World Freedom Declines for 10th Year

World Freedom Declines for 10th Year

A human rights group says the slowing world economy, a crackdown on dissidents and dislike of foreigners fleeing their country have led to a sharp drop in freedom around the world for the 10th consecutive¹ year.

Freedom House, a U.S.-based human rights group, measured freedom in 195 countries. Its Freedom in the World 2016 report shows a decline in 72 of those countries last year. It was the largest decline since the 10-year-long drop began. The report says 50 countries are “not free” and 59 “partly free.”

Countries with the worst record

It says levels of freedom were lowest in Syria, the Tibetan Autonomous² Region of China, Somalia, North Korea, Uzbekistan and Eritrea. Also on the list of least-free countries were Turkmenistan, Western Sahara, Central African Republic, Sudan, Equatorial Guinea and Saudi Arabia.

The report says the Middle East and North Africa were the areas where people had the least freedom in 2015, followed closely by Eurasia. It says leaders of countries in those three areas increased their punishment of rights activists³ and other critics.

Decline in “free” countries

Many democratic countries in Europe and North America continued to be rated “free” in the report.

However, the report says civil liberties in democratic countries -- especially in Europe -- have been threatened as those countries deal with terrorist attacks and an increase in refugees. Many people have fled Syria and other conflict areas and have sought asylum⁴ in Europe.

The United States had one of the top ratings in the report. But it also showed a drop in freedom. The report blames the influence of money in election campaigns, legislative⁵ gridlock, failed promises of open government and racial discrimination for the drop.

Economy and unrest contribute to the decline

The group says the world’s economic problems and fear of unrest caused the governments of Russia, China and other countries to take stronger actions against their critics.

It says Russian President Vladimir Putin continued his repressive policies and took action against independent journalists and those who support homosexuals. The report criticizes Putin for his continued support for rebels in eastern Ukraine and for ordering airstrikes to support the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Freedom House says China’s communist government increased its attacks on human rights lawyers, journalists and minority rights activists. And it says China has expanded its targets to include labor⁶ and public health activists and defenders⁷ of women’s rights.

It notes that countries where freedom had declined sharply in 2014 had not improved in 2015. These include Thailand, Egypt, Crimea and South Sudan.

Improvement in some countries

The report finds an increase in freedom in 61 countries, including Latin America.

And it says there is a possibility that levels of freedom will increase in Iran and Myanmar this year. In Myanmar, the new government led by the National League for Democracy will face pressure to meet its promises to make the country freer.

And in Iran, reformers are preparing for parliamentary elections next month. There will also be an election for the group that names the country’s top religious leader.

Words in This Story

crackdown – n. a serious attempt to punish people for doing something that is not allowed; an increased effort to enforce a law or rule

consecutive – adj. following one after the other in a series; following each other without interruption

gridlock – n. a situation in which no progress can be made

journalists - n. news reporters; news media workers

homosexuals - n. people with a sexual interest in members of their own sex

1 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

2 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

3 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 asylum   

n.避难所，庇护所，避难

参考例句：

• The people ask for political asylum.人们请求政治避难。
• Having sought asylum in the West for many years,they were eventually granted it.他们最终获得了在西方寻求多年的避难权。

5 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

6 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

7 defenders   

n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者

参考例句：

• The defenders were outnumbered and had to give in. 抵抗者寡不敌众，只能投降。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After hard fighting,the defenders were still masters of the city. 守军经过奋战仍然控制着城市。 来自《简明英汉词典》