In this article, we will look at the 25 worst countries for human rights and the rule of law.
According to the United Nations, the rule of law and human rights are the two sides of the same principle: The freedom to live in dignity. So, the rule of law and human rights are interconnected. There are very few examples of countries where there is a strong rule of law and a lack of human rights. Some countries that have authoritarian rule have stringent policies and a grip on crime. However, these countries do not fulfill the basic requirement of the rule of law, which is that all parties are equal in front of the law. In these countries, often, the state is above the rule of law, and so they lack human rights.
The freedom to live with dignity and the protection of the rights of an individual is essential for economic growth. Countries that have weak property rights and unpredictable outcomes related to contract enforcement usually see little to no investment. Rule of law and human rights, therefore, is essential for sustained economic growth. While there are some exceptions to this rule, they are very rare. Without the rule of law, investors have little to no confidence in the country and the protection of their investment in it. In a previous article, we looked at the best countries for the rule of law and saw how predictable and consistent application of restraint on state and individuals yields positive results for the economy. However, in a country where laws are not set and implemented, sustained economic development is often difficult to achieve. A survey of the five postsocialist countries in Europe (Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Russia) found that the ineffectiveness of courts and higher levels of corruption (such as under-the-table payments) had adverse effects on reinvestments from retained earnings of firms across the countries. Let’s look at the example of African countries. They consistently rank as the worst for human rights and the rule of law, and there has been very little foreign direct investment in African countries. In addition, they are also some of the least developed countries in the world.
A strong central authority is essential for economic growth. A variety of theoretical literature that explores the effect on the economy in a state of anarchy suggests that civil war is detrimental to society. Civil war tends to break down a central authority and undermine the rule of law and human rights. It also leads to the diversion of resources from productive activities to violence, which destroys public infrastructure and private property. The fact that civil war is detrimental to human rights and the rule of law is also corroborated by our list. The country that makes it to the top of the list has recently been affected by several civil wars and political unrest. In addition, some of the war-torn and unstable countries make it to the very top of our list. With that backdrop, let’s look at some of the worst countries for human rights and the rule of law.
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Methodology
To curate the list of 25 worst countries for human rights and the rule of law, we used two indexes and gave equal weightage to them. The first is the 2023 Rule of Law Index by the World Justice Project. This index gathers independent data on the rule of law in 142 countries and jurisdictions through surveys of households and legal practitioners. The second index is the Human Rights and Rule of Law Index by The Global Economy, which includes 177 countries and uses a methodology similar to the former. For each country, we summed the ranks, and the higher the sum, the worse the country. It is important to note that we only included countries that were present in both indexes.
25 – Philippines
Rule of Law Index Rank – 100
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 144
The Philippines faces some very severe human rights issues, including arbitrary killing and human trafficking. In addition, forced disappearances by state and non-state actors often go unnoticed by the law.
24 – Uganda
Rule of Law Index Rank – 125
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 119
Uganda has a weak judiciary system, whose decisions are often dictated by the ruling party. In the absence of justice, mob justice often takes place and results in violence. The country also faces severe human rights issues such as human trafficking.
23 – Bangladesh
Rule of Law Index Rank – 127
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 127
Bangladesh is one of the worst countries for human rights and the rule of law. The country’s judiciary is burdened because they are short-staffed, and the number of cases keeps piling up. In addition, many cases go unresolved for years which eventually leads to elusive justice.
22 – Belarus
Rule of Law Index Rank – 104
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 153
Belarus is one of the worst countries in Europe in terms of rule of law and human rights. Recently, the ruler of the country signed a law allowing the country to confiscate anyone’s property on the basis of ‘unfriendly actions’.
21 – Honduras
Rule of Law Index Rank – 119
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 138
Honduras faces some of the worst human rights issues. In 2017, its security forces used excessive use force against protestors, which clearly shows that the country has very little room for freedom of speech and expression.
20 – Republic of Congo
Rule of Law Index Rank – 122
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 136
The Republic of Congo has a weak rule of law, and many state and non-state actors evade the law easily. The country also faces some of the worst human rights issues, such as human trafficking, arbitrary killing, and torture.
19 – Pakistan
Rule of Law Index Rank – 130
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 130
Pakistan is one the worst countries for human rights and the rule of law. Although the country has a democratic rule, there is a significant influence of armed forces in its politics. Many state non-state actors and politicians face corruption charges which often go unpunished. In addition, the country is under a strong grip of violence from extremists.
18 – Mozambique
Rule of Law Index Rank – 128
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 137
Corruption, politics, and violence are the main hurdles to the establishment of the rule of law in Mozambique. In addition, armed conflicts in the northern part of the country are aggravating its humanitarian crisis.
17 – Turkiye
Rule of Law Index Rank – 117
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 150
Turkiye is considered a developed country with the seventeenth-largest economy in the world. Despite that, the country has severe law and order and human rights issues. There are often baseless accusations, prosecutions, and convictions of human rights defenders and journalists.
16 – Nicaragua
Rule of Law Index Rank – 137
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 131
There is no room for freedom of speech and expression in Nicaragua. Recently a law passed in the country criminalizes a wide range of online communication, curbing its people’s ability to express themselves.
15 – Guinea
Rule of Law Index Rank – 118
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 152
Guinea is among the low-income countries of the world. The country has frequent arbitrary arrests against members of civil society who criticize the political status quo. In 2022, some protestors were killed during protests, depicting that there is no room for freedom of expression in the country.
14 – China
Rule of Law Index Rank – 97
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 175
Although China is a developed country and has one of the highest GDPs in the world, it is among the worst countries for human rights. Its Rule of Law Index rating is better than the Human Rights and Rule of Law Index, but it is far from acceptable. The country’s legal system favors the ruling party, and there is no room for freedom of expression. The authorities also keep a tight leash on the flow of information to the point that ‘Google’ and its services are blocked.
13 – Zimbabwe
Rule of Law Index Rank – 123
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 149
Zimbabwe is among the worst countries for human rights and the rule of law. Mob violence and arbitrary killing often go unnoticed by the government. In addition, the ruling authority often interferes with the judiciary.
12 – Haiti
Rule of Law Index Rank – 139
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 133
Gang violence in Haiti often goes unchecked and has displaced thousands of people. Some criminals also have impunity, which encourages their criminal behavior. The LGBTI people are being discriminated against and are a victim of sexual assault in the country.
11 – Cameroon
Rule of Law Index Rank – 134
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 141
Arbitary arrests against people of opposition parties are a common occurrence in Cameroon. In addition, the armed forces of the country regularly carry out human rights violations against separatist groups.
10 – Nigeria
Rule of Law Index Rank – 120
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 157
The Nigerian Military in the north-eastern part of the country regularly violates international laws and human rights fundamentals. Some of the criminal gangs in the country operate with impunity, which encourages their criminal behavior. In addition, the state has failed to protect its people from abuses committed by Boko Haram.
9 – Russia
Rule of Law Index Rank – 113
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 166
Russia’s judiciary lacks the capabilities to operate independently. The state interferes with the legal process, making it very difficult to keep the ruling government in check. In addition, there is an over-criminalization leading to a high number of people behind bars. Much like China, the state controls access to information online and on electronic and print media.
8 – Cambodia
Rule of Law Index Rank – 141
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 146
Unlawful and arbitrary killing often go unchecked in Cambodia, making it one of the worst places for the rule of law and human rights. The government is also blamed for inflicting cruel and degrading treatment on people who oppose its policies. The independence of the judiciary is also severely compromised in the country.
7 – Ethiopia
Rule of Law Index Rank – 129
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 161
Extrajudicial killings are a common occurrence in Ethiopia, which go unchecked because the judiciary lacks independence. In addition, censorship and unjustified arrests of journalists are also quite common in the country.
6 – Afghanistan
Rule of Law Index Rank – 140
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 158
Afghanistan is one of the worst countries for human rights and the rule of law. Currently, it is being governed by the Taliban, which is an Islamist extremist group. There is no judiciary in the country, and the Taliban officials control all matters of the state.
5 – Sudan
Rule of Law Index Rank – 132
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 168
Sudan is one of the most war-torn areas of the world. The government has very little control over its people, and many violent crimes go unchecked. In addition, its security forces use excessive force against protestors.
4 – Iran
Rule of Law IDemocratic Republic of Congondex Rank – 126
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 176
Iran has a theocratic government which rules in an authoritarian way. Any difference of opinion is not tolerated in the country. In a recent protest against the Islamic Republic System, security forces fired live ammunition and metal pellets, killing hundreds of people.
