Convening human rights groups to encourage joint action on key human rights challenges

• The Lantos Foundation participates in several issue-based coalitions, joining with a diverse range of human rights partners to advocate on causes including international religious freedom, combating antisemitism and Holocaust denial, human rights abuses occurring in China, and Magnitsky Act-related efforts to hold human rights abusers accountable. By undertaking joint action, these coalitions can have a much greater impact than each organization working independently. In particular, the Lantos Foundation has led coalition-building on the issue of internet freedom. For more than a decade, we have been on the forefront of advocating for increased U.S. government funding – and more effective use of those funds – to combat the rise of digital dictatorships and expand internet access to citizens living under authoritarian regimes. We truly view this area as the next frontier of human rights and have worked to energize fellow human rights organizations around this cause. In 2020, we partnered with 21 Wilberforce to establish the Voices of Internet Freedom Coalition, a group of more than two dozen organizations dedicated to advocating on behalf of internet freedom. In addition to forming the VIF coalition, our advocacy has included bringing together experts and groups working on internet freedom for a two-part webinar series, in partnership with American University, and hosting an internet-based call between pastors in China and congressional leaders – using technology to circumvent China’s infamous “Great Firewall.”