer, sale, and authorization for license” of weapons in Yemen for at least two years, and generally scale down U.S. involvement in the Yemeni Civil War.
May 21, 2019: Iran | Letter to U.S. Congress leaders (text and pdf).
- 64 organizations, including Freedom Forward, called on Congressional leaders to immediately stop escalating tensions with Iran.
May 11, 2019: UAE | Letter to Anti-Defamation League (text).